Side Notes

Heads up on tomorrow's Too True Tues(day): The most embarrassing thing on your iPod. If you don't have an ipod (and why not? Just because they cost the equivalent of a month of bargain basement quality day care? ), the most embarrassing song you listen to on your .... what.... record player thing? Car radio? Whatever. Here is an example. I have a friend who likes The Wiggles. And, she seems fairly normal otherwise so I really can't figure that out. She drives a minivan though, that could be a hint.

On Monday, Oprah is doing a show about child molesters with child molesters. The trailer showed her asking one of the scumbombs what he would say to a child of 5 to assure she would not tell her mother what was going on. You can believe that my face will be glued to that episode. Though sadly not in person, as my on- going quest to get to the Oprah show continues to fail. Most recently I filled out an application for an episode for January 28th. I had to verify 12 ways from Sunday that I was not ever going to be on another episode if I got this opportunity. Turned out that was the Jay Leno episode, so clearly the spirit world is saving my karma for something better. It was meant to be and the universe was sending me a message that I am in- line for a way better show than that. I just wish the universe would be a bit more prophetic being as I am getting tired. I just want to be in the audience! OPE- call me!

I want to really genuinely say Thank You to all the people who contributed comments to the post about psychiatric medications and children. A lot of people left notes that had to be hard to write and I appreciate that. The more that is out there, the better chances get for other people who might need help.

K. See you tomorrow!

Dani's Story

If you happened to watch Oprah last Thursday, then you have already seen this story. The episode was centered on the life of Dani, a girl found "living" alone in a room. In squalor and without interaction, Dani endured the most extreme neglect and survived.

I have not been able to find a link to the actual video, if anyone knows I will happily post it. This is the link to the story on Oprah's website and a link to the website of the family Dani now has.

http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahshow/20081016-tows-danielle

In particular, several slides in the middle are from Dr. Bruce Perry and one shows the effect of neglect on the brain of a 3 year old child from an orphanage, compared to one of an average 3 year old. It is an MRI and it looks how I have always pictured Genea's brain might look. Like there is barbed wire in it, or similar to one of those old steel- wool dish pads.

http://danisstory.org/

I see Genea there, the similarities are striking. Of course the situations are vastly different, but the effect of extreme neglect, of unmet needs has comparable results.