An Unwanted Child
And why winter is coming
By Elaine Gilmartin
Kayla* was born healthy, slightly underweight, but nothing of concern. She was born to a young single mom, Jane*, whose family members and boyfriend at the time encouraged her to go through with the pregnancy, after all, this was a child of God.
We will be there for you, we’ve got your back.
Several weeks of colic and Kayla’s young dad disappeared. Because he could. Family and even friends who professed their commitment to help were already avoiding her calls.
Then one night of relentless crying, endless, endless crying.
Jane picked up her then four-month old daughter, a healthy baby with crystal blue eyes and dark, curly hair, picked her up by the ankles and swung her around. In desperation.
Kayla’s head connected with the side of a standing dresser. Her retinas immediately detached. Those crystal blue eyes that had only just started to delight in the world would never see again.
A child protective services investigation ensued, Jane lost custody, wasn’t going to fight that anyway. Her mental health at that point had so deteriorated and had to be her priority, since no one else was invested in it. And dad of course never came back to claim the baby. Because he could.
