The ZMA Boys

The ZMA Boys

THE ZMAS KIDS

Sami, Zack, Matt and Alex

Christmas 2003

Zack, Matt and Sami

Christmas 2004

Photos, poetry and stories may not be reproduced or altered without permission of the Sue Saladino

Have You Ever Seen A Miracle?

Have you ever seen a miracle,

Beheld one with your eyes,

Seen the magic and the mystery,

The wonder and surprise?

Have you ever touched a miracle,

With your fingertips?

Have you ever kissed a miracle,

Brushed one with your lips?

Have you ever held a miracle,

Gently in your arms,

Knowing that you must protect,

This precious gift from harm?

Have you ever loved a miracle,

Loved right from the start,

Loved with all your being,

Loved with all your heart?

I have done all these things,

I do them everyday,

I see miracles grow and learn,

I see them laugh and play.

I'm an ordinary person,

Nothing less, and nothing more..

God gave me not one miracle,

He saw fit to give me four.

Sue Saladino (copyright 4/2000 by Sue Saladino)

(revised 2/2003 for Sami)

MYTHS

(For Zack)

People tell me they are sorry,

And I just don't understand,

I tell them it's no tragedy,

My heart soars when you hold my hand.

Then they look at me with pity,

They think that I can't see,

I am not the one who's blind,

I know all that you can be.

"Those children are so sweet and kind,"

and while that's sometimes true,

You can also be a handful,

But that's not all that you can do.

"They always look so happy,"

And while that's also sometimes true,

I've also seen you hurt and angry,

I've seen you sad and blue.

"Those kids are often wild", some say,

And you sometimes misbehave,

But you also can be patient,

Cooperative and brave.

"Those children have trouble learning,

They will need special schools",

You've shown them how much you can learn,

And made them look like fools.

"Will they graduate? Will they hold jobs?

Can they lead a 'normal' life?"

Sometimes their thoughtless questions,

Cut through me like a knife.

If they'd only scratch the surface,

And see what I can see,

They would realize there's no reason,

To ever pity me.

You may never do the things,

That 'normal' children do,

But children shouldn't live their parents dreams,

You must do what's right for you.

I know that when you're grown up,

And all is said and done,

I'll be so very proud of,

The man that you've become.

Sue Saladino (copyright April 27, 2000 by Sue Saladino)

For My Xander

They said you can't adopt this child,

There simply is no way,

He's blind and deaf - a vegetable,

He'll die most anyday.

We only saw your beauty,

And all that you could be,

They said that we were crazy,

We wouldn't "face reality".

They sent you to a place to die,

While we fought to bring you home,

We held you and we loved you,

To let you know you weren't alone.

You survived the many surgeries,

Procedures, pokes and prods,

Showing them your will to live,

You defied all their odds.

The day of your adoption,

Brought us so much joy,

You were everything we'd hoped for,

Our perfect baby boy.

They don't acknowledge your accomplishments,

"His heart and lungs are weak, you know."

The will not see how far you've come,

Only how far you have to go.

The infection that you are fighting,

They say could be your last,

But none of their predictions,

Have ever come to pass.

We put our trust in other things,

Like faith and love and hope,

They keep our family together,

And help us all to cope.

Someday God will come and take you,

But I won't regret one minute,

Because I can't imagine what my world,

Would have been like without you in it.

Sue Saladino (copyright January 1999 by Sue Saladino)

For Sami

Your smile brightens up my day,

Your laughter, music to my ears,

I long to see the changes,

That come with the passing years.

Your innocence opens up my heart,

Wonder in everything you view.

Your interest fades so quickly,

Then you're on to something new.

You run me round in circles,

Always bouncing here and there.

Hiding places I can't fit into,

Somehow that isn't fair.

As you doze on my shoulder,

Your soft breath, I feel caress,

I look at your face in wonder,

There is something I must confess.

You are all I ever wanted,

That and so much more.

You complete me in a way,

I never was before.

So, grow my little precious one,

Grow happy and grow strong.

Know that I'll always love you,

You have my heart, my whole life long.

� Sue Saladino 9/3/2003--9/30/2003

For Matt

I don't understand the things you do,

Forgive me if I can't see,

There is no rhyme or reason,

It is so frustrating for me.

You have no explanations,

For the strange things you say and do,

I know it's out of your control,

I cannot put the blame on you.

Sometimes you seem so "normal",

Your behavior right on track,

Whatever it is you try to do,

You seem to have the knack.

People think you simple minded,

But that's definately not true,

I know you're very clever,

Sometimes it just does not show through.

So, I'm not sure how to reach you,

Which disciplines to use,

No matter what the experts say,

It's the wrong one that I choose.

You are not always easy to love,

So, if I haven't said it before,

Your differences sometimes make it hard,

But I love you all the more.

So, if I make mistakes with you,

Or don't appreciate your "unique" flair,

Just remember how much that you are loved,

And how very much I care.

Zack and Matt

Christmas 2002

Matt, Alex, and Zack 1999

Zack, Matt and Alex

Christmas 2000

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