Viki, you've brought tears to my eyes!!
I am literally sitting here crying reading the story of your daughter!!
You see, your story is just what I needed right now! I've mentioned here before that my partner Jen and I are adopting through the state here in Missouri. We've inquired about several sibling groups, and we're just waiting on staffings now. But it's very very likely that we will be placed with a child or children who are very much like your DD was 18 years ago. I try not to say it out loud, but I'm scared to death. I'm so frightened that I won't be the kind of mom who can make that kind of difference in a child's life.
Jen and I have inquired about every child we've seen or been sent profiles for, and we've decided that all we can really do now is to let God decide. We know that we'll be placed with the children we're supposed to have. There is a VERY real and spiritual reason we have traveled down the path that we have, and we are EXACTLY where we're supposed to be. But that doesn't stop me from worrying day and night about whether I'm up for this challenge. All of the children we have inquired about have very special needs (severe emotional/behavioral problems, developmental delays, physical disabilities, etc.). It's one thing to be thrown into it by giving birth to a special needs child, but it's something entirely different when you make the CHOICE to take in such a child. (and you wouldn't believe the comments we've received from several family members about why we would ever choose to parent a less than perfect child...

)
Anyway, just let me say that your daughter's story is SO very inspirational to me, and at JUST the right time! Thank you, and I cannot wait to see her prom pics! Hooray for your DD and for you!
-Christal