Dying, beaten, shaken baby defied all odds!
We are therapeutic foster parents in Northern Virginia. We take the harder-to-place children into our home. Many cannot integrate into the family setting. Some stay for a long time, some go quickly, and some never leave our home, becoming a permanent family member. These children have been abused, neglected, abandoned, and many of their parents have had their parental rights terminated, leaving these children orphans. Currently we have five children in our home and five grown children. A sibling group of three who have been with us for almost 14 years, a 15-year-old boy with autism and processing problems who is up for adoption, and Henna. This story is about Henna, 11, and her spirit to live and God’s plan to use her to touch the hearts of all she meets.
Henna Soto was two years old when she was admitted to the hospital with a traumatic brain injury. She had been thrown against a concrete wall for crying too long. She had two depressed skull fractures, old blood on the brain from previous injuries, a lacerated liver, suspected sexual abuse, and shaken baby syndrome. All of her injuries were inflicted by the hand of her biological father.
Henna coded while on the way to the hospital via helicopter and was brought back to life only to go into surgery to relieve pressure on her brain. She was not expected to live throughout the night. Henna was in a coma for one month hanging on to life. Then the miracle happened! Henna woke up and was able to move all her limbs and speak, shocking all of the medical professionals.
Henna was placed with our foster care agency and we were called for an emergency placement to take her. When I arrived at the agency Henna was sitting, head shaved, with a feeding tube. She wore a frilly dress with black patent shoes. She couldn’t walk. I swooped her up and off we went singing all of the songs my older children loved when they were little. Although Henna couldn’t walk we felt she was displaying normal behavior for a two-year-old. She was so starved for stimulation that she went crazy with all of the toys, pets, and people who came to meet her. She had lived in a basement with little to do and few toys to play with.
Shortly after her arrival we noticed Henna would “check out” for a period of time and then come back to what she was doing. She had an EEG and we found out she was having seizures. Her seizures have no focal point so they fire from all over her brain. That makes it hard to determine where they originate so we can’t use a medication that would treat that area. Instead, we use two medications that are broad spectrum seizure drugs that have helped but not totally eliminated Henna’s seizures.
The first 2 years we had Henna she had fifty or more seizures a day. She had to wear a helmet and needed supervision 24/7. Finally as Henna grew and became older her seizures lessened. Along with her seizures Henna has severe brain damage, ADHD, developmental delays in all areas; speech, cognitive, and motor. She also has post traumatic stress disorder. Henna now has about 10 seizures a day and throughout the night causing her to fall, become disoriented, experience incontinence, and affecting her learning.
We see slow progress but don’t know how much she will grow emotionally and cognitively. We have been told that surgery and diet are not options for Henna so we must work with medications. Our doctors have told us not to expect much but Henna has proven over and over again that miracles do happen.
Henna required so much attention and supervision in those early years that all the family members took turns watching her. Three of our children have attachment problems and while they were nurturing and taking care of Henna, her vulnerability and helplessness moved them in ways that opened up their hearts. Over the years God has used Henna to touch other people wherever she goes. She LOVES music and could sing a song before she could actually put a sentence together. She has just learned to write her name. Henna has a great sense of humor which keeps everyone laughing. She has a strong will and wants to do everything on her own.
Henna wanders off never thinking about the dangers in her environment. She is curious and friendly to all she meets. Her safety has become our number one concern as she gets older and ventures out into the world. We found the 4 Paws For Ability website and thought a service dog would give Henna companionship, more independence, and hopefully alert when she was having a seizure. She asks daily when her dog is coming and then watches for the mailman. If it could only be that simple!
This is such an important cause that will empower Henna and other children to experience life to the fullest. This dog, friend, will help Henna in many areas not to mention the peace of mind we will have knowing she has a companion who will look out for her, help keep her safe, and love her unconditionally. If God places it on your heart to help Henna, any donation will be greatly appreciated. Please makes checks out to 4 Paws For Ability and don’t forget to write “In Honor of Henna Soto” on the memo line of the check. All donations are tax deductible and you will receive a receipt from 4 Paws for Ability.
Thank you for your kindness. Henna will be blessed and one step closer to her dream by your donation… Chris & Jan Soto
Note: I highly endorse 4 Paws for Ability as a source for extremely well-trained service dogs. The organization is sound and its goals exceptional. Judy Vorfeld.