 Francis at age 9 He was only nine here, and he looks so innocent and sweet, and he was at times but other times...he was very hyper, like when we were trying to take this picture. He couldn't sit still very long, he'd lay on the floor, ignore us and get rude. His cheeks can get red, and his eyes glare...at times he seems drunk but he he's not!! This is how my drinking effected him, he'd do things and usually never remember. He'd get into so much trouble at school, one day he'd remember what he was taught, only to forget it in a few days. Lazy, some would say, undisciplined others would comment, but no neither, he's brain was scared during my pregnancy and this was caused by drinking alcohol. |
 Francis at age 12 Here, if you look closely, his eyes drop, his face is dull. He has just come home from the hospital after having two or three Grand Mal seizures, the scare on his brain is what causes them...the doctor has given him Dilatin and now he''ll have to take it probably the rest of his life. Now is when puberty is starting, he really wanted to fit in. He'd clown around a lot, was suspended from school every year, at least 3 times, but I persisted and eventually he'll finish his High School...it's important. I have taught him how to care for himself, it took so long but he's learned. Life skills are important, but he had trouble learning them. Between the "temper tantrums" and the seizures, the headaches and the bedwetting, the nightmares and the sleepwalking...he tried to learn...he has courage, and he's always willing. Sometimes he'd say, "my hands are willing but my brain won't let me!" |
 Francis at age 20 He looks funny today, he's been so depressed. We lost my father a year ago. Francis loved his Grampa, and was devasted. This year my brother died, and Francis went to pieces. At school they brought in a Zero Tolerence policy, he has trouble concentrating, says he's bored. He was suspended, arrested for tresspassing and forced to stay home. All he wanted was to Graduate from High school. The day after this picture was taken he attacked me with a knife. I'm OK, and so is he now. He hadn't been taking his medication properly and he had been drinking, two things he can never do. Alcohol can kill him. He was very depressed, so bad I had him in the hospital for a while, I guess he'll be alright for now. He's been keeping to himself a lot, and staying away from drugs/ alcohol. I am so proud of him, he found work and is supporting himself. He no longer lives with us, and he's confused about what he did, he just doesn't understand what happened. He showed no remorse that day, he can't. It's not that he doesn't love me, I was just there. Francis doesn't understand "cause and effect", he can't figure out why he's being punished most of the time. All he knows is that he's done something wrong. Even though he attacked me, I still fought for him and made sure he didn't go to jail. He has secondary disabilities caused by a world that doesn't understand children like him who have Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. He might look "normal" and he is in many ways but his brain has this scare because it was "damaged" by alcohol I consumed during my pregnancy. If you're pregnant, or think you might be...please don't drink.
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