International Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day

September 9th is International Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day. Ten years ago, I would not have even known what fetal alcohol syndrome was.

But things have changed. In 2003, our family became a licensed foster family. Since that time , we have had around 20 foster children stay with us for short-term respite (a day to a week). And we have opened up our home to 9 children who stayed with us anywhere from 9 months to almost three years.

Of those nine longer placements, at least five of them suffered from the lifelong consequences of being exposed to the alcohol that their biological mothers consumed during their pregnancies.

Some of them may have had a "drink or two" before realizing they were pregnant. Some of them consumed varying amounts of alcohol throughout their pregnancies. But all of them exposed their unborn children to varying degrees of brain damage from the alcohol.

I have seen firsthand the horrifying and lifelong consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure. Cognitive Disabilities. Trouble with Abstract Thinking. Difficulty grasping the concept of time. ADHD. Unable to learn from past mistakes/consequences.

And all of these characteristics will be lifelong disabilities that these children will suffer, even with intervention. Prenatal brain damage from alcohol exposure is irreversible. Permanent.

Ohio has created a fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) initiatve: Not a Single Drop. For even a single drop of alcohol during pregnancy can result in lifelong ramifications for the unborn child.

Here are some startling facts compiled by this initiative:

FASD is an umbrella term describing the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These effects may include physical, mental, behavioral, and/or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications.

Prenatal exposure to alcohol is the leading cause of preventable birth defects in this country.

Each year, as many as 40,000 babies are born with FASD, costing the nation about $4 billion.

FASD is an irreversible, lifelong condition that affects every aspect of a child's life and the lives of the child's family - there is no cure for FASD.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Surgeon General, there is no known safe amount or safe time to drink alcohol during pregnancy.

It has been estimated, the cost of FASD to Ohio taxpayers for providing special services for education, juvenile justice, medical and mental health services, foster care and unemployment is nearly $300 million every year.

Raising a child with FASD is 100 times more expensive than preventing FASD in a child.

Due to a combination of factors, most go undiagnosed. In fact, of the estimated 114,000 Ohioans living with FASD, only 300 have been clinically diagnosed.

Early diagnosis and treatment for FASD can help children reach their fullest potential, lessen secondary disabilities and problems, and help families better understand and cope.

Although the various effects of FASD are permanent conditions, specific symptoms may be treatable or manageable. People with FASD can grow, improve and function in life with proper support.

It's hard to determine lost potential such as educational achievement and other ways that alcohol affects children that go unnoticed.

FASD is a 100% preventable birth defect. All women of child-bearing age need to know - Not a Single Drop!

Some startling facts, for sure! One of our very own children has been adversely affected by this. Our sweet Jameson, adopted into our family just this year, has officially been diagnosed with FASD.

We have spent the past two years of his life working with a team of health care professionals to help compensate for some of his weaknesses and enhance his strengths due to these prenatal exposures.

We know this will be a lifelong endeavor for us and him, yet we are committed to providing him with every possible avenue for growth. He has been such a blessing to our family and has taught us so many things - the effects of FASD only being one of them!

I cringe to think of the guilt I would be facing each day, should his limitations have been due to any prenatal alcohol consumption on my part. I am thankful that our other four children have been spared from this lifelong condition.

And I herald the cause of Ohio's initiative to educate women of child-bearing age - Not a Single Drop! It is just not worth it!

But my little guy sure is!