🟣人間は様々な悩みを抱え苦しいとき、とかく自分は不幸だとか運がないとかと考えがちだが、そんな時は自分のことばかりに意識が集中して視野が狭くなっている。
世の中は広い。
自分の抱える悩みなどちっぽけなものだと感じさせてくれ、元気と勇気を与えてくれる動画を紹介する。
🟣スーザン・トムとは？
難病や障害を持つ子供たちを引き取り養親として育てている人物。
彼女の生活を撮ったドキュメンタリー「My Flesh & Blood」は、2003年の「国際アムステルダムドキュメンタリー映画祭観客賞」、「サンダンス映画祭監督賞/観客賞」を受賞した。
この物語は、アメリカのカリフォルニア州に住む養親のスーザン・トムと難病や障害を持つ養子たちの１年間の記録ドキュメンタリー。
スーザンは夫と離婚して2人の実子と11人の養子たちと暮らしてる。
各々の子どもたちは手足に障害を持ったり、全身に火傷を負っていたり、また難病や知的障害を抱えていたりする。
15歳のジョーは水嚢胞性繊維症という病を持ち、4歳の時にスーザン宅にくる。
ADHDという発達障害もあり、他の養子やスーザンともよく衝突をして困らせるが、彼には生みの母親がいて時々面会にも訪れる。
しかし、母親は彼を残して再婚し、オレゴンに去ってしまう。
それからしばらくして彼は呼吸困難となり、スーザンに見とられてこの世を去る。
「あの子は嵐の様な子だったわ。でも苦労とは思わなかった。私の子ですもの」
「子どもはすばらしいものを秘めた宝物。喜びも悲しみもわけてくれる」
「病気も障害も何もかもひっくるめて私の子です」
と話すスーザンに、無条件で愛されている子どもたちの生き生きとした表情が印象に残る。
■YOUTUBE動画：
●紹介動画
◼️My flesh and blood フルストーリー (英語字幕設定あり)
●感動という単純な言葉では到底表現できない。
このドキュメンタリーを見ればいかに自分が恵まれているか、自分の悩みなどなんてちっぽけなものかを教えてくれる。
幼いころ、障害をもって生まれてきた為、親が養育を放棄した子供たちを引き取って一人で育てているスーザン。
両足のない子、全身大やけどを負った子、嚢胞性線維症の子･･･。
その子供達から想像できないほどの悩みをぶつけられ、真正面から受け止めるスーザン。
そして子供達は前向きに生きようとしていく。その姿に悲愴感はなく、カリフォルニアの太陽のようにからっと明るい。
本当の意味で「生きている」。
2003年の「国際アムステルダムドキュメンタリー映画祭観客賞」、「サンダンス映画祭監督賞/観客賞」受賞作品。
●July 7, 2016のニュース
Meet Susan Tom, the Super Mom of 11 Children with Special Needs
https://www.lpfch.org/publication/meet-susan-tom-super-mom-11-children-special-needs
◼️Who is Susan Tom?
・EB mom (Susan Tom) on Rosie’s Show
Susan Tom (born 1948) is a woman from Fairfield, California, who became famous when HBO aired a documentary, “My Flesh and Blood,” about her in 2003.
Tom is the biological mother of two children, and the adoptive mother of eleven children with special needs.
Susan was previously married and adopted her first two children, while still with her husband.
Following the birth of her two now fully grown boys, Jeremy and Ben, Susan decided that she wanted a girl and adopted her daughter Emily from South Korea.
Following Emily’s adoption, the social worker from her case again got in contact with Susan and inquired as to if she’d be able to take in a newborn suffering from failure to thrive and numerous other health conditions, Margaret.
According to Susan, it’s at this point her and her husband, Philip, began to drift apart.
Eventually, the strain was too much and the couple separated. Over the next decade, Susan went on to adopt 9 other children with special needs.
Children who likely wouldn’t have found stable homes otherwise.
In her own words, Susan explained the drastic expansion as follows, “Well from three to four isn’t that much of a jump and at that point what’s five? After five, the noise isn’t going to get any louder and you’re already cooking big meals so, well- it’s not that hard to get to twelve.”
Susan Tom was nominated, in 2003, for the “Most Inspirational Person of the Year Award”, sponsored by beliefnet.com.
Tom lost that award to Archbishop Joseph O’Malley, but she was later awarded with assembly woman Louis Wolk’s “Woman of the Year” award, which was given on March 24, 2003 in Sacramento.
Susan Tom and two of her friends established the “Susan Tom Family Foundation”, which aims to educate the public about various diseases that affect children and which accepts donations for her families education.
In the summer of 2005, the show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition built Susan and her family a new house.
The Toms went to Walt Disney World while the EM team built the house. The show mentioned Anthony’s death (a few clips of him from My Flesh and Blood showed up during the episode).
■Tom’s children：
Here is a partial list of Tom’s children and their characteristics:
・Anthony: (b.1982-d.2004) Anthony had a rare skin disease that usually does not allow people to reach adulthood and he died from cancer in December 2004.
・Faith: Faith suffered burns as an infant. She has excelled as a student and overcome the constant taunts of fellow students. Faith is also an avid reader.
・Hannah: An avid swimmer, Hannah was born without legs. She maintains a great relationship with her adoptive sister, Xenia, in particular. As stated on Extreme Makeover, she loves to draw.
・Joe (b.1987–d.2002): Joe had psychological problems, as well as cystic fibrosis. Arguably the most outspoken of Tom’s children during the documentary, he died of cystic fibrosis complications while the documentary was being filmed.
・Margaret: Margaret was adopted by Tom, following brain surgery as an infant, and she has no current major health problems. She has become Tom’s top assistant and a loving sister to her adoptive siblings. Margaret is in school to become a nurse.
・Xenia: Also born without legs, Xenia is an avid figure skater, using her arms to practice her favorite sport. Xenia is described by her family as flirtatious and has had some significant boy friendships during her life. As seen on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Xenia stated she wanted to travel the world, specifically Africa (she was born in Russia). She also has an interest in photography and has a great sense of humor. When getting into the new car EM gave Margaret, Xenia got in and joked, “Look at all the legroom!!”
・Olivia(Livvy): Livvy was born with spina bifida, uses a wheelchair, and loves board games.
Cloe: Cloe was born with the inability to bend her elbows and knees. She has an interest in fashion.
・Katie: Katie was born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and is mentally challenged. Katie loves the Backstreet Boys.
・Susie: (b.1978-d.1999) Had the same rare skin disease as Anthony (Epidermolysis bullosa). She died at age 21, prior to the filming of My Flesh and Blood
・Emily: adopted from Korea by Tom during her marriage.