1977
Chapter 1: 1977
Jackie and Paul Brooks were happy to be having a baby, but their happiness was short-lived. The doctor told Jackie and Paul that their daughter had Cerebral palsy. Jackie was upset and she did not want a handicapped child. The doctor told them that they can give up their daughter for adoption and try to have another baby. Jackie and Paul agreed with the doctor. They gave their daughter up for adoption. Jackie and Paul did had two children. They did not even give their daughter a name. The social service agency named the baby Jessica Brooks. Jessica went by her birth parents’ last name.
Jackie and Paul still have parental rights to Jessica. They have not signed the final papers yet. No one wanted to adopt Jessica. Jessica was staying in a foster home. Jessica liked to read and draw and went to a special school. She was not learning anything in school. Jessica did not care because she was too young to understand how important an education was. Jessica was just five years old. Since the weather was beautiful Jessica played outside a lot.
Kenny and Nancy Sullivan wanted to have a baby, but they could not. The doctors told Nancy that she could not have any children. Nancy was heartbroken. Nancy wanted to have children ever since she was a kid. Kenny has been a great husband and he did not blame her for not being able to have children. Nancy and Kenny have been on the waiting list to adopt for a while. They have taken in foster children. Nancy also works in a special school. Nancy loved teaching children. Kenny had a son from his first marriage. Kenny's first wife left him for another man.
Nancy was really close to Jessica. Nancy felt bad for Jessica. Nancy was an orphan too when she was a kid. Nancy’s mother died when she was a baby. Nancy did not know who her father was and did not get along with her mother-in-law. Nancy’s mother-in-law did not want Kenny to marry Nancy. Nancy did not visit her in-laws. Nancy grew up in a foster home too and had a learning disability, but she was able to overcome her challenges. She believed everyone deserved a chance to get an education and their challenges should not stop them.
Jessica loved to paint. Nancy thought that Jessica's paintings were good. Nancy did not know why Jessica’s parents did not come to see her. Jessica was put in a group home. Nancy was teaching Jessica how to read. Jessica really liked Nancy. Nancy was getting ready for Thanksgiving. Nancy was inviting her friends for Thanksgiving dinner. Kenny didn't visit his mother because she always said bad things about Nancy. Kenny felt bad that he did not visit his parents, but they will not accept Nancy.
Nancy was thinking about being Jessica’s foster mother. Nancy went to talk to Kenny. “Kenny, there is a girl named Jessica and she is five years old. She was born with Cerebral Palsy. I want us to become her foster parents,” Nancy pleaded. “We will talk to the social service tomorrow,” Kenny replied in agreement. “Thank you, Kenny,” Nancy replied. Nancy could not wait to bring Jessica home. Nancy wanted to register Jessica in a public school. She was going to talk to Mrs. Smith the school principal.
