The slightly weathered welcome home sign hangs above the door of the ground-floor apartment in Decatur.
At first it served as a celebration of ShinAe Kim’s return home after a months-long stay in the hospital and a rehab facility.
Then the family decided to keep it up because there always seemed to be relatives coming from South Korea to help the young wife and mother. After losing her hands and feet as the result of an infection, she was readjusting to life at home with a young son amid her own struggle to relearn simple tasks. Another challenge emerged in January, when doctors diagnosed their son with cerebral palsy.
Now the sign serves as a reminder of how far God has brought her physically and spiritually.
“We believe God allowed my wife to stay with us,” said SongYin (John) Paik, 33, who was studying to be a minister at Columbia Theological Seminary when his wife fell ill.
He recently graduated with a master’s of divinity degree. They receive financial help from the family.
The couple were expecting their second child last year when his wife, who speaks little English, became sick. She had headaches, fever and abdominal pain. Her nose turned blue, a sign, said doctors, that her body was going into shock.
At Northside Hospital, she was put on life support as doctors and nurses worked nonstop to save her. She coded while on the operating table. They brought her back. She nearly died from a massive infection that swept through her body after the fetus died.
She lived, but had to have her hands and feet amputated.
“We don’t know why things happened to us, but we know we have a God who’s in charge,” Paik said.
Today, the young family, including their 3 1/2-year-old son, Kevin, are settling into their new normal. Initially, Kim was terrified to return home. She had gotten comfortable at the hospital, where staffers were always popping into her room to check on her. She was worried about pain. Would it go away?
What would it be like when she was on her own?
What kind of mother would she be? What would her world be like with no hands or feet?
Kim, 31, is adjusting to the use of prosthetic arms and legs. She finds victory in performing the simple tasks — ones she once took for granted — such as taking a shower, brushing her hair or teeth, feeding herself or using the vacuum cleaner.
“Sometimes, it’s good,” she said as her husband interpreted. “Sometimes, it’s hard,” such as when she sees other mothers with children Kevin’s age.
“It makes me realize that there are things I can’t do for Kevin, and sometimes I have to rely on them (other moms or her family) when Kevin needs assistance.” For instance, teaching her young son arts and crafts, a pastime she enjoyed, is harder now.
When he notices that there are things mommy can’t do, Kevin will go to dad or grandma.
“At first, it was kind of sad,” Kim said. “Now I accept the reality that there are things I can do and things I cannot (do).”
Getting the prosthetics was huge, although she sometimes still uses a wheelchair. Her prosthetic arms have patterns of birds, and flowers so Kevin won’t be afraid of them and there is an uplifting vibe. Rob Kistenberg from Prosthetic Hope International provided the prosthetics free of charge, primarily through fundraisers and private donations.
“I didn’t want to be scary,” she said. She used laminated fabric.
Kim, who regained some of the more than 10 pounds she lost from her 78-pound, slightly more than 5-foot-tall frame, said she found freedom she only dreamed of since her illness. Going to the grocery store, for instance, lifted her spirits. She hopes to return to driving soon.
She still must be careful, If it’s wet outside and the ground is slippery, Kim treads carefully because she doesn’t immediately get “feedback” from her “feet.” It’s harder for her to adjust and react immediately.
The family has faced other hurdles. After her illness, doctors diagnosed their son with cerebral palsy, an abnormality of motor function and posture that is acquired at an early age, sometimes even before birth. Paik also ran into problems when his student visa expired. It was later reinstated.
Before her illness, Kim could never envision a life without her limbs. “When people see me and I have a smile on my face, I hope it inspires them,” she said. “I’m so grateful that I’m able to smile despite all that has happened and what I’ve gone through. I want to tell people how happy I am.”
The family has received help from the Korean community and the community at large.
Lawrenceville resident Raymond Wozniak heard about the family’s plight from a friend.
“Immediately, my heart went out to them,” said Wozniak, a retired corrections counselor. “Certainly, this is a situation that required the love of Christ from all those who are touched by their situation.”
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