Twenty Families Rejected My Daughter Because of Her Diagnosis—Then I Signed the Adoption Papers in Under Four Minutes

they told him Maisie had Down syndrome, he was gone within days.”

I stared at her.

“He abandoned his daughter?”

“He said he couldn’t do it.”

“Couldn’t or wouldn’t?”

“You tell me.”

I looked around the kitchen.

Then I asked the harder question.

“Why didn’t you take her?”

Marlene looked straight at me.

“Look at me, Pete.”

I did.

“I’m still drinking.”

I realized then continue reading …