Torry Hansen should have sought help
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/US/04/09/us.russian.adoption.return/story.russian.boy.rtr.jpg caption="" width=300 height=169]
Patricia Cogen
Special to CNN
By all appearances, Torry Hansen returned her 7-year-old adopted son to Russia like a pair of pants that didn't fit. As a result, Russia is considering closing adoptions to American families.
The parents of internationally adopted children, like myself, and the agencies that work with them are horrified by the family's actions - Torry Hansen's mother put the boy on a plane with a note - but also empathetic: We know just how challenging and frustrating raising such a child can be.
But mainly, many are shocked that she apparently did not reach out for the help that is available. Torry Hansen wanted a child to love, her mother, Nancy Hansen, told The Associated Press. Unfortunately her expectations were a mismatch with reality.
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Does anyone know if Torry Hansen has faced any criminal charges pertaining to her abuse and neglect of this child? I really hope so but i can't find an update.
Torry Hansen and her family should have been psychologically evaluated prior to an international adoption to prevent something like this from happening. It would be good if adjustment counseling would be made mandatory for these adoptions due to all of the adjustments the adoption families and the child have to make. The families and the children each bring issues of their own into the adoption setting. However, it is not a reason to just throw the children away as if they are not significant to humanity. Adoption is not something to take lightly. This has more than likely caused this child more pain, not to mention the tension between our countries. I think the adoption agency should also be evaluated in regards to the criteria & evaluation of these adoptive families.