The Child of HoPE for July 2007 is Meg Elizabeth Makila, a 13 year old from Falls Creek, New South Wales, Australia. Meg is the daughter of Renald and Sandra Makila.
Meg Elizabeth Makila was born on October 24, 1993 in Nowra, NSW Australia. Meg was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate and Down Syndrome. As a result of this diagnosis, Meg's birth parents chose to place her for adoption.
On October 25, the phone rang at Renald and Sandra Makila's home seeking their consent to serve as Meg's foster parents while the Department of Community Services began a search for adoptive parents.
|
On November 10, Renald and Sandra's second grandson was born at the hospital where Meg was staying. While visiting her grandson, Sandra stopped by the Children's Ward to introduce herself as Meg’s new foster parent. At that time, Sandra learned that in addition to Down Syndrome, Meg also was diagnosed with semi-lobar holoprosencephaly (HPE). Sandra was told that Meg might not live to see her first birthday, and this prognosis would make her ineligible for adoption. Sandra questioned whether she and Renald had the courage to take this baby home with them and learn to love her, only to have her pass away.
A friend was with Sandra on the day she met Meg for the first time at the hospital. According to Sandra, "This beautiful, tiny little bundle just looked at us and smiled the biggest, brightest smile, and she won our hearts!" When Renald and Sandra went together to visit Meg in the hospital, Meg flashed that same smile and captured his heart too. Adoption was a big decision to make as a family, but with one smile, Meg made the Makila family bigger!
Renald and Sandra will be celebrating Meg's 14th birthday in October, and they have much pride that Meg is well past her "use by" date as set by the doctors back in 1993. Aside from CP, GERD, DI (managed by medication), and problems with constipation, Meg is a described as "a happy and healthy little girl with a very stubborn streak."
Meg goes to a special school five days a week, and she goes swimming twice a week at the school where they have an indoor heated pool. At school, Meg uses a Hart walker with no problems; however, she is a typical teenager who doesn't enjoy "homework" when she is asked to use the walker at home. Every two weeks, Meg loves to go buggy riding where they load her wheelchair into the buggy and off they go!
Meg has the support of a loving family. In addition to Meg, Renald and Sandra have two other children--Cheryl married to Peter and David who is married to Rebekah. Cheryl and Peter have given Meg nieces and nephews--Sebastian (19), Courtney (17), Ethan (13), and Hannah (11). In addition, home care attendants also help with the care of Meg who loves being the center of everyone's attention. According to Sandra, Meg can sign for "more" and uses the sign often. "When the home care girls give her a shower, she demands her hand cream by rubbing her hands together," Sandra explains. “She is so good at the sign for more that sometimes she will get the cream four times!" It sounds like Meg will be adding hand cream to her birthday wish list this year!
For anyone who might be considering the adoption of an infant or child with HPE, Sandra advises to, "Go for it. I wouldn't say it has been easy for any of us, but when Meg looks up at you with her big blue eyes and smiles, she wins hands down every time!"
|
 |
| Meg and mum Sandra |
|
|
|
 |
| Meg and niece Hannah |
|
|
Families for HoPE, Inc. is very pleased to salute the Makila family and honor Meg with its special distinction. With her stubborn determination and beautiful smile, she has also captured our hearts which is why Meg Makila has been selected as our "Child of HoPE" for July 2007.
|
 |
| Click above to read a letter of hope from niece Courtney |
|
|
July 2007 Child of HoPE
Miss Meg Elizabeth Makila
|
|
