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Grandma fights full of love for granddaughter: tragedy and hope combined!
Simone G. from Northwest Mecklenburg is raising her granddaughter Julia after the death of her daughter and overcoming challenges caused by FAS.
Grandma fights full of love for granddaughter: tragedy and hope combined!
A moving case from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania shows how important the issue of alcohol consumption during pregnancy and the resulting consequences are for the families affected. Simone G. from near Schwerin has taken responsibility for her granddaughter Julia (name changed) for the last four years. At the age of three, Julia had to be left in the care of her grandmother after her mother suffered a tragic car accident. Simone describes the incident that changed her family's life forever: "That was the turning point when the youth welfare office brought Julia to me." Baltic Sea newspaper reports that Julia's mother was heavily addicted to alcohol at the time and caused the accident with over two per mille of alcohol in her blood.
After the recent death of her daughter, who died at just 27 years old, Simone has taken on the role of mother, comforter and supporter for Julia. Despite the difficulties that life brings with it - Julia has Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FAS) due to her mother's excessive drinking during pregnancy - Simone manages to find life with her little one full of moments of happiness. “There are difficult days, but also many beautiful moments,” she says as she looks into Julia’s eyes.
The challenges of FASD
Julia doesn't have it easy: she is smaller and lighter than her peers, suffers from speech problems and shows impulsive behavior. These are typical symptoms of FASD resulting from intrauterine alcohol exposure. According to a study on the prevalence of FASD in Germany, this disorder is the most common chronic disease present at birth with an incidence of 1.77 children per 100 live births. In addition, those affected often do not receive the necessary diagnosis, which leads to the problem spreading further PMC.
The symptoms of FASD are diverse and can range from developmental abnormalities to cognitive problems to physical abnormalities. For Julia, the consequences manifest themselves in learning difficulties and behavior problems. She is currently being taught at a school for children with learning disabilities where she is receiving targeted support.
The legal framework
An interesting facet of this fate is the legal aspect. In Julia's case, the youth welfare office made the grandmother responsible, which is not always just a legal obligation. Grandparents often take on the temporary care of their grandchildren, but Simone has consciously decided to rearrange her life for Julia. “It was important to me to be there for her,” she says. This decision is made by many grandparents who find themselves in similar situations, even if there is no legal obligation to do so.
This interconnected drama shows how serious the effects of alcohol during pregnancy can be on future generations. Prevention measures are therefore important to inform pregnant women about the dangers and to avoid alcohol-related harm to unborn children.
Simone G. is doing her best to support Julia in this challenging phase of her life. It is a story of love, responsibility and the endless little moments of happiness that make up life, despite all adverse circumstances. “Mom is in heaven now,” Julia often says when she thinks of her mother. But Simone gives her the security and affection she needs to live her life to the fullest.