Little Miss Sunshine

Anyone who has visited Butterfly Home will agree that Annie is our resident ray of sunshine. This little girl laughs at just about anything. She hardly ever cries - if you do ever hear her crying, you know something is really upsetting her. Most of the time, her face wears a beautiful broad grin.

Annie's joy comes from interacting with the people around her. Her communication is limited by her cerebral palsy, but she makes great eye contact, and babbles away to you as you talk to her. She loves to be touched and you can see her eyes light up as some-one sits down to play with her. Annie can't move herself to get closer to people, so she relies on people taking the time to come to her.
 In our world, people like Annie often get overlooked - you have to slow down and take an extra moment to reach out to them. But what a delight it is to take that extra moment for Annie. Just one flash of her super smile, and little day-to-day worries fly out the window. Those moments make a difference - to Annie's heart and to ours. Annie is learning that she is loved without reservation, and we are learning to look beyond a little girl's label and see her for the treasure she is. Children like Annie enrich our world, and we are full of gratitude that she is here.

 When Annie arrived, she didn't smile so much. Her body was wracked with spasms and she was constantly in pain. It's not an exaggeration to say that her feet used to touch the back of her head.A child's body isn't made to be in that position, but Annie's muscles were so taut that her poor little body was pulled back like a bow. Its unimaginable how much that must have hurt.

Today, Annie still has cerebral palsy, causing muscle rigidity and very reduced motor control, but her terrible spams are mostly controlled. It is so wonderful to see her coming out of the fog of pain, and watch her her sparkling personality blossoming. She's valued for who she is and she is responding with her whole heart. It's a hard truth that not all children can be healed, but we know it is our calling to love every child, and cherish every life. Children like Annie remind us daily what a joyful calling that is!