Author: Marianne Irwin-Spangler

"She just left him here! This is not right! Where is the justice?  Someone should do something about this! Why will no one do anything to make her responsible?"  He waved his arms in great gestures and banged the baby’s thick metal chart with his hand as he spoke to me. The young doctor, still in his initial weeks of mandatory service at the public hospital, was enraged and horrified. I listened and watched the anger flash in his eyes. I was equal parts shocked and elated to see someone show concern for the abandoned babies that were so often shuffled off into my arms. He ranted on, repeating the same things again and again as he paced in the tiny corridor that led to the ward for sick and premature babies. I knew his anger far too well and just stood there like an oversized bobblehead, my head nodding back...

02 September, 2022 /

Back to school can be a stressful time for any parent but especially if your child - like some of mine - struggles with change or transition; have academic, social, or emotional difficulties; or other types of challenges. If you are feeling anxious about the new school year I’m here today to say you are not alone and that there are some simple things that we can do to help prepare for the new school year. Let’s start by talking about a few ways that we can empower our children to have a great beginning to their school year.  First, be proactive.  You can assure that things start off on the right foot with teachers and administrators by meeting with them beforehand to establish a good working relationship and to share important information about your learner and their needs. But be careful not to miss out on opportunities to assure consistency throughout...

22 August, 2022 /

The unconditional love of a father is a powerful force in the the life of a child. Sadly many of the children that we serve at Legacy of Hope have never experienced the blessing of a safe and loving father. As we celebrate Father’s Day this year I wanted to share the personal reflections of one our Legacy of Hope foster fathers who has been a father to many children over the last several years.  Not only has he been an example to them but his involvement in their lives has been fundamental in helping children to heal, learn to give and receive love and to understand that their preciousness is not based on what they do but rather who they are as his son.  I have witnessed first hand how lives have been changed due to the profound impact of a father’s love. A father can make the difference.  "I have not...

17 June, 2022 /

“Each child that I had the chance to be a sister to left a mark on my heart that will never go away.  I will always remember and love them.  When we can have visits after they go home to their birth family it makes me glad because I love to see how they’ve grown and how happy they are.  In my heart I wish to always be their big sister, to show them right from wrong and to be their role model, but being a foster sister I can’t always have that. I hope that they will be happy and always know how much I love them”  - Catherine, foster sister “When I hear them talk about their birth parents or difficult things that happened it makes me sad.  I wish they always had someone to protect them and never had to suffer those things”  - Dante, foster brother  At Legacy of...

21 April, 2022 /

Emergency care is a short term family style home for children who cannot be with their biological families due to a crisis that has directly affected them. These children, ages 0 through 18 are generally admitted by Honduran children and youth services (DINAF), but sometimes the police or the district attorney’s office bring them to our home.  They stay in our care until the central authority can finish the investigation and legal proceedings of their case. Legacy of Hope currently operates 2 emergency care homes in Santa Rosa de Copan. Each home can house up to 10 children and is staffed by a foster mother who has the support of specially trained staff including a director and case manager, psychologist, teacher, an on call physician. The needs of each child vary depending on their age and life experiences but the most important thing that we offer to each child is a predictable,...

17 March, 2022 /

Did you know that there are only about 100 children currently registered in foster families in Honduras, while nearly 8,000 children live in institutional settings like orphanages or children’s homes?  Those statistics are staggering and are just one more reason why we are so focused on our goal to expand Legacy of Hope's foster care program.    Legacy of Hope is committed to changing the way Honduras cares for orphaned and vulnerable children.  It is our desire that many more children will experience healing in the care of a safe and loving family when they are unable to live with their biological families.  We recently had the privilege to participate in a virtual graduation ceremony for the newest certified foster families across the country.  During the ceremony Legacy of Hope had the distinct honor of graduating 5 families who are now listed in the national registry of foster families, including 2 families...

22 February, 2022 /

The room was dark and I had just finished tucking her into bed.  As I turned to leave she said it, three little words that stopped me in my tracks and made my heart pound.  I was not expecting it and my mind started racing.  It seemed too soon but at the same time somehow right.  I felt strange juxtaposition of emotions, sorrow for the suffering that brought us together and relief coupled with happiness that she felt safe here.  I didn’t have time to think through all the possible responses and outcomes.  It seemed like there should be a right answer but I wasn't sure so I stood there, frozen, the silence between us deafening. “I love you too” my voice sounded small and unfamiliar.  I willed my heavy feet to take the last few steps out of the room and gently closed the door behind me. I didn’t want to...

10 February, 2022 /

Today Honduras inaugurated their first female president. It was an exciting and historic moment! I loved watching the pomp and circumstance of the ceremony held at the completely packed national stadium. There were flags waving, lively music, cheering as each honored guest was announced, the changing of the presidential sash and so much more. It was so special to see how the president had her granddaughter at her side participating in notable ways on this monumental occasion. But most of all, I loved watching my own girls as they witnessed a woman confidently assuming the highest position of power in their country. As they looked to their new president Xiomara Castro they could see themselves and a world of possibilities that they had never considered before. Today in her speech president Xiomara encouraged the girls and women of this country saying, “No more violence against women! I am pushing forward with all...

27 January, 2022 /

As I anticipate all that is to come in 2022 I can’t help but be amazed at how Legacy of Hope has grown and changed over the last 11 years.  We have clung to our calling to help more children receive care in families, but have also adapted to meet the specific needs of the community that we serve.  Let’s take a look back at where we started and how it’s going. In late 2011 my husband and I founded Legacy of Hope and moved to Honduras with our 5 children.  We began working on the North Coast in a small impoverished village, partnering with a local pastor to begin a feeding center and leadership training program.   The work that we did there was so valuable, not only because of the many lives that were impacted, but because we learned so much about about the culture, how to work humbly, listen, interpret the needs...

11 January, 2022 /

In the house next-door there are 3 little boys who are all dreaming of a family.  Each of them has experienced trauma and loss, most before their 1st birthday and then tragically, continually until they came into our care.  The boys have become brothers, learning to love and growing together.  They are rambunctious.  They love to play trucks and crash and bump.  Some of their favorite foods are beans, tortillas, eggs and fried chicken.  They get excited to participate in school lessons via Zoom and in person with the Legacy of Hope Foundation’s teacher.  They look forward to birthday parties and special events. They love to show you what they can do because they are bigger and stronger now.    In so many ways they look and sound like typical kids...

03 November, 2021 /
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