Family Raises Awareness through Adopted Daughter's Plight

Wow. I am taken aback by the story I came across in the Chicago Tribune, very near my hometown. As a therapist, I worked with a child who had Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). This child had no ability to learn appropriate behavior, was prone to random outbursts and temper tantrums and generally floated along lost in life.

This family adopted a child whose bio-mother lied about her life then later committed suicide. She had been using crack cocaine during her first trimester of pregnancy, leaving the adoptive family in a never-ending spiral of violence from a little girl.


It is so sad but very true; this happens everyday. People adopt children only to find out later they are seriously mentally ill from birth, many with negative prognosis leaving a heartbroken family and now dysfunctional family. Like any other domestic violence case, once the abuser is removed other family members continue their protective behavior, some even adopting the role of abuser.

This family has a blog, linked in the title of this post, saying they brought attention to their family to help all families with the inability to provide medical care for such a child due to the prohibitive cost and general lack of help. The response to the Tribune article was very emotional with many people judging the families actions. They placed the child in a home giving guardianship to the family in hope that she will receive the care she needs there. That action certainly sounds like it is in the best interest of the child and family in general. The blogging style may bring out certain judgmental feelings as the writer is a bit dramatic. The story is true nonetheless.