The Background Revealed

The boys and Wayne continued to play. He was bouncing a ball with them, and watching them play with some trucks, and airplanes, and was interacting with them. They were responding to him very well, especially considering that initially both boys were afraid of him. Little “A” was afraid because he was not used to seeing any men, and “D” was afraid because of his previous relationship with his father, and being beaten severely. It was good to see both of the boys feel comfortable with Wayne. While Wayne and the boys were playing, Ludmila, “D’s” caregiver from the boarding home, filled me in (through the translator) on his background. Apparently, the biological mother of the boys was very beautiful, and liked to go around with different men. The Father was not really sure he was the biological father of “D”, so when the Father became drunk, he would beat the boy. Once “D” remembered he was watching TV and his Father was drunk, lying on the couch. He called the boy over, beat him severely, and then told him to go back over and finish watching TV. “D” also said that in the middle of the night when he was sound asleep, he would be awakened by violent shaking. His Father would come in the room, grab him during his sleep and shake him for a while, screaming at him. Once, when he was alone with the Father and he was drunk, he began again beating the child unmercifully. The Father was drunk, and looked away for a minute, “D” seized the opportunity to run away…..he was able to grab his coat, but not his shoes….and he ran out of the apartment up the outside stairs (they lived on the lower floor). When the father did not see him outside, he went back into the apartment. “D” quietly came down the stairs and ran out into the snow….barefoot. Now in the interior of Siberia where he lived, it can get down to 80 below Fahrenheit. He ran into the village until he saw a light on. He ran up to the door and knocked, and a kind woman let him in. She put his feet into a pan of warm water for them to thaw. The next morning she called the parents, and the came with toys and took him back home (the Father was not drunk). “D” had to be about 4 years old; I am guessing….between 4 and 5. The Mother became pregnant with little A….and apparently had some severe health problems. She was hospitalized during almost the entire pregnancy and “D” stayed home with his father. The Father did not drink during this entire time while the Mother was in the hospital. I am guessing they were trying to get their act together. Soon after the baby was born, the drinking resumed, and both of them were drunk. Another terrible beating ensued and “D” escaped from the house, and caught a bus. He rode to the house of a lady he knew and she let him in. When she saw the horrible, beaten condition the boy was in, she immediately called the authorities. The authorities came out to her home, saw the boy, and immediately went to the home and took the baby, “A” out of the house, now only 2 months old. “D” never returned to the home. He was sent to the rehabilitation home for 1 year until the parental rights were terminated. He was then sent to the boarding school to begin first grade after his year in the Rehab home (waiting for the parents to be rehabilitated…..however, they were not). During the entire time in the rehab home, “D” did not see his parents (they did not come to visit). He said he got a package once, from the Father, and it contained “some sweets”. At the time of termination of parental rights, the parents can request visitation, if they would like to continue to see the children. The parents did not request visitation with the boys. Little baby “A”, being only 2 months old when he was removed from the home, was taken directly to the hospital where he remained for two more months. He was treated for dehydration and malnutrition. More on his health and condition later...... Two sweet boys with such an unfortunate set of circumstances…….no wonder the older boy was so afraid.