If you're a regular reader of this blog, you probably know that my friend Hilary picked up Baby K straight from the hospital at 3 days old as a "short term" placement. She is now nearly nine month old.
{Sorry, I'm not allowed to show Baby K's face on my blog…so photos of Apollo will have to suffice}
She is now in very real danger of being moved away from the only family she has known and loved…not because it will be better for her but because of state "policies"…none of which are in her best interest.
Hilary and her family are once again facing the reality of losing a child they love. While you might say that's part of their "job" as foster parents, they have also poured every ounce of love and care they have into this baby girl. They have taken her for weekly visits to her birth parents, given them photos, and overall formed a good relationship with them. Unfortunately, the birth parents won't ever be able to parent their precious baby….I don't know the details of K's case- they are all confidential, but I do know if she is moved right now it is for political reasons- not because anyone thinks she will be better off in her new placement.
{Read Hilary's recent post about it here}
I also know that my friend is hurting deeply…she is terrified Baby K will be moved and (and really, who knows how many times?) and develop Reactive Attachment Disorder. Why is this such a fear of Hilary's? Perhaps because she lives with the affects of RAD every day in her home. She knows how damaging these moves are to the very soul of a child. If you're a long time reader, you probably remember Gideon and Molly being placed with them, for adoption, back in 2009…and left 2 1/2 months later (after being told by caseworkers this was their "forever family") with little warning to go with relatives who suddenly decided they wanted to adopt them. Gideon and Molly were returned, just as abruptly, months later when the relatives (who they were told would now be their "forever family") returned them…unfortunately they returned much more damaged children….children who have learned time after time, no one can be trusted…no one.
Please pray. Pray for Hilary. Pray for Baby K. And pray most of all, that the system changes. And then don't just pray. Call your state representatives (as Hilary has) become aware of what is going on in your state…and please, for Baby K's sake, get involved.
