Dear Anonymous, you are not alone.  Learn about FASD so you and your family can help your sister.  She is over 10 in years, but inside she is only 5.  Think of her as a kindergartener and you and she will do better.  For support contact Diane in the Netherlands.  She used to live in Norway and will be able to help you.

Groningen

FAS Stichting

contact Diane Black at (31) 595-464-571 or by emailing her at: d.black@planet.nl

If you need further support and information write to CalFAS using the contact link at left.

Name: Anonymous

State: Norway

FASDInterest:

Remote User:

Date: Sunday October 24, 2004

Comments:

When my mother was pregnad with my sister, she drank a lot. now my sister is over ten, and we can see, that she is been affected. she is going nuts all the time. she is jelling, screaming, and totally lost. what can we do, to make her fit in among us, without letting her going crazy, and how can we handel it??? please help us someone!!!! :7

Name: Jessica Scott

State: G.A.

FASDInterest: Student

Date: Tuesday August 31, 2004

Comments:

I'm a 10th grader at Troup High and i half to do a report on this

Name: Rhonda

State: USA

FASDInterest: Relative

Date: Monday August 09, 2004

Comments:

I have a very close friend of twenty years who is an alcoholic. While she was pregnant, I did not see her a great deal; however, the 6-10 times that I did see her, she consumed a minimum of 3-4 alcoholic beverages each time. She stated that a "little" would not hurt her baby. I do give her credit for cutting down, but she continued to consume alcohol.

Her son is now 6-years old and I have had reason to believe that he has alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder or possibly FAS. Since he was an infant, I noticed facial features just did not look right and his behavior at such a young age was completely out of control.

The little boy has now has been diagnosed with ADHD and speech problems. My friend says that he does not have all of the symptoms and that he must be misdiagnosed. This is true he does not seem to truly have ADHD; however, I believe that a professional needs to strongly look at the possibility of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

My friend will not even hear of it. She tells everybody that she did not drink at all. I was there watching her drink 6-10 times during her pregnancy. Since I do not drink, she tells me I am over reacting. I really would like for her son to get the proper medical diagnosis and or treatment.

What is the best way to approach a parent that is in denial?

Name: Donna

State: Oregon

FASDInterest: Person with FASD

Date: Saturday July 10, 2004

Comments:

I am the youngest child of 4. My mother was a heavy drinker. Now 44, I finally have some answers to questions that plagued me since I was a child. Why the facial anomolies? Why the lack of impulse control and inability to control my anger? Why the depression, mood swings, anxiety? Fortunately, I have a husband who is a psychologist and he has helped me to get treatment. Understanding this terrible birth defect was a major breakthough. I am no longer able continue my career as an insurance adjuster as the mental problems are worsening, however just recognizing this is initself a relief that, while I do have limitations, I also have choices and with organizations such as yours, I have HELP! Thank you so much!

Name: Elaine Butler

State: California

FASDInterest: Professional

Date: Monday June 28, 2004

Comments:

Librarian at Support for Families of Children with Disabilities, a family resource center & PTI in San Francisco.We would love to receive your newsletter and other information by email. Found you becvause a parent requested information about FAS.

Name: sarah

State: hesperia, california

FASDInterest:

Date: Sunday July 04, 2004

Comments:

I had no idea tha FAS was real, untill.... I was watching Law And Order... I was so touched that I wanted to know more. I had a boyfriend once who said that alcohol was ok... even just one drink when you're pregnant. Its healthy... Boy was he so wrong. I am spreading the word around my city about FAS awareness. You are making a difference in the world. FAS is un neccessary, all women must know the risk of alcohol when pregnant. I am 22 years old, and proud to be sober.... sarah

Name: Ida Sears

State: California, Santa Clara Co.

FASDInterest: Relative

Date: Thursday June 24, 2004

Comments:

I am raising 2 Grandchildren the 14 year old has had numberous problems with school and the police department all his life. I have really been at wits end trying to figure out why he behaves the way he does since usually he is a very nice, sweet child. I hate to see how hurt and upset he gets so he continues to act out. He has been in counseling for 7 year and FINALLY his great PCP Dr. diagnosed him as having FASD. now I can start to understand what he is going through I want to learn more so I can start to help him and not just get so upset. Hopefully you can tell me more ways to learn about his condition.

Thanks for being there.

Name: Ed Evans

State: Carmichael CA, USA

FASDInterest: Professional

Date: Tuesday June 15, 2004

Comments:

I look forward to the information you may be able to offer those of us who are attempting to assist the children afflicted with this disorder. Thank you.

Name: Patrice Norton

State: California

FASDInterest: Parent

Date: Tuesday June 08, 2004

Comments:

I am the stepmother of a child with FAS. I am amazed that no one EVER suggested FAS to her father in all of her 13 years. I knew a little about FAS and started doing some research. It's almost like he didn't want to know. The pain of knowing that her condition was preventible was overwhelming. He always thought she was autistic, which is so much more polically correct and accepted - until we had her tested and the word "retardation" was said. I thought she had FAS due to physical attributes and then as I knew her better, the behaviors. I guess no one wants to ask the "alcohol" question to a parent. Not one doctor ever mentioned her faliure to thrive, her motor skills, tiny hands, her joints, her eye problems, her teeth - nothing. I think of all the missed opportunities she has had already and I worry about what will become of her as she matures.

Even so, I am surprised that drinking during preganancy is so minimized. Most people I ask think that wine and beer are okay and what constitutes social drinking is subjective. I guess if you're not falling down drunk every night, you're not putting your baby at risk. In any event, it is sad. The more I know, the more disheartened I feel.

I am happy, if you can call it that, that I know what I'm dealing with now. I am also glad that I am not alone - that there are resources available to learn as much as I can to help her and myself make the best choices. Take care...

Name: Ann Gibson

State: Germany

FASDInterest: Parent

Date: Sunday May 23, 2004

Comments:

Hi Calfas friends, Carol, Amber, Diane and Co :-)

Just read about your Conference in October. Mmmmmmmm never been to Cal. who will be speaking?? Lots of love from a wet and windy Germany to an (I expect) sunny California :-)) Ann

Name: Arlington

State: South Africa

FASDInterest: Relative

Comments:

I have a compound problem, my mother gave my brother FAS, and now she's fighting off her responsibility to assist in nurturing my brother (She still drinks secretly and becomes very vain when approached), I have a vague idea as to where to begin, but if you have any idea how please let me know

many thanks

Thanks for the resources you have online here

Name: Coranne Swift Arrow

State: Winterhaven, CA

FASDInterest: Professional

Comments:

I work in an Alcohol/Drug prevention program. I worked previously with Head Start and became interested in working with children who may have had FAS/ARND. It was hard when parents wouldn't give you that admission of drinking. Now, I try and educate my community of disablilites that can occur with alcohol exposure.

Date: Monday April 05, 2004

Name: Theresa Pressley

State: Idaho

FASDInterest: Parent

Comments:

We are former foster parents who have adopted 4 children all exposed to alcohol in-utero.

Date: Saturday March 27, 2004

Name: barbie

State: redlands,CA, usa

FASDInterest:

Comments:

there is a steriod, "dexamethasone", given to preeies to increase lung development. This drug has now been shown to possibly be the cause of porblems with the kids. Even this drug is lited on the "FindLaw" legal referral page.

Sent: Thursday March 25, 2004

Name: cheryl hamrick

State: clay wv 25043

FASD Interest: Parent

Comments:

I name is cheryl hamrick my nice died on 11-15-03 she have a baby on 11-5-03 that is fetal alchol in pittsburgh pa i am doing a instate foster care 

the baby is in foster care in pittsbugh i am willing to adopt I have a son with ADHA with learning dis and behavial dissorder he now 20 yr old he is doing good my her half brother is trying to do foster i try to explain to his that i would he better is take care of the baby thankyou for your information cheryl hamrick

Sent: Wednesday March 17, 2004

Name: Cynthia Saborit

State: CA USA

FASD Interest: Relative

Comments:

I am an aunt of a possible FAS child. Her mother is in denial about her drinking while pregnant and is hiding the child from people who may question why my niece is so small.

Thanks for your great resources!

Name: KATHY KW

State: WISCONSIN

FASD Interest: Parent

Comments:

Hello to all of you ! U know me from FASLINK and from Wisconsin as having a BIOLOGICAL SON of 14 yrs has many physical symptoms along with the FASD itself. I am highly excited in how this site was prepared and put up. TRACI>>>Being a bio mom myself.....KEEP GOING>>>we have much in common..please write. I will answer. I also am legal advocate and will continue to push as much as I can in Wisconsin. LETS all keep this going TOGETHER>>we are family!! WE can beat this horrible birth defect. I AM SO PROUD of all of you!

State: MI

FASD Interest: Student

Comments:

Hi, Im a student at Houghton Lake High School in Michigan. My Child Development class is doing a project on children effected by FAS. We are doing a video and assembly to show how much we truly care about children effected by this. Our video is being sent into one of our news teams located here in Michigan. We hope to get our point across to let mothers know everywhere, that every drink of alcohol they drink, her child gets twice that amount. If anyone has any suggestions or comments please feel free to email me at: stacybug2005@hotmail.com please contact me if you have any suggestions or comments. Thanks again!!

Name: Carol Echternach

State: ca

FASDInterest: Parent

Comments:

I have 3 adopted daughters all affected by fetal alcohol exposure. My oldest daughter is currently in the hospital. She visits often~ Alcohol irreversibly affects the fetal brain. She will never have the opportunity to think clearly, act responsibly or feel the way a normal person does.

Thank you Eva and Dianne, Amber and all of you who have worked so hard to put CALFAS on the map, and to put this incredible site on the internet.