The Girl in the Window

[lost indie]

One of the most horrible...

yet also the most hopeful stories I've ever read.

It's long but try to view the audio and text versions.

Dani has lived with the devil and now resides with real-life angels...

I guarantee you won't forget Dani...

http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2008/reports/danielle/

[Claudia]

What a heart breaking story. You're right - how could anyone forget Dani after hearing her story? Thanks for posting!

[SavannahStar]

This case is very close to me, I'm in the Tampa Bay area. Read the newspaper article last weekend. I was riveted. So unbelievable. I so hope that this precious child has a beautiful life and progresses as much as possible. God bless her adoptive family, what an inspiration they are! :1222423:

[lost indie]

I can't get my mind around the idea that the birth mother got off with no jail time.

[SavannahStar]

I can't get my mind around the idea that the birth mother got off with no jail time.

IIRC, that was "in exchange" for something? I think for her giving up all parental rights. The state wanted an adoption for Dani to go as smoothly and quickly as possible, at some point. Didn't want the additional hardship of lawsuits by the bio mother to keep Dani. :0009:

I think this is such a fascinating case, when looked at clinically (though it's difficult to turn off the emotion of it). You know, they predicted that because of the child's complete lack of interaction with other humans, the lack of love and nurture, she may NEVER speak coherently. Unbelievable! She is making very, very slow progress I understand. And can you imagine....she has to be taught so many things that we take for granted....use of a toothbruth, hugs, feeding herself, etc.

I just can't get over the adoptive family. Her brother is such a sweetheart....oh and the parents, they are nothing less than saints!

God bless them all! :1222423:

[lost indie]

IIRC, that was "in exchange" for something? I think for her giving up all parental rights. The state wanted an adoption for Dani to go as smoothly and quickly as possible, at some point. Didn't want the additional hardship of lawsuits by the bio mother to keep Dani. :0009:

I think this is such a fascinating case, when looked at clinically (though it's difficult to turn off the emotion of it). You know, they predicted that because of the child's complete lack of interaction with other humans, the lack of love and nurture, she may NEVER speak coherently. Unbelievable! She is making very, very slow progress I understand. And can you imagine....she has to be taught so many things that we take for granted....use of a toothbruth, hugs, feeding herself, etc.

I just can't get over the adoptive family. Her brother is such a sweetheart....oh and the parents, they are nothing less than saints!

God bless them all! :1222423:

I know about the deal the birthmother made but I am upset that she was given a choice. Given the abuse it seems to me that Dani could have been taken from her without her consent being given.

I really think Dani will make it. I don't know why but I do.

[LiveLaughLuv]

What a heartwrenching story. :1187603408.CR.Mothe

I am so glad Dani now has a chance at life. I admire those adoptive parents putting their all into this child. Dani is responding to their TLC.

Her bio mother seems to have some mental problems, putting her boyfriends ahead of her children. What became of the other children?

How does CPS go to that home and not remove all the children?

This child was placed in an autistic state, never being held, hugged fed. Kept like a secret, I like how she told the detective she was doing the best she could, he told her your best sucks!

I see the bio mom (dare I call her mom???) is on probation until 2012! How does the mother get off with no jail time?

[SavannahStar]

What a heartwrenching story. :1187603408.CR.Mothe

I am so glad Dani now has a chance at life. I admire those adoptive parents putting their all into this child. Dani is responding to their TLC.

Her bio mother seems to have some mental problems, putting her boyfriends ahead of her children. What became of the other children?

How does CPS go to that home and not remove all the children?

This child was placed in an autistic state, never being held, hugged fed. Kept like a secret, I like how she told the detective she was doing the best she could, he told her your best sucks!

I see the bio mom (dare I call her mom???) is on probation until 2012! How does the mother get off with no jail time?

LLL, I believe her other children were of legal age at the time Dani was found. That is why they were not also taken away from her. One, I believe, is mildly retarded.

[SavannahStar]

Here is an update to this story, in today's newspaper.

Her story has touched so many, across the country and worldwide!

http://www.tampabay.com/features/humaninterest/article763905.ece

[grammybears]

This is such a heart warming story. I cannot even begin to see where Dani's biological mom was coming from. How do you neglect your own child so badly that they never learn of hugs kisses and loves. What about the putrid state of their home. Oh how awful. It sounds like that Dani's parents are doing everything right for her. I can actually see in my minds eye the bright future of this little girl. It makes me feel good that there are such good people out in the world who are willing to give their love and support to this child and give her hope for the future.

[BeavisMom62]

I read this story a little while ago and was appalled at the birth "mother" and absolutely uplifted hearing about the adoptive parents. God bless them. It takes very special people to be able to handle all that. I love children, but I must admit, I definitely couldn't do it. Admittedly, I am totally ignorant about environmental autism, but I thought with a loving, enriched environment, it wouldn't take her long to become "normal". How sad that the poor girl was damaged so severely.