The Girl in the Window (St. Petersberg Times)
I don't have much to say about this, really. I'm not sure what there is to say. But I thought this was important, and if you trust my judgment and if you have ever been touched by Schuyler and the strange, internal world that she sometimes occupies but now has the tools to leave when she wants, then please go read this story, of a little girl who lives in that world permanently, and the horrible reason she got there in the first place.
(via Dooce)
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UPDATE, 8/13 - They've posted a follow-up article.
26 comments:
This story, and that of Danieal Kelly, has re-shaken my faith in humanity. But at least Dani in the window has someone waiting for her at the end.
I am so delighted to have happened upon your blog. All the best!
WOW, That is an amazing story that really pulls on your heartstrings. I am a special education teacher in Atlanta and I work with chilren like your sweey daughter but I also have worked with kids who are so incredibly violent because they are so locked in their own world that they are so scared of anyone trying to help them. You are an amazing father for never giving up! BTW One of my students just got her first BBOW "Springboard from PR" and she is doing great with it!
My heart hurts. But wow, those parents are real-life heroes. Amazing.
That any child would have to live like that is so very sad. Her adoptive parents are strong and amazing.
Thanks Rob.
Tear.
I'm sorta glad you posted about this so I could also share this with other friends. These stories are only as good as the change they bring in others. And this one is a five-hanky. So here's to everyone hugging their kids tighter and NOTICING what goes on around them.
This broke my heart to read. I can't imagine treating any living creature that way. Good Lord, I feel guilty when I don't kill a bug cleanly and it suffers. How could you do that to your own child? Any child?
But her new family, her TRUE family, are so wonderful. Their caring and generosity have touch my heart.
Thanks for sharing that. A very touching story for anyone who loves or works with children.
This story just breaks my heart, I know it's suppose to have a happy ending...
But how does this happen? Especially after the authorities were called more that once! Thank goodness for people like her new family.
Am I the only one who felt a tug for *William*? Poor kid, he's suddenly gone to second-class status with his own parents! Why didn't they give Dani *their* room instead of relegating their son to the lonely dark of their laundry room?
Thanks Rob, what a tear jerker. What great parents.
cairsten - If you look below the article, it explains who they interviewed and such, but it also says the family moved. I assume that William being in the laundry room was temporary and he probably has his own room now. I don't think he is neglected, its just different going from an only child to a brother of a special needs child. he is a great brother though.
yeah, i thought of you guys when i read that on dooce's blog. :/
Cairsten, they probably can't fit a bed big enough for two adults into the laundry room. And while I do have sympathy for William, I'm sure that he is still given lots of love and support. Hopefully, he has his own room again and as Dani has grown more capable (toilet trained, able to feed herself, etc.) he has been able to have more of his parents attention.
Rob,
I have read about her in the past but not this updated story.
Thank you.
Shannon in Austin
Hope you all are well.
I work in Plant City, where this little girl is from, as a family advocate. When I first heard of her story, all I could think is that there were services just down the road..how, why, how, why??? and my heart aches for this child. I'm so glad to see people calling attention to her story. Maybe it will save the next child.
I read this today (via Dooce also) and was going to email you to see if you'd read it, too. But then I remembered that EVERYONE reads Dooce, so of course you'd have seen it already.
Unbelievable. All I could think as I read it was a constant refrain of "oh my god. oh my god. oh my god."
you know, it's funny - as soon as i read this via dooce's site, i thought of you, and thought you'd be interested to read it (i think because the adoptive parents talked about using a device to help dani talk). i'm glad that it found you.
I read this yesterday.
Last night, not knowing the plot, I watched The Martian Child on DVD. I cried the whole time and then for about an hour last night.
I am so relieved that Dani has found a home. But I can't help but keep thinking about Danieal Kelly and the many other kids who are suffering from abuse and neglect.
It's heartbreaking.
Really, what can you say about that story? I don't think heartbreak is the right word. I was a psych minor with a focus on social work, but still I am astounded. The neglect this little girl endured... the helplessness of her mother, who didn't know any better... the fact that no one intervened until it was so late. Hopefully one day Dani will have a voice, either speaking on her own or with a BBoW.
It's the mother that gets me, how she insists that she loved her and didn't do anything wrong.
Thanks for posting this, Rob. Thank God for those parents who scopped this sweet girl up. Sounds like the birth mother will always require help for herself, never someone remotely capable of caring for a child.
This story is a good reminder to not turn away from situations like this. Dani might have a very different life had there been adequate follow through from the first time she appeared on the child services' radar.
Thanks for the link. Did you see the update? http://www.tampabay.com/features/humaninterest/article763905.ece
Thanks! I'll add that to the post!
wow, heartbreaking is an understatement.
Rob, thank you for sharing this story. I have only read one other story in over a year that has been as heart-wrenching as this one... though, unfortunately, I'm sure there are dozens others like it out there. I'm going to pass this story on.
This is incredible. Incredibly awful and incredibly good and fascinating. I'm sharing it on Facebook.
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