The Adoption Reunion Chronicles — taking the bad with the good
Since Tuesday’s blog posting schedule is generally for my design team work for Queen Kat, I decided to do a second blog post today, August 22,2011.
I am posting pictures of Lexie and Buttercup shortly after grooming to give you something fun to look at while reading the bitter and sicking truth.
I am documenting dates here on the blog so that later on I will be able to recall them without looking else where.
Today’s afternoon entry is very hard for me. It will chronicle some of the details in which circumstances necessitated my being put into foster care and later adopted.
I’ll keep this part kinda short since the details are pretty horrendous.
Please keep in mind that Dorthy was 14 and married. When I was about 9 months old she was staying with a lady for whom she baby sat. The lady called social services to have me evaluated and was afraid if nothing was done “She will surly die”.
Hard words to read, they give me goose bumps. I was found to have skin so thin that my bones where visible. I could not hold up my head nor could I grasp things. I was filthy dirty and was sleeping in a small bed with dirty blankets and my diaper not only was soiled, but I had well — tummy issues.
I was taken and placed into foster care, the direct record seems to indicate I was kept in the hospital for about 2 weeks because of the severe malnutrition and dehydration.
The report goes on to give information about my birth mother’s attempt to re-gain custody of “her babies”, but circumstances where not good.
Barbara was born and within two months taken to the ER the doctor who examined her found her to be “Mal-nourished and in pitiful shape”. Once released from the hospital she was placed into the same foster family as I was in.
The report details how my birth mother’s home was found and it indicated the residence to be so deplorable that it wasn’t fit for her much less two young children.
Yes, before you ask, my feelings and plans to be re-united with my birth mother have not changed. I did explain to her that I was angry and even why. I also wanted to let her know that I honestly understood. I kinda lied about that part. Even at age fourteen I knew a baby needed baby food, and bottles.
I have asked Dorthy to go and check her mailbox as the small scrapbook I made her (after being mailed on August 16) was finally delivered. I assured her that she could call me tomorrow.
Today I just need some space and time to process what where very harsh words. I told her to enjoy her pictures. It is hard to place myself in her shoes, I can’t imagine what it was like.
We where taken from her and for good reason. She was crying when I spoke with her last, 46 years of guilt, pain and anguish that will not end. I am sure she is haunted by visions of Barbara and I and how sick we had become from lack of basic care. The report is long and detailed. What I have shared is only a quick glimpse into the words contained there.
Time to re-group. I am humbled by this experience more than I can place into words. I am thankful for who I am and where the Lord has me now.
Love your family never stop.
August 22, 2011 @ 11:57 pm
Oh Loretta, my heart goes out to you. That was very hard to read, and I'm sure that was your "nice" version. Thank God for the lady who called about you and your sister! I can't imagine a 14 year old being a mother. You were truly being looked out for by some Angels above, I'm sure, or you probably wouldn't be with us today. Hugs to you!!!