What happened after the Broken Cord? 201901 by Brenda Williamson https://padlet.com/bwilliamson9/2lnn7kqrxyhk The Broken Cord gives incredible insight to FASD. The first time I taught this class we started talking about where is Adam now? What else has Michael written? en-us 2019-01-10 21:38:52 UTC 2019-02-07 01:30:18 UTC hello@padlet.com Read and respond to each link bwilliamson9 https://padlet.com/bwilliamson9/2lnn7kqrxyhk/wish/319490488
Adam and Michael?

Please read the following link (link 1 )to find the rest of the story, when you are ready, make a comment.
]]> 2019-01-10 21:41:15 UTC https://padlet.com/bwilliamson9/2lnn7kqrxyhk/wish/319490488 Kodi Oakes https://padlet.com/bwilliamson9/2lnn7kqrxyhk/wish/329007971 Wow. Just wow. I don't think I have words yet. I know I've cried at almost every article I read. A very troubled life was lived by the Dorris'. I guess heartbroken is a way to explain how I feel. Such awful accusations have come out against Michael, and poor Adam's life being cut so short. I honestly thought I was going to read upbeat, optimistic news about the family and couldn't have been more wrong. I found some extra articles about the family and a quote about Michael really stuck with me, "That was only the third floor of a building with a very deep basement." This was referencing how little the public and even close friends knew about Michael's personal life. I think now, in our fast-paced digital age, the ease of access to information, criticism, and depression is frieghtening. I keep telling the students I work with that no person should ever judge them for what they think, feel, act, say, or do (given they are appropriate for time and place). Unfortunately, not all people see the same way and will poke fun or keep scratching an itch until it's infected. I hope in time more people can be open, honest, and comforting to ALL people. Otherwise I fear there will just keep being more people like Michael who just run out of effort. On a positive note, this made me be reflective even more to controlling reactions. You should probably still talk about intense feelings that come up when you're controlling your reactions later on and not let those feelings fester. ]]> 2019-02-07 22:18:41 UTC https://padlet.com/bwilliamson9/2lnn7kqrxyhk/wish/329007971 Swan https://padlet.com/bwilliamson9/2lnn7kqrxyhk/wish/329396277
I read this on Monday and let it sit for a while. Still having difficulty processing. All I can think is: NOOOOO!!! After such struggles to have his life cut short at such a young age is unjust. I had hoped to read something exciting about his future. Honestly, I don't want to read the other articles. I will have to come back to this post later. Im putting the new articles on my weekend reading list. 

*Please include a trigger warning on the Chicago Tribune article. I read to the suicide and had to stop. Thank you.]]> 2019-02-08 20:12:55 UTC https://padlet.com/bwilliamson9/2lnn7kqrxyhk/wish/329396277 Rebecca Ingram https://padlet.com/bwilliamson9/2lnn7kqrxyhk/wish/329456094 Wow. I truly have no words for this. This was incredibly sad to read and so heartbreaking to know that Adam has lost such an important figure in his life. What really has stuck with me is the idea that you may believe that you know someone's life and their story and you truly don't. This is just a testament to having those tough conversations with the people we know. Really taking the time to dig deeper and check on those around you. After reading Broken Cord I would have NEVER guessed that something like this would happen to Michael and his family. So heartbreaking. ]]> 2019-02-09 04:46:21 UTC https://padlet.com/bwilliamson9/2lnn7kqrxyhk/wish/329456094 Article Response kmonahan21 https://padlet.com/bwilliamson9/2lnn7kqrxyhk/wish/329535664 The words "tough" and "sad" don't cut it for these articles. After the journey that people with disabilities go through to improve their quality of life,  to have it taken away by such an accident is tragic. What I find even more unbelievable is the fact the the police didn't think anyone would press charges. 
About Michael's death, I can't even imagine what an impact it had on all of the people who knew him and everything he had done. He had to have been crushed by the weight of those charges after everything he had done to advocate for his children and other children with special needs. My heart hurts for all of his family and friends and the communities that were impacted by his suicide. The only solace that can be taken is in the fact that he did make so many changes and he did have such a huge and positive impact on so many lives. ]]> 2019-02-09 22:26:16 UTC https://padlet.com/bwilliamson9/2lnn7kqrxyhk/wish/329535664 Michael Dorris lovescookie00 https://padlet.com/bwilliamson9/2lnn7kqrxyhk/wish/329697146 It is extremely sad for Adam to lose his life so young.  I want to know more about the accident.  The story of Adam’s life told by his adopted father, Michael, was riveting. I now understand much more about children born with FAS. The abstract was foreign to Adam. Adam couldn’t relate to drinking or death. At the end of the story, I love that Adam moves out of his family home. He will live on his own. Isn’t that the goal of parenting?  My goal in raising my three sons was to bring them up, give them love, teaching, nutrition, travel, family time, the love of reading, and better than their father and I had it.  Then they go on to live independent, successful lives, to be contributing members of society, have a passion for life, engage in work that is fulfilling, and repeat. It seems that Adam only lives on his own for such a short time before he is killed.  I have not felt the pain and anguish Michael must feel.  Parents typically pass on before their children and it should be so. I will recommend this book to many, as I enjoyed reading about the love, the time, attention basically Michael gave his life to his son.  I can make a connection to that. 
 
What else has Michael written? 
 
Michael Dorris has written in 1987 the book A Yellow Raft on Blue Water. This was Michael Dorris’s next successful novel.  It tells the story of one women in a Native American family, with the struggles, the devastation that comes with alcohol, transition living among urban Seattle white people, then back on the reservation and replay. A Yellow Raft on Blue Water seems to be a coming of age saga and the difficulties with belongingness.
His next book in 1989 was The Broken Cord. This book was an award-winning story of his son’s life with FAS. An amazing read and well worth the insight into coping and persevering with FAS.  
I had no idea Dorris wrote The Morning Girl in 1985.  I will put this on my summer reading list. 
The next book Dorris wrote The Crown of Columbus in 1991 in partnership with his wife, Louise Erdich.  According to Amazon, it tells a gripping novel of history, suspense, recovery, and new beginnings using the long-lost diary of Christopher Columbus. Surprisingly, Dorris commits suicide in 1997 in a motel room. At the time, allegations against him that he abused his daughter. LouiseErdich and Dorris had been separated headed for divorce. He finally found peace that he was looking for. 
]]> 2019-02-11 01:40:16 UTC https://padlet.com/bwilliamson9/2lnn7kqrxyhk/wish/329697146