Oh my poor, poor baby. I just got her social welfare report today. It's not finalized. This was just a "soft" copy. But it is the most information I have seen about Mabel. I won't be sharing this on my public/other blog.
I don't know if I have mentioned this before, but Mabel's case is somewhat unique because it is her mother that abandoned her, and her father that relinquished her. I just found out today how bad it was with her mother. Sweet baby....mother tried to abort her "many" times during pregnancy. When that didn't work she started drinking heavily and eventually poisoned herself with "DDT" (still have to research what that is). Eventually the mother abandoned Mabel to the father's family and has now completely disappeared.
What a survivor Mabel is. How did she make it through all of that? It also makes me wonder what additional challenges she may have in the future. Alcohol and poisoning in utero is no small thing. I don't *see* any signs of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome but will certainly be researching that more in the coming weeks. FAS scares me to death, to be quite honest. If anybody has any experience with it, I'd like to hear what they have been.
I'm not just saying this because we hope to adopt Mabel, but it is exactly kids like her who truly benefit from international adoption. She is the type of kid I do this for. She's not unique. We've got many others who TRULY need to be placed internationally. It SICKENS me to hear more and more often of agencies that I believe are in Ghana for the wrong reason. They seek out healthy babies and "perfect" kids. They are going to feel my wrath if they compromise adoptions for those children who truly are in need.
BTW, I know it's not kosher to share this type of information about your child. I just wanted to share with you all, so you get an idea for the extent of the need for some of our kids in Ghana.
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Oh Anita, that just tears me up inside. How anyone could do that to a baby, I'll never know. I don't envy the talks with her about her birthmother when she's old enough. Such a fine line between not tearing down a birthparent and representing the truth.
ReplyDeleteI've done some research on FAE based on some of Sophia's issues and there are a ton of great sites out there. There is one in particular that I recommend, but I can't find it in my folders. I'll do a search and send you the link when I find it.
Also, DDT is a pesticide. I'm not sure if she used the DDT that I think of though. Perhaps there is something else in Ghana with those initials?
I'll be praying for your little girl.
Poor baby...she's been through a lot in her short little life...
ReplyDeleteDDT is a pesticide. It used to be used widely here in the US, but was banned when it was discovered that bird populations (like Bald Eagles and others) were being decimated because their eggs were too soft (thus no reproduction). Think Rachel Carson's Silent Spring (book that examined this connection and inspired the banning of DDT in the US). DDT is still widely used in Africa to treat for mosquitoes. In humans, though, it is a cancer-causing agent. Its a trade-off for the people of Africa...either they die from malaria because of the mosquitoes, or they take the chance of getting cancer from all the DDT. There's also some research that shows that DDT is causing birth defects in amphibians in areas where it is still being used. I've never heard of anyone poisoning him/her self with DDT before, but I can't imagine it would be good. I have absolutely no idea how it might have affected Mabel...if the pesticide DDT is indeed what the mom tried to poison herself with.
Chanda
I too know that DDT is a no-longer used pesticide in the USA.
ReplyDeleteI will be praying that sweet Mabel has been protected from what her birth mother tried to do and that she does not suffer any ill effects : short term or long term from her mother's tormented, desperate and deceived state of mind. YES MA'AM!! YOur baby girl is a fighter AND a survivor!
love
Linda
Oh Anita... my mommy heart just hurts for yours. It is SO very hard to think about how these children have suffered at the hands of those that were supposed to love, cherish and care for them. Our Solomon and Belane both have scars from terrible abuse and suffering... it is just so hard.
ReplyDeleteI am praying for beautiful Kendi and for all of you. Thank goodness she has you!!
Hugs,
E