LilMtnCbn
04-11-2004, 06:46 AM
http://www.indystar.com/articles/0/136841-6910-021.html
A family united, thanks to a special agency
April 11, 2004
Indianapolis mother Robin Rushton stood up at a recent meeting I attended and
told a powerful story. It brought tears to my eyes -- and, believe me, most
people would not describe me as a softy.
Robin explained how she and her husband, Don, became the proud parents of
David, Jonathan and Collin Rushton.
Robin's moving story, with a very happy ending, made me realize how fortunate I
am. It helped me understand how I -- and you -- can help other children in need
find a loving home like Don and Robin Rushton's. I'll get back to that in a
minute. First, Robin's story:
It was 1995. Robin and Don wanted desperately to have children. "We tried
everything," Robin said. "When we determined we couldn't have biological
children, we checked out adoption. But we found it can take five years. After
all we had spent finding out we couldn't have children, we didn't have the
upfront money the adoption process would cost."
Then, on March 19, 1995, she picked up The Indianapolis Star and saw the photo
of two darling boys -- their smiling faces staring right at her. The picture
from The Children's Bureau of Indianapolis was of then 5-year-old David and
3-year-old Jonathan, who suffers from a mild case of cerebral palsy. These
brothers needed a home.
"I went to work the next day and told everyone, 'These boys will be my family,'
" Robin said. She called the Children's Bureau and was asked to write a letter
to the boys' caseworker. The letter explained how much she and Don wanted
children, that Don comes from a family of 10 children and that they had already
looked into schools for the boys in Wayne Township. The next week they had an
interview, and soon they had an instant family.
But the story didn't end there. By 1997, David and Jonathan had been the
Rushtons' sons for 21/2 years. They were doing great. In November, the
caseworker called Don and Robin to tell them that David and Jonathan had a
brother. Did they want to adopt him? "We didn't even have to think about it,"
Robin said. "This would keep the brothers together." Collin, then 3, arrived
just before Thanksgiving.
As the family of five sat at the Thanksgiving table that year, David told his
parents he wanted to give the blessing. "I thought he was angling for
something," Robin said, but told him to go ahead.
David looked at his parents and said, "I want to say thanks for choosing me."
I'm relating the wonderful story of these boys as an example of how United Way
donations help real people who live here. The Children's Bureau is a United Way
agency that placed 829 children in adoptive and foster homes in 2003 --
children like the Rushton boys. Since I am chairing the 2004 Central Indiana
United Way campaign, I'm especially interested in how the donations are used.
Sometimes we talk too much about raising the money and not enough about the
difference it makes in people's lives.
The Rushton family knows that first-hand. David is now 14, an eighth-grader at
Ben Davis Junior High. Jonathan is 12, a fifth-grader at Stout Field
Elementary, and Collin is 10 and a fourth-grader at McClelland Elementary.
"They're all doing great," Robin said. She just signed Jonathan up for Special
Olympics.
When I said how fortunate these boys are, Robin quickly responded, "No, we're
fortunate to have them."
Giving to United Way touches lives. Ask the Rushton family.
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
A family united, thanks to a special agency
April 11, 2004
Indianapolis mother Robin Rushton stood up at a recent meeting I attended and
told a powerful story. It brought tears to my eyes -- and, believe me, most
people would not describe me as a softy.
Robin explained how she and her husband, Don, became the proud parents of
David, Jonathan and Collin Rushton.
Robin's moving story, with a very happy ending, made me realize how fortunate I
am. It helped me understand how I -- and you -- can help other children in need
find a loving home like Don and Robin Rushton's. I'll get back to that in a
minute. First, Robin's story:
It was 1995. Robin and Don wanted desperately to have children. "We tried
everything," Robin said. "When we determined we couldn't have biological
children, we checked out adoption. But we found it can take five years. After
all we had spent finding out we couldn't have children, we didn't have the
upfront money the adoption process would cost."
Then, on March 19, 1995, she picked up The Indianapolis Star and saw the photo
of two darling boys -- their smiling faces staring right at her. The picture
from The Children's Bureau of Indianapolis was of then 5-year-old David and
3-year-old Jonathan, who suffers from a mild case of cerebral palsy. These
brothers needed a home.
"I went to work the next day and told everyone, 'These boys will be my family,'
" Robin said. She called the Children's Bureau and was asked to write a letter
to the boys' caseworker. The letter explained how much she and Don wanted
children, that Don comes from a family of 10 children and that they had already
looked into schools for the boys in Wayne Township. The next week they had an
interview, and soon they had an instant family.
But the story didn't end there. By 1997, David and Jonathan had been the
Rushtons' sons for 21/2 years. They were doing great. In November, the
caseworker called Don and Robin to tell them that David and Jonathan had a
brother. Did they want to adopt him? "We didn't even have to think about it,"
Robin said. "This would keep the brothers together." Collin, then 3, arrived
just before Thanksgiving.
As the family of five sat at the Thanksgiving table that year, David told his
parents he wanted to give the blessing. "I thought he was angling for
something," Robin said, but told him to go ahead.
David looked at his parents and said, "I want to say thanks for choosing me."
I'm relating the wonderful story of these boys as an example of how United Way
donations help real people who live here. The Children's Bureau is a United Way
agency that placed 829 children in adoptive and foster homes in 2003 --
children like the Rushton boys. Since I am chairing the 2004 Central Indiana
United Way campaign, I'm especially interested in how the donations are used.
Sometimes we talk too much about raising the money and not enough about the
difference it makes in people's lives.
The Rushton family knows that first-hand. David is now 14, an eighth-grader at
Ben Davis Junior High. Jonathan is 12, a fifth-grader at Stout Field
Elementary, and Collin is 10 and a fourth-grader at McClelland Elementary.
"They're all doing great," Robin said. She just signed Jonathan up for Special
Olympics.
When I said how fortunate these boys are, Robin quickly responded, "No, we're
fortunate to have them."
Giving to United Way touches lives. Ask the Rushton family.
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
