Damaged Angels: An Adoptive Mothers Struggle to Understand the Tragic Toll of Alcohol in Pregnancy

The story of Bonnie and her daughter is the story of me and my adopted son. She couldn't have matched my story more and it truly is a heartbreaking journey. I would recommend this for anyone who is struggling with a child with FAE/FAS/addiction. My son has a heart of gold, but has this "break" in the way his brain works. I've learned to accept him the way he is and know that I could not have done more. The beginning of the book when Bonnie's daughter hops in the car oblivious to her lifestyle, but happy. That's my son. Unfortunately, as an addict he committed crimes and doesn't seem to connect the dots to his choices or that he needs help. He is handsome, articulate, generous to a fault and an impulsive addict. FAE/FAS is one of the saddest things a child can have and the hardest for parents. There is no cure, no ending to FAE/FAS. I often wonder how Bonnie and her family are doing now. I read this book a few years ago.

The title says it all for anyone with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and I got this to understand my grandchildren who were affected by their biological mother who drank while pregnant. There needs to be much more publicity in the media to help mothers understand that even a small amount of alcohol can do damage to the fetus. I was overwhelmed by all the struggles from mostly adoptive or foster parents who didn't know what to do until they contacted the author. I'm also thankful to the author for including suggestions from her patients to help raise affected children.

Bonnie is brilliant in showing us the reality of FASD. She interviewed experts, reviewed all the research, and included stories of other families as well as her own personal experience. I recommend this book for every parent raising a child with an FASD and every professional in the fields of education, medicine, and behavioral health. I make sure every parent who walks into my office (Fetal Alcohol Resource Center) gets a copy. Ten years later, every bit of this book is still relevant and valuable.

I am raising my stepson who is diagnosed FAS. I needed to learn more, and this book is so full of wonderful information. Although I have to say it both broke my heart and gave me hope. Thank you to Bonnie Buxton for an extremely well written book. I appreciate the hard work and I am using this as a basis for helping him as best I can. I feel like such an amateur sometimes, but he is worth it!

Buxton's inclusion of personal accounts from adoptive parents, birth mothers, FAS youth and adults added so much reality to this very informative book. Damaged Angels is the most comprehensive book I've read to date covering both the history of research into alcohol and pregnancy/fetal development and the gradual/ongoing understanding of FAS as brain damage not a plethora of other disorders. Brutally honest, there are bright spots included and many resources listed, although Buxton is Canadian and the book was published a few years ago.

This book was recommended by my daughters Psychologist and it has changed my life. My daughter was not exposed to alcohol during gestation but she still has the exact same symptoms of a child with FASE. I highly recommend this book for anyone and everyone. This book should not be solely for the purpose of a child with FASE but for all of the children and adult children who suffer from brain damage.

This is one of the book I have recommended to people who are newly learning about what FASD means to their family. It's a great resource for teachers, social workers, mental health professionals, people living with FASD and their love ones. FASD can be a difficult diagnosis to accept and the behaviors are difficult to deal with, but understanding is key to a successful future.

This book is a pleasure mixture of informative writing and personal experience. Written my a mom of a daughter diagnosed with FASD, this is an honest account of raising one alcohol affected child. This is the best book I have read on the topic of FASD.

Everyone working with or just knowing children should read this. We have so many people and children who are suffering with this problem, people who struggle with just living every day. And most of us know nothing about it. We should all find out more.

very informative and well written