[AddisonsMommy]

Hi Everyone,

I haven't spent much time on this board, as I am crazy-busy chasing my darling 2 year old little girl around, but I wanted to give you a heads up on this!!!

Prior to my adoption from Guatemala, I sought a domestic adoption situation, which was not meant to be. I love my little daughter with all my heart, and she is the one meant to be in my family. BUT that did not erase the memories of what happened to me the year before she was born.

There will be a 2 part show on Dr. Phil that airs TOMORROW AND FRIDAY.....Feb 22 and 23rd!!

I was the victim of a cruel, horrendous adoption scam. Myself and 2 of the other victims took our story to a national level. The Dr. Phil show picked up the story, and ran with it. Now here we are, on TV!

You can see clips of the 2 shows on

Dr. Phil.com

Go to the weekly schedule, click on Thursday or Friday, and under the photo box, there is a small clicker that says "See the video"....click there. You can do this for both shows, both days. ALSO, there is a clicker on the top RIGHT corner of the drphil.com web page. This also gives you a little sneak peek of footage.

Don't miss this show! Get your Kleenex out and be ready for a rollercoaster ride. It was quite the experience.

It is our goal to STOP this criminal from ever doing this to another family, and to expose her for the cruel and devastating way she treated her victims. ALSO to locate other victims and build an even stronger case against her, legally! The crimes are currently under investigation...the FBI has seized her computer and is formulating charges against her...more to come!!

Please PM me with any questions...

Jen
Proud Mommy to Addison Grace,
born in Guatemala, home forever Feb 2005

[Larue]

Thanks Jen. TiVo..ing it right this minute! And bless you for having the courage to tell your story and help spare others your pain. It takes someone very special to stand up to injustice!!!!

[KKR213]

Jen:

Thanks for letting us know and for being brave enough to share your story! I am so sorry you and others had to endure what she put you through and I am very glad you had a happy ending with the adorable Addison! I hope this woman is stopped and even though I hate Dr. Phil I will be watching.

Kathy

[becky]

Jen,

I just watched the video clips..you look good...I don't know if I could have done it, but I am glad you did!!!

[AddisonsMommy]

thanks, Becky...

I seem to be taking some sort of lashing for people who already have formed certain opinions about the show, the subject matter, the terminology, etc...before it is even seen. Maybe they know something I don't know, but I don't think so.

It doesn't really matter what the person is referred to. It matters HOW she is dealt with and it matters that I am ONE person who tried to make a difference, and two others stood with me on that stage and stood before that con artist and told her NO MORE....and that is all that matters.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I'd say it's a little early to judge, just yet.

Thanks for you all and your encouraging remarks. They were well received and taken to heart.

hugs,

Jen

[crick]

Jen...I do not want to derail your thread, because I do think it's wonderful that you had an opportunity to speak out on adoption scams and hope that the show portrays it as is...

However, as you know, you have another thread addressing the same topic and I think it's unfair not to address that thread with your opinions and let people have their opinions too. But as you did choose to bring it here , I'll address it here.

You can't expect to have people just fall in line with everything when they have very real concerns about how the media portrays adoption and the triad.

You see your side...a person who was scammed, hurt, taken advantage of and swindled. Which is definitely a need to address and get the word out.

There is another side too...all the wonderful true birthmoms not only on this site but out there watching the show. And to them...it DOES matter how this criminal is referred to. It matters to all the aparents who honor and respect the women who gave birth to their shared child and so much more. It matters to the adoptees out there who love their bmoms for the life they were given and not disregarded.

It does matter what this woman is called....because she isn't a birth mom and never will be. She's a criminal who set out to take advantage of parents in waiting like you.

So please...just remember while people are hoping that this show will be different and that the true facts are fairly represented, there is a history of the media not doing that. No one is judging you or the show, just HOPING that for a change....it finally gets it right.

[cmfayz]

Thanks for the reminder. I just set my DVR. I think there was a similar scam in the area where I live recently. A woman had promised her baby to three different families and gotten money from all of them for "expenses." She ended up placing her baby with a fourth family. Fortunately, she's been arrested.

[momofmng]

Jen... I can't wait to watch and I am so proud of you for standing up to this woman who hurt you and many others. People like her are a disgrace and put adoption in an ugly light and I hope that she is justly punished for her actions.

Bless you, my friend. Give that sweet Addison a big hug from me and Bug!

Sarah

[AddisonsMommy]

as stated by a previous poster, I think that the world "at large" is just not quite so hung up on names as folks are on some of these boards, quite honestly.

I'm not opposed to anyone getting their undies in a bundle about adoption speak, but that was not the topic of this show. It is about LIES and STEALING and BREAKING people's hearts with promises that were empty and evil.

By the way, if anyone cares, we did do some "educating" with the producers and other staff members of the show. In all of the hustle, it will not hurt my feelings if someone uses an incorrect term, because that is not the true focus here. Let the show speak for itself. You can like it, or not. That's what the "OFF" button is for. I can't see sitting here defending this issue for no good reason.

Jen

[Mommy24]

Ya know Jen you can very easily say that. It is not you who is a birthmom. Yes you were scammed, what an awful situation and each of us wants that to stop. No one should have to go through that. what upsets me the most is that although you may THINK that the world is not hung up on titles, exactly how many bmoms have you polled? It isnt the term birthmom, it is that this SCAMMER might be called a birthmom, would you like to be lumped into the category of people who are buying babies, they are out there., you are not one of them, but how unfair of anyone to lump all adoptive parents into a category of puchasing babies like I purchase shoes.
I dont know much about Guat but I know at some point we had a thread here on this very forum about how upset aparents were over some media saying babies were being sold in Guat, so it hurts you as much to be lumped in that category as it hurts us as bmoms to carry the same title as A Scam artist.

Thats my 2 cents FWIW

[crick]

I'm sorry you see it as hung up and not as a chance to respect fellow members' opinions.

I realize your true focus is on promoting your show, just as your focus awhile back was to bash this site, and yet, when it's time to promote yourself and your experience you are back here using it.
Not that I have my undies in a bundle or anything, of course...just think it's interesting.

[AddisonsMommy]

???

it just seems fruitless, really, it does. You folks are totally missing the point.

I think it is only FAIR that you watch the show before you form your opinion and start accusing people of doing or stating or speaking in a manner in which you disagree with. No one even knows what will be said yet. It's like it totally got shot down before it ever even airs. Evidently "guilty until proven innocent" applies here? It's too bad it is not that way with the legal system. The wench would have rotted in prison by now. Oh well.

PS....crick, I'd be interested to know your basis for accusing me of "bashing" this site?? I cannot even recall the last time I posted a public message on here. Most of my interaction has been with PMs. Soooo....????

[crick]

My deepest apologies to you Jen.

I was given incorrect information about you and things you supposedly said in regards to a blog entry made about this site.

I made a huge mistake in not confirming the information and while it came from a trusted person, that isn't an excuse. I messed up and now I'm fessing up.

[AddisonsMommy]

Bumping this up for the day time crowd...

This show airs TODAY, Thursday, and also Friday for the second portion.

Jen

[wannalittlebean]

Jen,

I am so sorry that you had gone through such a horrible time. It had to have been hard to dredge up old feelings doing this show. I have to wait until 5pm here (Tampa). I look forward to seeing justice served!