Editor’s Note: March is Women’s History Month and Spirit of Abilene will be highlighting women who have made a difference in the lives of others. To honor someone, send her name, photo, and reason for the honor to editor@spiritofabilene.com

By Danny Minton

When Francis contracted the German Measles, she had no idea how it would affect the child she was carrying. Medicine at the time had not progressed to know all the effects that the disease could have on unborn children. Robin Elizabeth was born on August 26, 1950. She would be the only natural-born child of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Robin would be diagnosed with Down Syndrome. 

In his book “Growing Up with Roy and Dale,” Roy Jr. (Dusty) wrote about the day his stepmother brought Robin home from the hospital. She cuddled up with Dusty and his sisters, Cheryl and Linda, beside her. “Robin is a very special baby. She’s not very strong, and she’s going to be slower than other babies are. It will take her longer to drink her bottles, and she might not smile or talk as soon as other babies do. It may be a long time before she walks, and she’ll never be able to do many of the things that children can do. We have to take care of Robin just as though she were a delicate little flower, and you must help your daddy and me always protect her.” 

Dusty writes how some doctors encouraged his parents to take Robin home and love her, but most advised that they put her in an institution. However, “they were convinced God had sent Robin to us for a reason, and that they had no right to cast her away.” The family could afford someone to help Robin full-time, but they spent time with her every day, and Robin changed their lives. Dale would care and love her just as she did her other children. 

In August of 1952, the children got the mumps, and although staying away from Robin, she too contracted them. Complications set in, and Robin died a few days before her second birthday. Dale wrote a book, Angel Unaware, about Robin from heaven and how she brought love to the family, bringing them closer to God and inspiring them to help other children. The book would help change how America looked at children with special needs. 

A few years back, I wrote about our oldest son, Scottie, and how the decision changed and affected our lives and family. The story was named Tough Decisions. Like the Rogers family, we decided to keep our child at home. The main burden fell upon my wife, Kathy. She would take the major role in caring for a physically and mentally challenged son and brother, Chris, whom we adopted two years later. There were forty years of changing diapers, feeding four times a day, monitoring nights, and hours of caring for a child who remained at an infant level. I was there to help, but she did most of the work like many mothers of children with special needs.

Dale and Roy with Robin

As I write this, I think of other mothers who have given so much to a child with various needs that require an exceptional level of love. My mind thinks of Laura, Martha, Jessica, Marie, Cindy, and other mothers who have given much of their lives to caring for a child who, years ago, would have been “cast away” while at the same time loving and caring for their other children. It’s a difficult life, but none of these women would ever regret the time and energy they spent loving and caring for the child God had given them. 

Rearing a child is not easy for any mother. The job is a labor of love with long hours and a life of ups and downs, joy and tears, and pride as their child moves on in life. Mothers of children with special needs, like all mothers, will have a life of ups and downs, joy and tears, but in most cases, there will never be a time when they watch their child walk out the door to life on their own. Added to the stress comes the extra costs of caring for a child with special needs. 

Having children changes our lives. However, having a child with special needs gives a whole different perspective on life. Dusty writes how Robin changed the lives of his mom and dad. “Sometimes when a great grief enters your life, there seems to be no way of redeeming the pain. But my mom is an amazing woman, and she somehow sensed that God would sanctify her sadness in the sharing of it. She sat down and wrote a little book about Robin and called it Angel Unaware. She designated all of the royalties to go to the National Association of Retarded Children.” “Dad, too, had changed. After Robin’s death, he began to use Christian music in his shows, and he told the children in his audiences that it isn’t sissy stuff to trust God and go to Sunday School. Even today, we hear testimonies about young boys who gave their lives to Christ because Roy Rogers said it was important.”

Ask any mother of a special needs child if she would “do it again,” and the answer will be, more times than not, “Yes.” Watch a special needs child, and you’ll quickly find out who the most special person in their life is: their mother.

“So Robin did touch our lives. She showed us the value of human life, revealed to us that pain can be redeemed, and taught us the meaning of grace.”

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” Matthew 18:10 (NIV2011)

Danny Minton is a former Elder and minister at Southern Hills Church of Christ