Twelve years ago, Lena’s life changed on a freezing Tuesday morning when, on her trash route, she found a stroller with twin baby girls abandoned on the sidewalk. Alone, cold, and shivering, they had no note, no ID. She stayed with them until police and social services arrived.
That night, she couldn’t stop thinking about them. Her husband Marcus suggested fostering the twins. Despite learning the girls were profoundly deaf, they said yes. They named them Iris and Calla, learned sign language, and devoted themselves to raising them.
Years later, the twins’ creativity flourished. At twelve, they designed adaptive clothing for children with disabilities. Their school project caught the attention of a company, turning into a $500,000 collaboration. Lena realized the girls had saved her as much as she had saved them.