To Russia, Without Love

(CBS)  Russian authorities say a 7-year-old boy named Artyom arrived all alone in Moscow after an overnight flight from Washington, D.C. - with cookies and coloring pens in his backpack, and a letter from his adoptive American mother.

"I am sorry to say that for the safety of my family, friends, and myself," the letter said, "I no longer wish to parent this child. As he is a Russian national, I am returning him to your guardianship."

CBS News correspondent Richard Roth reports the letter was signed, "Torry Hansen."

At a Siberian orphanage, they remember Hansen as the 33-year-old nurse from Tennessee who played happily with Artyom before adopting him last September. But her letter called the boy violent and mentally unstable.

Shown on Russian TV today, talking to a child care official, Artyom's was asked, "did she hit you?"

"No," says the boy, gesturing to show his hair was pulled.

The Seattle agency that arranged the adoption says it's "saddened", but sheds no light on what happened.

The U.S. State Department says it's "troubled" by the case.

Tennessee authorities went to Torry Hansen's home looking for an explanation. Her lawyer says she'll meet with them next week. In Moscow officials say Artyom now needs good care; he needs to be "rehabilitated."

[WirelessPhones]

Reactive attachment disorder is serious and rare condition that affects the babies and young children causing them to fail to create a bond with their parents or others. This is a condition which is generally affects children that have been subject to some sort of neglect or the abuse. This often results because a child's basic needs of being comforted, shown affection and the nurtured are left unfulfilled thus preventing the child from allowing the natural bond to grow.
http://www.disorderscentral.com/reactive-attachment-disorder.html

[bankersvox]

We are all too quick to judge this mother. Just as we have seen with KATE with her kids, virtually given up, so too this cue has been taken by other women who seek a simpler life. No doubt she has given over 1000 %, and now it is time for her. This is her right as a woman to have a life. Shame on those who confuse blame with tolerance.

[CVB_7]

I feel compelled to comment on this story. My husband and I have adopted 5 children from here in the United States - 2 sibling groups. Their ages are 3, 5, 8, 10 and 12. All have what is called Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD), something I feel quite certain this child from Russia also had. This disorder happens when children are physically and emotionally neglected as infants and toddlers. The way my husband and I are managing the children is with a wonderful support group and all 5 are in therapy. One of the therapists gave me a book about RAD kids - it's title is "When Love is Not Enough." We have learned to view the world through the kids' upside-through-the-looking-glass way of life in order to understand and help them become "normal" functioning members of society. On the one hand, I feel sorry for this woman from TN who, I am sure, did not have the proper built in suppport to handle and help nurture this child. On the other hand, especially as a nurse, she should have done her research and had a support system IN PLACE before bringing this child home. AND, as a juvenile defense attorney, I am utterly appalled at the method she chose to "send this child back." The one my heart hurts for the most is the child.....she has caused yet more emotional injury for him. And, the Russia authorities are correct...he does need counseling. I just hope he can get it. I hope she does too.

[Ordflyer]

The nurse that adopted this child needs to go to jail and lose her RN license.

She put a small child on an one-way international flight and DUMPED him! That's child endangerment and abandonment. Not to mention that she caused an international incident.

Do you want this (in my opinion) psycho nurse taking care of you or your loved one's??!!!!!

[erasmus111]

"She put a small child on an one-way international flight and DUMPED him! That's child endangerment and abandonment. Not to mention that she caused an international incident."


Yes, she does need to go to jail, but as for putting him on the plane by himself, people do that all the time. I wouldn't, but there are many that put their child on a plane, get the flight attendant to look out for them and have someone pick them up at the other end. Which she did.

What she needs to go to jail for is adopting a child and then not following through with her commitment.

[VBnews]

Hope she kept her receipt!

[erasmus111]

This woman made the choice to adopt this child. It was her responsibility to find out whether the child had any mental or physical problems BEFORE she adopted him.

When she adopted him, that child became HERS. She had no business returning him. You just can't up and give your child away because you decide you no longer want him. You do what you have to do for your child and that means you get him the care he needs.

[askagain]

brianbwb2011 - This article and the poster to whom you responded never mentioned anything about politics, right winger, left wingers, conservatives, liberals, or Republicans or Democrats. Why you feel compelled to turn something like this into an opportunity to bash one political philosophy or another isn't even logical. Give it a rest.

[wheear]

That is irresponsible. The US should charge her with child endangerment. Think of the many many people in the US who seek children to take into their home. This flies in the face of those potential adoptees and could hold up further adoptions. They should give her some cookies and put her on a plane right behind that kid and strip her of her citenship.

[Ceres6]

It is really sad that the American mother had to return the Russian boy. However, what the mother did was probably the best thing to have done. It is better to return the boy now than to wait a few years for him to have a rampage and probably massacre her entire family.

When people in the future have a more advanced technology, things will be different, but today there is no way to tell if the mind of a child you are adopting is fine or screwed up. Even though the way she decided to return the boy was unusual, probably it was better that way. If she had tried to return the boy using official channels, most probably there would be an army of bureaucrats and lawyers that will complicate her life, for the purpose of picking her pockets. For those people every thing is valid to make a buck.

I believe she had a sincere desire to help and enjoy life when she adopted the small boy. I also think that now she is suffering. However, what she for a few months was a hot potato.

[formrusmcsgt]

No mention of a husband.

Apparently a single woman who bit off more than she could chew.

[ToolMangler1]

Her biggest problem is that she failed to "Get his attention".

"My dad bought a mule off of a man one time and the man said that the mule would do anything for us if we'd treat him with loving kindness. The first day we took the mule out to work he just stood there, wouldn't move an inch. We talked nice to him but nothing happened, he just stood there. My dad called the man over who sold us the mule, and he picked up a two-by-four board and hit the mule over the head real good. My dad watched this and said, I thought you said we had to treat him with loving kindness? The man said, you do, but you've got to get his attention first."

When I was a child, my parents and Grandparents were very knowledgeble about "How to get a childs attention". It was very different for each child in the family.

[dblbar1]

When I was a child, my parents and Grandparents were very knowledgeble about "How to get a childs attention". It was very different for each child in the family.........

When we were young, our parents simply used a belt and busted our butts.....

[ToolMangler1]

by dblbar1 April 10, 2010 7:20 AM EDT
"When we were young, our parents simply used a belt and busted our butts"


That is the one that worked on me, It never worked on my 2nd daughter. She required a combo of grounding, timeout and chores. As for my grandson.... Well I don't have the option of sending him to Russia, so I just keep him too busy to get into trouble...