When I became a parent for the first time, I had only one thing on my mind: how can I make sure my beloved baby is safe and gets everything she needs?
Therefore it’s unsurprising that I get shocked, sad, and angry when I see or hear of parents mistreating and neglecting their innocent children.
Sure, there can be underlying problems that explain the behavior of some parents, but there is no excuse for a mother or father who risks their newborn child’s life through sheer neglect.
Fortunately, there are some fantastic foster parents out there, who stand up and make themselves count when biological parents give up on their children.
The story of LeAnne and Eric left me in tears and I don’t think anybody could read what their family went through without being touched.
Courtesy of Eric and LeAnne Stadler
LeAnne and Eric decided to take care of a little boy, Easton Matthew, who suffered from shaken baby syndrome. His biological parents chose not to feed him because they had better things to do, like sleep or go to work.
Thankfully, Eric and LeAnne heard about the case and started on the beginning of a tough, tear-jerking journey that would showcase a beautiful demonstration of unconditional love.
We have been given permission to publish their heartbreaking, remarkable story. I hope you read it to the very end because I promise – it’s worth it!
Courtesy of Eric and LeAnne Stadler
“The doctor handed over a frail, blue, tiny 2-month-old baby boy weighing just over 7 pounds, and he said, ‘Take him home, love him, and feed him because, in a few days, this could be a different story!’ For the first time in my entire life, I was afraid to take home a baby!
It was a fall day in 1996 when Eric and I, excited to start our forever together, said, ‘I do.’ We settled into our newly renovated home and began planning on having children, 2 kids, to be exact. We had always planned on just 2 kids, and that’s exactly what happened… a beautiful baby boy first, then a beautiful baby girl. By the year 2000, we were a complete, perfect little family enjoying life in the suburbs and living the fairy tale life.
