The St. Petersburg Times reports on a feral child found living in an urban apartment under horrific conditions. Danielle was almost seven years old, yet she had never been to school, didn't speak, and did not react to human contact. The story is heartbreaking.
The special report includes the story, videos, and a photo gallery, and well as links to child abuse, adoption, and historical information. Link -via trendalicious
Dr. Kathleen Armstrong, director of pediatric psychology at the University of South Florida medical school, was the first psychologist to examine Danielle. She said medical tests, brain scans, and vision, hearing and genetics checks found nothing wrong with the child. She wasn't deaf, wasn't autistic, had no physical ailments such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy.
The doctors and social workers had no way of knowing all that had happened to Danielle. But the scene at the house, along with Danielle's almost comatose condition, led them to believe she had never been cared for beyond basic sustenance. Hard as it was to imagine, they doubted she had ever been taken out in the sun, sung to sleep, even hugged or held. She was fragile and beautiful, but whatever makes a person human seemed somehow missing.
Armstrong called the girl's condition "environmental autism." Danielle had been deprived of interaction for so long, the doctor believed, that she had withdrawn into herself.
The most extraordinary thing about Danielle, Armstrong said, was her lack of engagement with people, with anything. "There was no light in her eye, no response or recognition. . . . We saw a little girl who didn't even respond to hugs or affection. Even a child with the most severe autism responds to those."
Danielle's was "the most outrageous case of neglect I've ever seen."
The special report includes the story, videos, and a photo gallery, and well as links to child abuse, adoption, and historical information. Link -via trendalicious
There were so many feral kids in Russia that it didn't really surprise me.
This being in the US seems even more horrific.
Compulsory sterilisation for the parents, give em the choice, serious jail time or neutering.
Then kick seven shades out of the pair of them.
scum bags.
I'm very glad that Dani has finally gotten the home and care she deserves, but am truly disappointed in the system that let this go on for so long and didn't see fit to properly punish the "mother".
A few years back, I met a woman in her 20's whose biological "parents"--too kind a word for the animals they were--severely psychologically abused her, molested her, and locked her in a filthy closet for months when she was a toddler. After adoption and extensive therapy, she was able to conduct herself in normal society for extended periods of time--but her friendships always ended in disaster. Her mind had become so conditioned at such a young age, that she just couldn't imagine friendship without a selfish angle. She had almost no compassion, and couldn't imagine it in anyone else. She would try to bond with a person...but within weeks, she would become paranoid that they had some ulterior motive for their kindness. She would eventually become aloof and cold. When the person reacted with understandable confusion, she would lash out and become hostile. Their anger and confusion "justified" her paranoia--why would they act this way if they didn't have something to hide?
Her world had been a dark crap-filled closet for so long, the only reality she ultimately knew was herself. And since she had been told so many times that she was useless and ugly, reality was a useless and ugly thing to her. She had a will to live that was made of iron, and that was the only thing that probably kept her from suicide. But everything else had become so dysfunctional inside her mind, it was a wonder she was able to hold down a job for more than a few months.
Last I heard, she'd moved to Indiana or somewhere. I doubt she's still there. I hope she found peace, somehow...I felt horrible for her even though she treated me like a complete tool. It was a very sobering experience.
--TwoDragons
Grrr
From St. Pete
Sad too that people see "the system" as an answer to prevent things like this from happening. How much of a nanny state do we really need or want?
While it is great that she is able to find a caring family - there is a down side to all of this.
Her name, face and background will be permanently available for everyone to see for the rest of her life.
She will never be able to escape the past. Perhaps she may change her name and move to another part of the country to start anew when she grows up.
But until then, every classmate, every neighbor will know about her past.
There should be the same privacy protection for child abuse victims as there are for victims of sexual abuse
The media will protect the identity of one - regardless of age - but not the other
Did the boy friend not know right from wrong?
For a mother and another adult to do this is unforgivable.
The mother and the boy friend should be jailed in solitary confinement for the rest of there lives and treated like the sub-species that they are.
I cannot imagine ANY mother treating her child that day, no matter hwo poor she was. She is definitely mentally wrong.
I hope that little girl gets a chance at a normal life, or at least a loving life.
Didn't some psychologists experiment with isolating a kitten from birth? IRC the kitten died.
I think the most famous case, similar to this one, is that of "Genie" who was found in the 70's. She was isolated and abused for ten years and never really developed language skills
"They moved a daybed into the laundry room for William, squeezed it between the washing machine and Dani's rocking horse. Each night, the 10-year-old boy cuddles up with a walkie-talkie because "it's scary down here, all alone."
After a few minutes, while his parents are trying to get Dani to bed, William always sneaks into the living room and folds himself into the love seat.
He trades his walkie-talkie for a small stuffed Dalmatian and calls down the hall, "Good night, Mom and Dad. Good night, Dani."
Is that some sort of bizarre joke? Am I misunderstanding this?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genie_%28feral_child%29
"Very sad that people would do this to their own kids, but then again there’s the whole abortion thing, so this seems less shocking by comparison."
Yeah that's spot on. A few cells the size of a match head VS raising a kid in a crap filled closet covered in roaches for 7 years.
If this is your God, than I am thankful that he is fictional. I only wish i could say the same for his army of brain dead zealots.
Don't confuse the right to life with religious zealotry. Many agnostic or even mildly suspicious people believe that abortion is wrong. This is not just a right wing Catholic conspiracy coming to get you. You do not need to believe in the magical sky god to believe that life is precious.
Yes, what was done to this girl was horrific, with consequences beyond what we can comprehend. That doesn't give you the right to skew comments and put words in peoples mouths.
This story was only possible because of people that had no understanding or compassion. Don't be part of the problem.
First off, Dani. She's a wonderful little girl full of life. I have watched over her many times, and I have seen her progress since the beginning. i'm a little sad that they moved away. Dani continues to progress. Just the other day I got an excited email stating that she told her mother Diane to "read a book" and handed her a book. Maybe she won't be able to carry a conversation, but at least she's starting to say what she wants verbally.
Now for the correction. Willie's room was NOT a laundry room...that upset me...Yes, the washer and dryer are in the room downstairs, but my washer and dryer are also in my second bedroom in my condo. The room is 600sq ft with a walk in closet and a full bathroom! Both of his older brothers (my fiance and the next oldest child) had that room as their bedroom and even shared the space for a long time when they lived at home...I wish the editor would fix that...
Thank you for reading.
Angela
"Very sad that people would do this to their own kids, but then again there’s the whole abortion thing, so this seems less shocking by comparison."
Yes. It's all fine and dandy because, instead of getting rid of a clump of cells (which can't "live" outside the womb, no matter what strange fairy-tale universe you live in), a baby was allowed to be born who was then abused and neglected. Would you wish that kind of existence on your children, just so you can be morally righteous? Sure, your soul will go to heaven... while your child languishes in a human-made hell.
(I'm so glad to hear that Dani's found a loving home, though. It sounds like she's doing much better than she ever would have with her biological mother. At least now she has a chance to be happy and healthy. Nobody should have to go through what she did!)
Is it wrong of me to wish that they would steralize people so things like this wouldn't happen.
There are just some people in this world who should never, NEVER be allowed to have children.
Just because the site is called 'neatorama' doesn't mean all posts will qualify as fitting the general definition of 'neat'. Broaden your mind.
The one thing I just can't figure out is how the same people that get all weepy and/or up in arms about a case like this are the same ones that get all indignant about even the suggestion of any restriction on "a woman's right to choose"; right to choose to have her children ripped limb from limb. How a society that is so focused on providing for and protecting children will allow, condone, and even contribute to the slaughter of unborn children is just so very wrong.
Are you adressing the antiabortionists? I suspect thats who your comment was directed at. Im not taking a side in the abortion debate in here but I havent read any of the antiabortionists bringing up god in their arguments. Maybe I missed it but I dont feel like reading the whole thread.
Reading the posts, I see how part of the discussion went down the abortion road even though I was surprised by the first comment. It just seems like people are waiting for every little opportunity to bring up certain topics.
Dave, Im not following your logic. How do you know that the people getting upset about neglected children are pro abortion? And, if they are indeed, should they care less about child abuse? Why does getting "all weepy" mean that they are supporters of fetus mutilation? Im guessing just as many people on both side of the abortion issue are weepy and up in arms about stories like this.
"encourage the practice of abortion to continue"
who the F*ck said anything about encouraging?
Ever noticed that the only time the religious pro life bunch seem to be interested is before you are born and after you are dead.
In between they seem totally indifferent.
And as for my argument fallign apart at the seams...well this is coming from the guy who thinks that pro choice is encouraging abortion.
Choice, allow the choice, it is going to happen anyway illegally and destroy people.
Your fantasy idea that abortion is used as cotraception is farcical.
Abortion is an emotionally hard procedure. No one has a D and C then goes to grab lunch and a frappacino.
Oh and Blaze,
"This story was only possible because of people that had no understanding or compassion. Don’t be part of the problem."
So I am as bad as this girls mother?
If that is what you were attempting to infer then, I can not even beging to fathom how your mind works?
I mean really? WTF are you thinking.
Your comment is appallingly offensive.
No one is PRO abortion.
I've been through an abortion, and it is not something you can be pro.
But it is something that you recognise the need for the choice.
Pro Choice.
Tons of kids running around Southeast Florida who never go to school and act like animals.
I don't know if its something to do with the high child death rate in South American countries, but a LOT of kids down here aren't even taught to speak until they reach 4 or 5. You can see them with their parents in the stores just pointing and grunting.
....Whole different world down here....
"the vast majority of abortions in the US are done as birth control by people who simply don’t want to be inconvenienced by having a kid"
Since when did birth control equate to abortion? There isn't even an embryo involved in using condoms or taking the pill. I guess by your logic I've had hundreds of these "abortions".
You aren't one of the Duggars by any chance are you?
This story makes me ashamed of being a floridian...
Not the case at all. Any story that deals with child abuse & neglect has a natural connection with the abortion issue. It's odd and disturbing to me that people get all upset when they see a neglected kid like Dani but don't give a thought to the fact that people do much worse to kids every day in the name of "choice". Birth is not some magical moment where a child suddenly becomes a human being, so the child in the womb deserves the same protection as a kid of seven years or seven months or seven minutes. That "clump of cells" is uniquely human and as genetically different from its mother as any of us, and has been since conception. Denying that is being more than intellectually dishonest.
I don't mean to trivialize what has been done to Dani and so many other kids who suffer abuse at the hands of their parents, but what was done to Dani does seem somewhat trivial in comparison to other kids who aren't given the chance to see the light of day.
"How do you know that the people getting upset about neglected children are pro abortion?"
Sorry; I didn't explain myself well on that point. The people I know who get most upset and up in arms — not just upset but needing to see something done (preferably by the government) to prevent this sort of thing — are the ones who are most adamant about keeping the status quo with abortion "rights". Seems more than just a little incongruous.
Polx: I'm sorry you find my viewpoint so offensive; truth can be offensive. I was once on your side of this fence and can sympathize with you. I can only hope you find peace about it one day.
your_mum: Yes, it's true; women use abortions as birth control all the time. Not in the prophylactic sense, but as a backup when other methods of contraception fail, or when other methods are not used. Happens way too often.