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A year of momentous "firsts" for Aslan Aslanov
Aslan Aslanov in the special brace in which he took his first steps ever.
Photo: Cheryl VanDaalen
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"Oh ... my ... GOSH!"
These were the first words spoken by 12-year-old Aslan Aslanov at the Cerebral Palsy KIDS Center in Louisville, Kentucky, as he used the "joystick" on a demo electric wheelchair to move himself about.
It was the first time in his life that Aslan, who has cerebral palsy, could move where he wanted to go all by himself.
The past year has been one of momentous "firsts" for Aslan, a Meskhetian Turk refugee resettled with his family to the United States in February 2006 by Church World Service affiliate Kentucky Refugee Ministries and Springdale Presbyterian Church.
Growing up in southern Russia, Aslan had received no therapy or treatment for his disabilities. Nor had he been able to go to school as a handicapped child, even though he had wanted to, badly.
But within his first four months in Louisville, Aslan had his first wheelchair, started physical and occupational therapy, and was enrolled in a class for exceptional children at Westport Traditional Middle School.
In July, at Kosair Children's Hospital, pediatric orthopedic surgeon Dr. Laura Jacks operated on both of his hips. That made possible another "first" – Aslan's first steps ever, with the help of physical therapist Malinda Goins and a special brace device. He also was equipped with a "trainer" so he could practice walking at home.
This May, Aslan completed his first full year of school. "He has a wonderful teacher, Ms. Jamie Gallagher, who has opened a whole new world of wonder for Aslan," said Cheryl VanDaalen, Coordinator of Springdale's Refugee Family Sponsorship and Resettlement Committee. "Aslan has been soaring, soaring! He is an amazing young man!"
Aslan's family is the third refugee family to be sponsored by Springdale Presbyterian Church in recent years. The congregation welcomed a three-member Liberian family about four years ago, and Aslan's uncle's family in January 2006.
"Lee Welsh of Kentucky Refugee Ministries told us about Khusan and Gulchekhra Aslanov and their four children, including baby twins. This Meskhetian Turk refugee family needed cosponsorship and was scheduled to arrive the following week!" VanDaalen recounted.
"Pastor Whit Malone and Associate Pastor Jean Davidson put out calls for help from the pulpit Sunday morning, and everything began flowing in: identical matching twin cribs from two different families, clothing, household goods, gift certificates, money, two car seats, offers for rides and tutoring, help with medical needs, job offers … the list went on and on! Members cleaned and furnished a two-bedroom apartment for the family in just a few days."
A Springdale contingent met the Aslanovs at the airport and accompanied them to their new apartment, where extended family members had prepared a feast and welcoming party for them.
Soon VanDaalen learned that Khusan's twin brother Khasan, his wife Gulnora, and their three children, including Aslan, also were coming to Louisville. She asked herself, "Dare we help another family due to arrive in just a few days? What would the Mission Committee say? Would the folks at Springdale think I had finally lost my mind? Would my friends change their phone numbers?"
"I needn't have worried," she reported. "God called. Springdale answered."
The church agreed to full cosponsorship. "Nancy Dutton, Springdale's former parish nurse minister, said yes to helping Aslan with his medical needs. Once again, donations poured in. Pastor Whit's call to ‘sister churches' resulted in even more abundance. Harvey Browne Memorial Presbyterian Church gathered furniture and huge amounts of household goods," plenty for both Aslan's family and for other refugees.
The words "dream" and "miracle" pepper VanDaalen's reflections on the past year. The Aslanovs' dream of good medical care for Aslan. The miracle of Aslan's first wheelchair, first steps, first school.
"The hundreds of hours of volunteering, advocacy, tutoring, transporting, and sharing have translated into a blessing for our congregation," VanDaalen said. "I think of my own trepidation when I contemplated all of the ‘what ifs,' but ultimately we just decided to take that leap. Easier said than done, I know, but I think it is fair to say that the experience was transformative spiritually for all of us, and in ways we never anticipated! I have learned if we just say yes to God, God will take care of ALL the details!
"The Aslanovs have taught us about hospitality, the love of family and friends, everyone sharing and helping one another, resilience, a sense of humor, the joy of a shared meal and a cup of tea, she continued. "One thing our church has learned, too, after sponsoring many refugee families is how amazingly resilient and self-sufficient they are.
"Perhaps one reason congregations hesitate is the fear that they will be asked to do too much, or be too much, to a refugee family. The reality is they just need our friendship, support, and a bit of a lift to get their new lives going here in America.
"Our church loves working with refugee families," she concluded. "Right now we are sponsoring a Somali refugee family and are really enjoying the experience!"
Adapted from Cheryl VanDaalen's article for Spring 2007 In Spirit, newsletter of Kentucky Refugee Ministries.
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