The Broken Cord: A Family's Ongoing Struggle with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

This tells it how it is and leaves you aware of how devistating FASD is, or can be.

I first read this book about 15 years ago. The whole story touched me deeply and I never forgot it. It was tucked in the back of my mind all these years. This book is about a 26 year old Native American, single college professor who desires to be a family man and decides to adopt a son. He is a nuturing sort, into his roots and waiting for the "right woman" to come along. (And she eventually does come into the picture) Meanwhile, he is a good father, doing everything he can to help his son have a better start in life and he tries with all his heart and mind to aid his son with health issues and soon to be apparent behavioral issues. He really is naive and doesn't know what he is getting into. But he perseveres and devotes his life to try to figure out his sons problems and discovers he is struggling with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. There are many compelling things to this story. The fact that it is a true story, where you follow his very personal journey from adopting at age 3, to his sons 20th birthday. (This is at the beginning stages of our understanding of FAS/FASE in the U.S.) Later, you see the introduction of alcohol to the American Indians, from the beginning and how it affects Reservation Life today. From there he branches into how alcohol abuse and FAS/FASE is a world wide phenomena affecting every level of society from the poor to the rich. There is a lot of science exposing the danger of alcohol consumption on the developing fetus. This book was utterly facinating. It is complete with loads of documentation and recorded conversations that shed light on the problems that are helpful for today. (Even though my copy was published in 1979, I think) It is written in a totally readable style. This book has become dearer to me, as we have adopted a boy at age 4 and who is now 10. I remembered this book and reread it recently, and was blown away! It helped me realize that we too, are on a very similar journey with our youngest son. I found many comman behaviors and have become convinced as I research, that we too are living with Fetal Alcohol Effects. Our son case is not as severe as Adam's but there are many, many similarities. I would highly recommend this book for every person to read. If you or someone you love is dealing with these problems, you will find this book encouraging, even though sad at times. It is helpful for broadening your horizons about the needs of people in general, maybe that person you see shabbily dressed, asking for money in front of the store. It is a book that will hopefully not only educate but challenge us all to deeper levels of compassion, especially towards those less fortunate. PLEASE READ! It is a real eye-opener.

I highly recommend this book for people who want to know a personal experience with fetal alcohol syndrome. This book will want to make you cry. And make you very angry at mothers who risk their babies lives with their selfish use of alcohol while pregant.

I first read this book in early 1990. Prior to reading this book, I did not know about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Effect (FAS/FAE). Mr. Dorris gives a good overview of this tragic condition and his references throughout this book certainly augment the points he makes. I like the lyrical tone Abel's (called "Adam" in the book) story takes when the author includes references to nature and natural phenomena. This book is also culturally enriching by providing glimpses of Native American traditions, e.g. Adam's naming ceremony and the gatherings the Dorris family takes later in the book. Two things saddened me deeply about this book in addition to Adam's congenital condition. The author was involved in a very unfortunate controversy and committed suicide a few years ago. Adam was run over by a car and killed. It made for a very tragic postcript to the lives of the Dorris family and to all those who cared about them personally.

I have an adopted son with possible FAE not FAS. The recent studies are saying that FAE is just as bad as FAS because you don't know what it is so readily. My son was the product of a 17 year old drug addict/acoholic who lived on the streets prostituting. So far he is a happy healthy boy, but is tremendously developmentally delayed. He's 8 years old functioning around age 3-4. He will never be OK. When I'm so sad or overwhelmed with his behaviors I like to sit down and watch the TV version (which I recorded) of The Broken Cord. It truely gives me strength to carry on. I have subsequently fallen in love with Jimmy Smits who played Adam's dad on the show. What an excellent job! He portrays, so well, the true frustration these innocent little people bring into your life. I especially relate to the "choo-choo" dialogue and how it started out so cute and became the biggest source of aggrevation. My son does similar things and on occasion I just sit and cry. Michael Dorris did the world a wonderful job of getting the medical profession to begin thinking about this terrible syndrome. Let's keep working! Michael, despite the reasons for your death - you are truely missed and highly respected. You understand these children more than anyone else I know. Doctors - wake up!