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SALT LAKE CITY — The road of life can be full of twists and turns.
Some of those are made even more difficult when you add physical and mental hardships into the mix.
Eryka is 11-years-old, though her brain will never fully develop.
“She has P-36 deletion syndrome, Epilepsy,” said her caseworker, Lorry Stufflebeam.
Eryka requires 24-hour care day and night.
“She can't feed herself, go to the bathroom by herself. She is pretty immobile. So she does like to cross her legs, you know when she's excited — flail her arms,” Stufflebeam said. “From time to time I will get smiles or noises.”
But those who know her best, catch glimpses of who this special girl is. And with those smiles comes the spirit of an 11-year-old girl.
“Her foster grandmother, I've seen her react adorably towards her, she has recognition,” Stufflebeam said. “She'll bring in clothes and Eryka gets so excited, just like a normal 11-year-old girl would get excited over clothes.”
Stufflebeam believes she will be just as excited for a loving permanent home.
“They're children, they deserve moms and dads. Every child deserves a permanent forever home, with parents that will love them and care for them and ensure they are not abused or neglected at all,” Stufflebeam said. “Every life is precious. Eryka is precious. She's a child that deserves what every child gets, whether she has special needs or not. She's loved and needs to be loved, a part of a family.”
And like Maya Angelou said - Love recognizes no barriers.
“She's a special soul and Eryka has definitely touched my life. She's gonna touch somebody else’s life - it's meant for her.”
