Damaged Angels. An Adoptive Mother¿s Struggle to Understand the Tragic Toll of Alcohol in Pregnancy

Editorial Review

Part heartfelt memoir, part practical guide, Damaged Angels recounts Bonnie Buxton's struggles to raise an adopted daughter whom she didn't realize was afflicted with fetal alcohol disorder. Her book also offers guidance to parents who have children with FASD. By the time Bonnie's daughter Colette hit first grade, her parents were coping with her frequent stealing and lying, and the necessity of special education. At fourteen, she discovered drugs and sex; by eighteen, she was a crack addict living on the streets. After many frustrating years consulting numerous therapists, a TV news story gave Bonnie the answer she was looking for — and sent her on a quest for a diagnosis and help for Colette. Damaged Angels can aid and comfort all those affected by FASD — the most common cause of intellectual impairments in most industrialized nations — and reduce the number of babies born with this disorder in the future. The most important book on fetal alcohol disorder since Michael Dorris's The Broken Cord, Damaged Angels is a book for every parent, practitioner, and teacher working with a child with FASD.

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Customer Reviews

uplifting for those with children whom suffer with this life long disability.

2008-01-07
This book made me cry and laugh and it gave me hope for the future for our two children that have FASD.

Undestanding, answers and hope for our FASD children

2007-11-16
I found this book on my own, after many trips to psych. evaluations, counseling, parent child interventions, etc., with the "best" hospitals and doctors in our area. None of them ever diagnosed our daughter with FAE. Once I read this book, I went back to those reports and it was glaringly easy to see all of the comments that pointed to FASD but were never linked to FASD. Because I was armed with examples and knowledge I was able to educate the doctors, teachers, psychologists, therapists, social workers and so on. My daughter got her diagnosis (along with her younger biological brother) and is now receiving the services the school district denied her because her IQ was a mere 7 points above that of a developmentally delayed level and she didn't have a diagnosis at the time of denial. God Bless Bonnie's courage, determination, love, hope and her neverending faith that we are exactly where we need to be right at this very moment with our children exactly as they are right now. AMAZING!

Great Read!

2006-11-03
Was such a relief to know we are not alone in our struggles with Alcohol related birth defects. The journey of raising these kids is long. Thanks for your insight into your journey.

A Beacon in the Fog

2006-03-25
Bonnie Buxton's book, Damaged Angels, will ring true to anyone who has lived the life of dealing with a child who looks normal, but has "disconnects" in their life. After adopting "a visible child with an invisible disability" I valued reading about Bonnie's experiences with her daughter,Collette. Her up-to-date overview of the most current research on FASD was helpful in my journey with my daughter. I appreciated her openness and vulnerability in describing her mothering experiences.

I think every social worker should be required to read this book as part of their training. As a mother in distress, this book was a beacon in the fog for me.

The perfect mix of fact and real-life example

2006-02-18
Bonnie Buxton does an amazing job in this book of thoroughly explaining the damage that prenatal alcohol exposure does to an unborn child's brain and how that plays out in real-life examples, without painting a picture that is dark and hopeless. We get to see these real families working hard to make good lives for their children, feel their struggles, grieve in their failures and celebrate in their successes. This is a beautiful book full of life and hope.

Finally, some answers.

2006-02-17

Damaged Angels

2006-01-20
This book is incredible!!! We have a 17 yr old adopted son with ARND. It was like she was sitting in our home watching our family as she wrote this book. I bought many copies and gave them as Christmas gifts to many of the professionals in our sons life. I also gave copies to our older kids and told them it was manditory reading so they could maybe have a better idea of what life is like with their younger brother.

From One Adoptive Mom to Another....

2006-01-04
Buy this book if you are thinking of adoption. Buy this book if you have adopted. Buy this book if you drank alcohol during your pregnancy. Buy this book if your mother drank while pregnant with you. It will answer all your questions and point you in all the right directions.

Damaged Angels: An Adoptive Mother's Struggle to Understand the Tragic Toll of Alcohol in Pregnancy

2005-10-10
Profound. Based on research and the touching real-life experiences of people living with the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure, this book provides a detailed insight into living with the hidden disabilities of FASD. A "must read" for any professionals working with children. If you work with children you deal with FASD. Damaged Angels is now the definitive book on FASD. Thank you Bonnie, Bruce and Collette for sharing such deep and difficult places.

Must have for Parents of FAS kids!

2005-08-17
This book absolutely is a must have for parents of Fetal Alcohol Syndrom kids(as well as FAE) The author writes first hand on her own experiences and hardships involved with her adopted daughter. My wife and I were stunned to see how much we had in common with her troubles and gained much in understanding of our own daughters struggles. Highly reccomended