After a horrible year that included the loss of their mother and the abandonment of their father, the Straton kids of Nebraska got a break this week - from Grandma.
Joanne Manzer welcomed seven of her 10 grandchildren into her home after nine were abandoned at an Omaha hospital by their father, Gary Straton, under Nebraska's widely criticized safe haven law. Two other Straton kids opted for other homes so they didn't have to change school districts while a third is over 18 and already living on her own.
Straton spoke out last week after news broke of his decision to drop kids ranging in age from 1 to 17 at the hospital, stating the loss of his wife forced him to quit his job to take care of his kids. In turn, the loss of income made it tough to make ends meet, and Straton admitted he "fell apart." No wonder - it's the type of burden most of us can't imagine. But offers from family members that poured into the state after his story went public, and Manzer's offer to house the kids temporarily (they're still, technically, in state custody) makes me wonder: where were they the last few months? A father of 10 loses his wife, is forced to quit his job, worries about the rent, and the family just stands by? Did he refuse their help or was none ever offered? Was this grandmother in so much pain from the loss of her daughter (or daughter-in-law?) that she was blind to the problems?
This story and that of a mom reunited with her daughter after dropping the pregnant teen at another have put into perspective just how desperate the measures sometimes need to be to make up for desperate times.
Source: Associated Press
Image: Virtual Tourist
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