Toledo was in the spotlight again last night during the Democratic National Convention.Two local twins were mentioned during a catholic nun's speech that criticized Governor Mitt Romney's budget plan. Sister Simone Campbell spoke on behalf of her organization called Nuns on the Bus. The Roman Catholic group serves in poor communities. Last night Sister Simone Campbell mentioned her experience during a stop in Toledo. She told the crowd,
"While we were in Toledo, I met 10 year old twins matt and mark who had gotten into trouble at school for fighting. Sister Virginia and the staff at the Padua Center took them in when they were suspended, and discovered on a home visit that these 10 year olds were trying to care of their bedridden mother who has ms and diabetes...they were the only caregivers. The Sisters got them the medical help and our giving the boys some stability...and now the boys are free to claim their childhood."
Matt and Mark Henderson are now 11 years old, their mother, Samara Smith says last summer she spent 13 days in a coma. "I went into a diabetic coma so I went to sleep and was at home for 3 days and before they noticed I didn't wake up and didn't do anything." Smith has 7 children and says she had to rely on all of them for help because as a single mom she didn't have anyone else. "It kind of hurts a little bit to let my children see me sick, but it's a blessing that I have them, its hard being sick "
Sister Virginia from the Padua Center was one of the nuns who discovered Smith bed ridden in her home. She learned the children were caring for their mom around the clock. She tells 13 ABC, "That weighs on the children I remember Mathew was here one day ...he was not being the best Mathew he could be that day and I pulled him aside and said your sad about your mom aren't you?...and he just started to cry." The nuns from the center made it their personal mission to help this family get the care they need. They gave Smith medical supplies and food for her seven children. Smith says she is feeling better...and is grateful for all the support and the twins are enjoying their moment in the spotlight.
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