FASSTARS BILLY AND KATIE

Billy (FAE), JJ, Katie (FAE),
Mike, grandson Aaron


We are Billy - (age 16, FAE, ADHD, mild CP and Asperger's type behaviors), and Katie - (age 21, FAE, mild developmental delay). We live in Alaska in the woods in a log house with our mom and 4 dogs and a cat, and our brother Mike, who's 17. He has really severe Cerebral Palsy, and can't talk or walk or anything. Sometimes mom thinks Mike is the lucky one because he doesn't have FAE. Our mom painted this picture of us when we were much younger. She doesn't have time to paint as much as she'd like to because we take up a lot of her time.

Mom adopted both of us at birth, and she adopted Mike when he was 3. We also have 2 grown sisters, Beth - who is married and has 2 year old Selena. Mom adopted Beth when she was 15. And Jennifer - who is divorced and has a 6 year old - Aaron, who is the best 6 year old Irish dancer in the world! Jennifer used to cry and get mad because she wasn't adopted like the rest of us. But we love her anyway! Billy likes to do Irish dancing with Aaron, which is cool because he has a little bit of Cerebral Palsy.

We wish every woman who thinks she might be pregnant would NOT drink! It's not worth it because it makes their kids very sad and hurt sometimes when they grow up... Katie wrote this poem a couple of years ago.

My Dream

My dream
I dream at night the same dream over and over,
Wishing it were all true, but it's not.

All I dream about is to be liked by everyone
And everyone likes each other;
No matter what's wrong with them
Even if they're different-
Dress different, act different, learn different,
even look different,
No matter what, still be liked.

Be then - it was all just a dream,
Mine, yours, and everyone elses' dream,
I wake up to reality, then go to school in misery,
Just all a bad dream, not real life...
Like we all wish it were.

by Katie


Katie on Prom Night ~ 1999

A note from our mom:

If you are considering adopting or fostering a child with FAS/E, don't hesitate. It's a lot of work, but well worth it. I feel blessed by my children, and raising them has made me a better person. They are "jewels in the rough".

If you are a woman who might be pregnant - do not drink at all during your pregnancy. If you drink, you will have to live with the fact that you could have completely prevented your child's disability.


Click on my picture to see a portrait
I painted of of Billy and Katie

Our email address is shh@acsalaska.net



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