Dear Bill,
          
The meeting between the girls...
 BS> Thank you, Valery!  I realize that in many ways it's not a small mile-
 BS> stone, but there is *so* much still to do, and it's going to take
 BS> years yet.  But last night we saw pictures of the meeting, for the
 BS> first time.  Wow.
Oh, that has got to feel absolutely wonderful to see your girls together
even if it is just pictures.  Michelle has been home for about 2 and 1/2
months now, and I still get tears in my eyes when I see her and Jessica
teasing each other in OUR home, not some d*mn park or restaurant with 
a supervisor watching and listening to everything.  I will never take 
that feeling for granted again.
 BS> Our second daughter was a miracle.  Kathy became pregnant while we
 BS> were still under supervision (before we lost at the state supreme court
 BS> and were sent to prison).  We had long since known that if the State
 BS> knew, they'd arrange to take the baby away at birth.  
 
Yep, I know plenty of people it has happened to.  One woman I've talked 
to has lost three children at birth.  She is disabled (stroke victim) and
has heart problems, and every single one of her children have been taken
right from the hospital because they are convinced she can not take care
of them.  She has never even been given the chance.  Unfortunately, there
is nothing I can do for her since she refuses to even get a public 
defender and chooses instead to go into court and yell at the judge.  Of
course, with half her face paralyzed, she sounds drunk or stoned when
she's in court, so no one listens to her.  But then, she isn't listening
to anyone else either.  
 
 BS> Our attorney drew up two sets of adoption papers; one for before the 
 BS> birth and the second after (how many people have their attorney 
 BS> present for the birth?). The birth was at a friend's house in another 
 BS> county (now he knows a number of the Wenatchee defendants).  
 
Wow!  Now that's a story a grandchildren will love!  I think it's so  
incredible that you even pulled it off, and what a victory!!!!
 
 BS> Washington state sent an assistant attorney general there, after
 BS> they'd learned, to try to fetch her back.  The judge threw him out of
 BS> court. 
 
HA HA HA HA HA  Good Deal! 
 
 BS> It was several years before Beth could be told that she had a
 BS> younger sister.
I hate it when the system forces us to keep things from our children.
We were accused of "keeping secrets" from Michelle, and then condemned
for "not being open and honest" with her.  We were court ordered not
to discuss any element of the case with her.  No matter which way we
went, we were d*mned if we did, and d*mned if we didn't.  Of course,
your situation was different, but the system is still responsible for it.
 BS> But their visit was very good; the girls are attached to each other.
 BS> It's started questions from both the girls, but all is for the good.
That's great!  They need to ask questions, Bill, and at least now they
know they have each other.  The system may be able to keep them apart
physically, but they will always be sisters.  
Val
~~~ ReneWave v1.00.wb2 (unregistered)
--- Mankind = One Family
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