My Special Gift from God

On October 14, 1961, Marilyn’s second son was born and was named George. It had been a normal delivery, and he weighed in at 9 lbs, 10 oz.  He had an older brother John, who was 13 months old.

The first six months of George’s life were very normal.  He ate good, developed eye contact, rolled over, and smiled.  He was well loved.  However, at six months, he developed an ear infection, and Marilyn took him to the doctor who gave him a shot of penicillin.  Two days later, he had a convulsion.  Marilyn wrapped him in a blanket and rushed him to the hospital.   After a complete examination, his doctor was convinced he had Meningitis and needed to be taken to county hospital where they had a communicable disease ward.  Meningitis is an infection to the covering of the brain.

After two spinal taps, it was confirmed that George did have Meningitis. The infection had spread from his ear to the covering of his brain.  For six days, Marilyn was with him in the hospital, not being able to pick up and cradle her son who so much wanted to be held.

After being brought home, George’s convulsions began again. During this time, George was developing normally, sitting up, and walking at nine months. George was a pretty baby and smiled a lot. Trying to teach George to eat with a spoon was a challenge, for as soon as she would turn away from him, he would revert back to eating with his fingers.

Her doctor decided later that George should have some tests to find the reason for his convulsions.  So George was taken back to the hospital and he underwent a number of tests. Finally, the results of the tests showed that George had Epilepsy. Marilyn was given a prescription for Phenobarbital for George, and he was given it every day.  It worked; he no longer had any convulsions.

As both John and George grew, it became noticeable that they were developing differently. When Marilyn tried to do normal house work, she would take George with her so that she knew where he was. George had never spoken. His brother John tried to play with him, but George would cut or color on anything John made.  Naptime or bedtime was difficult as George wouldn’t stay in bed.  Marilyn had to lay down with her arms wrapped tight around him to get him to sleep. Marilyn couldn’t potty-train George.

When George was three years old, Marilyn had another baby, Jim, and she realized that it would be very difficult caring for a new baby and be able to take care of George properly and the rest of the family.  It was recommended that they take George to a child psychiatrist to have him evaluated; the result was that George was retarded. 

It was suggested that they place George at Fairview Hospital in Costa Mesa.  It took some time before they had an opening for George.  It was very difficult to take him there as Marilyn cried the whole time she packed his clothes.

Marilyn loved her boy, and she prayed for strength from God to be able to do this.  George was placed in a ward with a number of other children and lived there for about five years.  George was picked up on weekends. When George was nine, he was moved to a ward with older children. He adjusted right away, and he was well liked.  It was difficult knowing that she was unable to raise him herself, and she decided to ‘let God be in charge.’

In 1980, Marilyn married George’s step-dad Jack. They lived close to Fairview, and visited George often. In 1986, Marilyn and Jack moved to Oregon. They decided to leave George where he was as he was happy there, and they were at peace with the decision.  In 2003, George was moved to a group home.

Jack loves George as if he was his own son, so it was hard for Marilyn to convince Jack that they couldn’t look after George themselves. They get reports on George through the mail so they know how he is doing.  George was forty-seven this past October.  Marilyn feels that she is a better person because of George, and feels that she wouldn’t have made it but for her faith and belief that God would get her through each day.  

Helen L. Price

Taken from Marilyn Amorde’s book
“My Special Gift from God”