Remember the father who abandoned his 9 kids? He explains why

[Blue Diadem]

OMAHA, Neb. -- The mother of nine kids left at an emergency room in Creighton University Medical Center died from a brain aneurysm 17 months ago, days after delivering the youngest child, said the father.

Gary Staton dropped off his kids Wednesday night at 8 p.m., officials at the Department of Health and Human Services said.

"I was with her for 17 years, and then she was gone. What was I going to do?" Staton said. "We raised them together. I didn't think I could do it alone. I fell apart. I couldn't take care of them."

Staton said he was overwhelmed by his family responsibilities and had to quit his job. He said he couldn't pay the rent or utilities.

more at link: http://www.ketv.com/cnn-news/17553170/detail.html

The couple were cited in 2004 for neglect. Oldest daughter graduated early to take care of kids. :(

While I do think the kids will have a better chance at a better future if they're in the system, I can't help but feel so sad for them.

[shadowknows69]

1. The saddest thing is they'll probably be separated.

I hope they can somehow stay in touch.

[Warpy]

4. The system, as bad as it is, generally encourages contact

among siblings. The only difference here is that the father realized he wasn't able to cope and was able to turn them in before the situation became so desperate that the kids were dying of neglect.

It's just a shame that families in crisis are not given outside support in this country. They're blamed.

[Blue Diadem]

8. I hope they can stay in touch too.

Nine kids in 17 yrs. My MIL came from a very large family, 13 total, 11 lived to adult hood. I know how much they meant to each other.

The little ones won't even remember the other siblings if they aren't allowed to stay in touch.

[Matariki]

2. Education and birth control, for fuck's sake.

[Blue Diadem]

3. While that's true, it's a little late for this family. n/t

[lutherj]

5. Sounds like they were failed by the system, and I feel sorry for them,

but why did it not occur to them not to have 9 children?

Oh, wait a minute, let me guess: religion?

Hey, "behold the lilies of the field . . ."

[hedgehog]

6. I thought yesterday when I first read this story that the Nebraska law was working better

than the legislators could ever have hoped for. It would take years for social workers to get these kids into a stable home if they had to force the father to give up custody. By making it legal and acceptable for such parents to give up their rights, more children will be protected more quickly. Of course, this only works if there are stable home ready to take the children.

[supernova]

7. I wondered if it was something like this

Death or illness is about the only things that would make a parent give up their children. Starvation too.

Grief can really make your head spin. I feel so sorry for this family. :-(

[LiberalEsto]

9. Nine kids in 17 years?

That poor woman!

[Gwendolyn]

12. Ten actually. One is 18 and on her own.

[Blue Diadem]

13. I missed that, the 10th child.

She's the same one who graduated early even while helping to take care of so many kids. Thanks for making that correction.

[beyurslf]

10. I hpoe they seek pemanency for these children and work to keep them close

so they remain in contact. Sibling relationships are typically the longest relationships a person has in life.

[avaistheone1]

11. Well at least he didn't go whacko and kill all the children.

That is to his credit.

[Selatius]

14. Why did he choose to have 10 kids?????? Why not 1 or 2 instead?

[Fleshdancer]

15. Damn. I hate this story.

No one wins. This is heartbreaking. :(

[Blue Diadem]

17. The more I read the more heartbreaking it is.

I posted the link to the school newspaper story below. After the Mom had the stroke, the daughter and a friend of her Mom's took care of the kids during the day while the father worked nights.

It sounds like they all became overwhelmed, dealing with grief and the pressure of caring for such a large family.

[Blue Diadem]

16. This is the oldest daughter's high school newspaper article when she graduated.

It's a pdf file and it's very moving. In it, the girl tells of her Mom's death, how it happened and how they made the DNR decision.

http://www.ops.org/HIGH/NORTH/Portals/0/ACADEMICS/newspaper/06_07/032007_I4V83/20features.pdf