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TRAGEDY AND TRIUMPH
This issue is completely dedicated to the memory of September 11th, illustrating that while hands can reach across the world to hurt and destroy, hands can also reach across the world to help and heal:
Some time ago a desperate Mom from the UAE (United Arab Emirates)
contacted me about her little six-year-old girl. She'd had a viral fever
at 18 months, and experienced frequent episodes of febrile fits since
then -- CPS (Complex Partial Seizures). With each episode a large
portion of her memory-retaining power had been damaged. Although she took
medication to help control it, the damage caused by the fits showed in her schoolwork.
Her teacher said she couldn't read at all, or even copy correctly from
the board. She could not remember anything she had so painstakingly
learned, and it seemed that every day they had to start all over again.
Her parents were really worried about her total inability to read or
comprehend anything, and said it was a nightmare trying to teach her.
The teachers frankly felt she would never do any better.
Then I send her Phonics Pathways. (She had been through tons of
expensive programs and could not put out any more money). A few
months later, I wrote to ask how the little girl was doing. Mom wrote:
"She loves Phonics Pathways! I wanted to go slow but she wouldn't
let me. Within three days she completed her vowels with no hesita-
tion or incorrect answers, and when I showed her your photo at
the back of the book she gives you a *book kiss* whenever she
opens the book for a lesson. Thanks for everything!"
A year later, just the other day, I checked again. Dad wrote:
"Our daughter has made a magical turnaround when it comes to
reading and studies, and I am proud to say that she has just
finished her second-grade with all *A's.* I wish you could hear her
English teacher when he said that she had scored the highest
for dictation in her class! She continually prays for her *Dolores
Ammachi* (Grandmother) for good health. Thank you so much!"
One tip Mom wrote that I'll pass on:
"I started to play a game with her and told her when we reached
the words with apostrophes we would act it out, just so she
would get the hang of the tone and mood in which the different
characters spoke, such as angry, happy, or sad. She really
loved that and stopped reading in one continuous monotone
where she concentrated only on how to read individual words.
Now they come alive with expressions as when she heard stories
being read to her."
It's a small world these days -- hands that reach across the globe to
hurt and destroy can also reach across the globe to help and heal.
Being an *Ammachi* to one tiny Arab girl is one small step forward.
And aren't mountains climbed by taking just one small step at
a time?
Peace!
Dolores
© 2006 Dolores G. Hiske
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