[Sherry]

Did you see the story about the 4 yo girl w/RAD who died from water intoxication? My heart goes out to these parents who have been charged with child abuse/Homocide.

Apparrently as part of her therapy, anything she wanted she needed to ask mom. Anything she would sneak they would then give her in excess. She snuck a glass of water and so the parents gave her excess water.

This is such a tragedy, it was a transracially adopted child. The parents are obviously distraught, and frustrated, and from the sounds of the 911 call they were so stressed from parenting a RAD child.

And yet maybe this exposure will shed some light on RAD and therapeutic techniques and educate people a bit, and maybe create more understanding of the incredibly difficult and unique challenges faced by parents of RAD children.

Thoughts???

[Dianna]

I hope you are right Sherry. It has been my observation that most people do not and can not understand the experience of living with RAD unless thay have actually lived it themselves. It is inconprehensible to most people's basic beliefs and values that a young child could behave in the ways that are typical among children who were denied that loving attachment that they themselves had acquired. Most likely these parents will be convicted and sent to prison by a clueless jury of "indignant adults" who are horrified at the treatment of this victimized child. What most people don't see is that the victimization occurred before, during and just after birth. I will pray for everyone involved in this case and the many others suffering from the sad effects of our collective failure to protect our children.

[louise]

to be VERY well versed in attachment techniques and aware of the RISKS involved in this kind of treatment.