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| This is in from News Channel 8. We are also collecting stories and data on Bethany Christian services and the way they treat there clients. If you have a story please E-mail it to miparentalrights@gmail.com Or call the MPR hotline at 616-848-0664. I also have included the tv 8 video on the ning site. |
Fed. suit targets Bethany Chr. Services
Family won't give up on Russian son or lawsuit
Updated: Thursday, 22 Apr 2010, 11:26 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 22 Apr 2010, 9:14 PM EDT
- By Brian Sterling
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Julie and Chip Harshaw were thrilled when they brought home 18-month-old Roman in early 2004. The blonde Russian boy's adoption was made possible through Bethany Christian Services.
"It was wonderful," Julie said. "I remember having tears in my eyes."
The couple, of Hampton Roads, Va., paid more than $16,000 to facilitate Roman's adoption. The Harshaws made it clear to Bethany they were only able to adopt a healthy child with a good prognosis for normal development, they said, putting their trust in the hands of the nation's largest adoption agency.
"That was very powerful to us, because in our minds, again, we sought the biggest and most extensive operation in the world and found it," Chip said.
But the couple's joy soon turned to anguish and ultimately, outright terror as they began to realize something was wrong with Roman.
"We realized things may not be going in a good direction," Chip said. "(He was) not developing like other kids."
Roman was behaving in an increasingly violent manner.
"It would happen over everything and anything," Julie said.
The child was often aggressive and out of control -- anti-social to the point of not having any friends.
The violence escalated and Roman tried to hit his little sister over the head with a 2-by-4. In another instance, the Harshaws were horrified to learn he had pried three of his teeth out at school.
"These were teeth that weren't ready to come out," Chip said. "(He) pried it out with the tip of a Magic Marker."
As outlined in a federal lawsuit, Julie and Chip say Bethany deceived them; and that unknown and undisclosed to the Hawshaws, Roman has severe developmental problems coupled with an extreme case of fetal alcohol syndrome.
"I think it's fair to say that FAS and its effects are not minor by any means," family attorney Kevin Rynbrandt said. "They did not receive the quality of care before, during or after their adoption."
But, as outlined in court documents obtained by 24 Hour News 8, Bethany consistently asserted to the Harshaws that Roman was healthy. The agency provided the boy's Russian medical records and assured the couple Roman was "on target."
That assessment, according to the lawsuit, was based primarily on the personal medical examination of Bethany doctor Michael Dubrovsky. The suit claims Bethany assured the couple Dubrovsky had reviewed Roman's medical records. However, he never reviewed the records, never visited the Russian orphanage and never even saw Roman.
Bethany officials would not talk discuss the suit, only issuing a written statement: "Bethany takes seriously all concerns that adoptive parents may have. We stand behind our legacy of quality adoption services and commitment to child welfare for more than 65 years."
But "we were misled. We were told extreme untruths," Julie said. "His health was totally misrepresented."
The Harshaws refuse to give up on their troubled son or the suit, they said.
The next court hearing is scheduled for May 10 in U.S. district court, in Kalamazoo.
Roman is now residing in a Virginia treatment facility. Doctors hope through medication and therapy, they can provide some semblance of a normal life for the boy.
The couple's family has suffered dearly, they said, but they still hold out hope for that smiling little child to whom they wrote a poem after meeting Roman for the first time.
They hope one day, the little boy they brought home from Russia -- now 8 years old -- will learn to love them back.
"We know that we will love you until the end, as our hearts are one," Julie said.>
Visit Michigan for Parental Rights at: http://miparentalrights.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network
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Dennis Lawrence
Child and Family Rights Advocate
www.miparentalrights.ning.com
616-848-0664
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Regards,
Judith Faye
Child Advocate
Family Rights Coalition of Michigan
Executive Committee Chair - Western Michigan Region
Cell: 616-726-0010
Home: 616-942-4016
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Regards,
Judith Faye
Child Advocate
Family Rights Coalition of Michigan
Executive Committee Chair - Western Michigan Region
Cell: 616-726-0010
Home: 616-942-4016
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