The girl in the window

[petemc]

I warn you now, this story may break your heart. Danielle, the girl in the window. (http://www.tampabay.com/features/humaninterest/article750838.ece) Rescued at 7 after spending her life as a human gerbil. She can't speak, she may never speak. I just don't know what to say really. Its 2008 and we have all this amazing technology yet who really knows what happens next door. :'(

[Tak]

That is so sad - nothing on this planet has the ability to be as cruel as human beings can be :(

But the progress Dani has made, it gives a bit of hope too, there are good and patient people about. Its just a shame they have to fix the mess the cruel ones leave in their wake.

[Kell_ee001]

That's heartbreaking :'( And the way the natural mother was defending herself :shocked: She didn't sound even the slightest bit apologetic!

[Greenlizard0]

It's horrible that. Though the news article is very well written to invoke.

Environmental autism. Heard that concept before with Soviet orphan children. Basically kept in room with giant cribs/cots such that they had almost no interaction at all.

[Knipples]

God I just spent about half an hour reading that, what a heartbreaking story.
People like her mother make me sick.

[petemc]

I was so amazed that the cop held back, even with what he said.

[Tiggy]

Words escape me.

I've read about the girl called Genie that they mentioned, and watched the film that was made about her. And I've also watched documentaries about feral children. How can things like this happen?

My 2 children are both safe and warm in their beds, their tummies probably digesting the picnic we had for tea. I always worry that as a Mother I'll never be all they deserve.

But compared to the parents that we hear about in these sad circumstances where the children are treated as animals or beaten or subjected to other methods of abuse, even killed by their own parents, my kids are so lucky to have me.

I'm going to go and tuck them in now and watch them both sleep for a while.

[Tiggy]

I stumbled across this on facebook the other day. I've read it so many times over the past few years, and it always reduces me to tears. I'm going to share it just incase there is anyone here who hasnt managed to see it before.

To My Child

Just for this morning, I am going to smile when I see your face and laugh when I feel like crying.
Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear, and smile
and say how perfect it is.
Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.
Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach
me how to put that puzzle of yours together.
Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles..
Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you
scream and whine for the ice cream truck, and I will buy you one if he
comes by.
Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you
grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are
concerned.
Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand
over you trying to fix them.
Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald's and buy us both a Happy
Meal so you can have both toys..
Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about
how you were born and how much I love you.
Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.

Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch
and count all the stars.
Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my
favorite TV shows.
Just for this evening when I run my finger through your hair as you pray, I
will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever
given.
I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching for their missing children, the
mothers and fathers who are visiting their children's graves instead of
their bedrooms, and mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly, and screaming inside that they can't
handle it anymore.
And when I kiss you goodnight I will
hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that I will thank
God for you, and ask him for nothing, except one more day.

[Piggymon]

How very sad :(

[lostkat]

Absolutely unbelievable. That poor little girl. How can anyone do that to their child and then try and justify it? I just can't understand it. It does look like she's getting some quality of life now, even if she'll never be able to lead a normal life. I just feel desperately sorry for her.

[Pebs]

*rage*:angry:

[Lomster]

Bah just spent ages reading that and crying ;(
That poor little girl how can anyone do that to a child :( I love my Children so much and reading that has made me cry so much.
Dani has such an amazing life now with so much love and she is being loved and cared for and getting the life she deserves.
Would be nice If there was a blog of her so people can read her progress.
Her new family are amazing. onwards and upwards for the little angel :)

[Dee]

Thanks for posting that Pete. I just said to Garp, things like this never seem to phase me anymore because it happens so often, awful I know :( But this had me gripped.

Terrible story, but a fascinating read, sounds like she is making brilliant progress :)

[Wryel]

I guess when the father died no one picked up on the fact that no one in the family was capable of looking after the son or the daughter. Or the mother for that matter. I've never met anyone that had an IQ of 77, I don't know if they would be capable of looking after themselves, let alone a mentally retarded young adult and a baby?

[Garp]

That's just crap.. can't believe the social services didn't sort things out the first time :(

I admire the police officer, I'm not sure I could have been so taciturn if I'd been the one collecting her.