I have a story to share. I want to apologize in advance for the long post, but I don't know any better way to share this story. The story you are about to read is true, except for the names, which have all been fictionalized:
John and Martha were a young couple, happily married, and parents of twins, John Jr. and Angelina. Always looking for a better situation for himself and his young family, John gave up a job as a security job for a different, better paying job driving a bus. during his second week on the job, he was involved in an accident, which eventually cost him his life.
By this time, the twins are four years old, and Martha is doing her best for herself and the kids, including several trips to a resort town to visit her sister Sarah, and Sarah's husband, Ron, a musician.
When the twins were 7, Martha came to visit Sarah and Ron for Christmas. After the New Year, Martha told Sarah that she had some business to take care of at home. She left the twins with Sarah and Ron and disappeared into a world of self-medication and depression for several years.
Meanwhile, Sarah and Ron put their own plans on hold, put the twins in school, bought clothes, all the things you would expect to do with an instant family. After several years they obtained legal custody of the twins and raised them as their own. Junior, as he was called, and Angie were growing, both physically and emotionally. Sure, there were some abandonment issues, and a little resentment. After all, Auntie Sarah and Uncle Ron used to be the Auntie and Uncle that had no kids, and would always spoil them when they came to visit. Suddenly, they were "THE PARENTS!" with all the rules and none of the spoiling (well, almost none!).
Junior, as he was called, and Angie were growing, both physically and emotionally. They went on for several years, this instant family, and they even moved out west to be with Martha and Sarah's parents so the twins would know more family.
After about five years, just as things were getting settled down, and approaching some semblance of normality (whatever that is), Martha called. She told Sarah that she had gotten herself strung out on drugs, and would like Sarah to find her a treatment facility, so she could get clean and be near the twins. Sarah and Ron found her a facility, and got her enrolled in a residential program.
Needless to say, this threw the twins into an emotional turmoil! On one hand, here was their mother. On the other hand, they were old enough to see that she had gotten herself into a situation by making poor choices.
Several months into the program, Martha announced to Ron and Sarah that she was pregnant! The donor was another resident, Darryl, who had been adjudicated into the program, rather than face prison.
About this time, Sarah had come to realize that Martha was operating with diminished mental capacity. Perhaps the years of addiction had taken their toll; perhaps she had previously had issues, but had a huge support system in John, and when he was gone, she had nowhere to turn; perhaps... Sarah and Ron could speculate all they wanted, but the bottom line was that Martha was not fit to be a mother, nor was Darryl fit to be a father. He had children all over the country, and had not contributed a dime to any of their support.
Sarah asked Martha to give up parental rights and let Ron and her raise the as-yet unborn infant with the twins as siblings. At first Martha agreed, but when Trixie was born, Martha would not sign the papers.
Long story short, Trixie finally went home with Sarah and Ron, and eventually was officially adopted by them.
