>From "Dialog", Winter 2010, a publication of Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries: "Now-grown Orphan Starts Fund to Honor the 'only mother he ever knew' " As a young child, Sheldon FEES had a red fire truck. He remembered it vividly but couldn't figure out why it was so important to him. Almost 15 years ago, when FEES attended the 100th anniversary of The Lutheran Home of Topton, which began as a children's home but is now a Diakon Senior Living Community, the significance of the fire truck - and other memories of his childhood - began to make sense to him. Shortly after he was born, FEES came to live at The Lutheran Home when his mother passed away. Even though FEES spent 17 years at the orphanage, he had very few memories of it as an adult. But he did remember the love and kindness offered by one of his caregivers at the baby cottage. "Sarah GABEL provided consistent, loving care, "says FEES. "She didn't just bathe us and teach us our prayers, she loved each of us. She was the closest thing to a mother I ever had." For 29 years, GABEL cared for hundreds of infants at the orphanage. She died in 1950 at the age of 86 and is buried in a small cemetery at The Lutheran Home at Topton, not far from where the baby cottage once stood. Her obituary read: "All who came in contact with her should be an inspiration for us to carry on the work she so nobly began." This tribute to GABEL's life explains why FEES decided to share his memories of his childhood - he wants to encourage others who had the same experience with GABEL to tell their stories and sustain her memory. "She gave her whole life to us and I don't want her to be forgotten," says FEES. As a teenager, FEES tended the flower garden at the orphanage. The tools he used in the garden were kept in the basement of the baby cottage. One day, he went downstairs to get the tools when he saw a red fire truck - his red fire truck. He knew it was his, but he didn't pick it up. He left it in the closet. Many years later, he started thinking about the vehicle. He looked online and in antique stores until he found a truck as he remembered it from his childhood. "I scratched my initials on it," says FEES. "I finally had some closure." He has remembered many other things about his childhood since his visit to The Lutheran Home 15 years ago. Most importantly, he has remembered things about GABEL - how she loved each child and gave her entire life to nurture and raise the child as if he or she was her own. FEE is comforted by the fact that he was loved by Sarah GABEL. ********************************************************************* There is no contact information, but there is a website for Diakon.org Sue Marcus