Monday, September 12, 2011
OMCA Golf Tournament

I Get Encouragement Here, Not Pity

There is resilience in her voice. She has a 'where there is a will there is a way' attitude. There is a confidence that every mother has about what is right for her family and her children. The voice. The attitude. The confidence, all belong to Susan Linn of Prague, Oklahoma, a semi-retired hairstylist, wife, mother of two, adoptive mother of three five years of age and younger.

Susan and Michael Linn have been married for 19 years. Susan had always wanted a big family. The Linn's first child was a baby girl named Abby. She is now 21 and newly married. Their second child was a son. His name is Aftahan. He is 16

When Susan found out she couldn't have any more children she didn't let that deter her from having her large family. She and Michael discussed it and decided to adopt more children, but they didn't want to go overseas to do it.

Susan had a plan. She wanted to adopt children locally, "When we decided to adopt we wanted to adopt those children that were least likely to be adopted," explained Susan. "We wanted to give them a chance for a permanent family environment instead of being moved around in the foster care system. I knew that Michael and I could do it. I knew that we were a strong couple. Now I'll admit that there are days (her voice trails off), but at the end of the day we've made it because of our strength as a couple."

The Linn's first adopted child is Luke. Susan's meeting of Luke was serendipitous.

Luke had a tough entry into this world. He was premature, weighing one and half pounds at birth. He spent the first five months of his life in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Unfortunately Luke was a drug baby. He tested positive for methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine and alcohol.

Luke proved to be a tough little boy and was sent home with foster parents who just happen to be friends of the Linn's. Even more fateful was that Luke's home health nurse was Susan's sister Jeanne.

Susan met Luke when he was nine months old. She and her sister were providing a respite break for the foster parents. "I knew the first time that I saw Luke he'd be coming home with me," said Susan. About a month later, at 10 months and 10 pounds, Luke joined the Linn family. That was in April 2003.

Jake joined the Linn family in February 2005. Jake was seven days old when Susan picked him up from a DHS approved shelter. "Basically, Jake went right from the delivery room to the shelter," said Susan. "There weren't any available foster parents in Oklahoma County to take him in at the time of his birth."

"At the time we got the call from DHS about Jake they told us he seemed to be healthy," explained Susan. "Since then he as been diagnosed with brain malformation. It affects his muscle tone and speech. We're still testing and don't have all the answers on Jake yet."

Little Addey is the latest addition to the Linn clan. She was born in June 2006. DHS contacted Susan about Addey the day after she was born probably because she is a half sister to Jake. "Addey was very premature. She was two pounds at birth," said Susan. "She had a twin that didn't survive. Addey spent a month in the NICU."

At birth Addey tested positive for alcohol and cocaine. "Right now Addey is on track developmentally," Susan said, "but the pediatrician says if she has any issues they won't materialize until she's two or three years old. So, it's a waiting game with Addey."

Once Michael and Susan made the decision to expand the family through adoption, they discussed the idea with Abby and Aftahan to see how they felt about it. "The kids supported the idea," Susan said. "They're only request was that the children be younger than they were. They didn't want to suddenly become the middle and youngest child of the family. They were content with their birth order and that was fine with us."

Susan reports that her daughter Abby and her husband Clint Lindsey are very attached to the newest arrivals in the Linn household and spend lots of time with them.

"It's funny because Aftahan has discovered that his younger brothers are chick magnets," laughed Susan. "He takes them to the basketball games with him and the girls all come by to see the boys. But it's not just the girls, it's Aftahan's teammates and friends who also look after the kids. I was surprised that teenaged boys would care that much, but they really do look after them."

The Linn's recently moved back to Prague after living in Norman for two and a half years. Prague is Susan's hometown. Michael is from near by Meeker. Michael is a manager with Locke Supply in Norman. "We made the decision to move back to Prague for family support," said Susan. "With our special needs children I needed to be closer to family for the times I need help. There are days when I don't have enough time, enough hands or enough laundry soap," she quipped.

As a parent of children with developmental disabilities Susan quickly became adept at searching for resources for her children. One such resource is the J. D. McCarty Center in Norman. The McCarty Center is Oklahoma's center of excellence in the care and treatment of children with developmental disabilities from birth to age 21.

"I found out about the McCarty Center from Debbie Secrest, a speech therapist with Sooner Start," Susan explained. "I was worried about where to find services for Luke after he turned three because that's were Sooner Start services end. Debbie recommended the McCarty Center to me." As it turned out Secrest joined the McCarty Center staff a few months after this encounter with Susan.

Susan's first impression of the McCarty Center was not what she expected. "I expected an old, run down, DHS facility where they were doing their best to keep it up," she said. "But instead I found this new, state-of-the-art facility, with bright colors and friendly people. Everyone greeted or acknowledged us when we came in. We loved the friendly treatment. There is no doubt that the employees from top to bottom have a heart for these kids."

Susan had expected Luke to be at the McCarty Center for two years of speech-language therapy. Luke's speech was bad and declining. She didn't think Luke would ever be able to speak or speak well. Within months of beginning his therapy treatments at the McCarty Center Luke was speaking smoothly. According to Susan, Luke's teachers believe his speech is his strongest asset right now. "Being able to speak has brought out his musical abilities," said Susan. "That boy loves to sing."

The Linn's adoptive children have brought them joy. Susan says they bring them joy everyday in someway, it's usually something small. An example of that joy comes from Jake. "We'd always been told that Jake would be non-verbal," Susan said, "but his first words were mama. Michael and I just looked at each other and laughed and cried at the same time."

Even though the Linn household has relocated to Prague, Susan continues to bring her kids to the McCarty Center for weekly outpatient therapy appointments. The kids receive physical, occupational and speech therapy. "It's a small sacrifice for a great reward for my kids," said Susan. "I don't believe that I could find what we get here anywhere else. I get encouragement here," she said, "I don't get pity and I appreciate that."

Jake Linn (right) travels to the J. D. McCarty Center in Norman each week from Prague, Oklahoma, for outpatient therapy. Three-year-old Jake receives physical, occupational and speech therapy. Jake's mom, Susan Linn, says the drive is a small sacrifice for the great rewards her kids get from being at the McCarty Center. Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Mikki Patten gives Jake a high five for his successful completion of an eye/hand coordination exercise.

Susan Linn from Prague, Oklahoma, sits with her adopted children in the waiting room at the J. D. McCarty Center. After moving back to Prague from Norman she continues to drive to Norman every week so that her children can receive outpatient therapy services at the McCarty Center. "It's a small sacrifice for a great reward for my kids. I don't believe that I could find what we get here anywhere else. I get encouragement here, I don't get pity and I appreciate that," Linn said. Linn's children are (l-r) Jake, age three, Addey, almost two, and Luke, age five.