Spring days.

                                                                                                                        May 8, 2013

Dear Jack,

Just thinking about you and wondering how you are doing. I hope you are having a great day.  You are getting so big 2 and ½ wow, time is going by so quickly.  The days are getting warmer and summer is just around the corner, your cousin Boston loves to be outside. I am sure that you do too. 

There are so many great things for you to discover, and I am sure that you are a curious little guy.  Bugs and dirt are endless fun for little boys. Boston can spot and ant from quite a long ways away and loves to play trucks in piles of dirt.  Your daddy and Uncle Josh would practically live outside in the summer, climbing trees, riding bikes and playing with friends. 

Do you like to draw? Do you love music? Do you like dirt bikes and monster trucks like your cousin?  Are you outgoing and funny, or do you have a more mellow personality with a quick but sly since of humor?  Are you talking up a storm, and do you know your colors?  Do you know how much you are loved and missed, because you are so very much?

Jack, we want to know that we are all doing fine though we miss you daily life has continued on.  We have grown and changed because of what has happened over the last 2 ½ years, but it has not all been negative. There has been positive changes as well.  There are new cousins and weddings on the way, there have been fun family gatherings and vacations that are being planned.  Don’t worry about us, we won’t ever give up, but we will also continue to live life to the fullest as we wait for your return. 

Your daddy is doing well. He has big plans and his life is changing fast.  I know that you will be as proud of him as we all are. He is such a fun and loving man. We are so grateful to have him in our family.  He thinks of you and misses you all the time and only wants the best for you. Please always remember that.

If I could say anything to your adoptive parents it would be, we love you and only want the very best for you.  We are grateful to know where you are and that you are being loved and well cared. There is true comfort for your daddy and family in knowing those small yet very important things. So many fathers and families don't have that knowledge.   I understand it is difficult for them to put themselves in your daddy or our shoes; we have tried over and over to put ourselves in theirs.  Over time perhaps they will come to understand why we could never or will never give up on you.  Perhaps they are only listening to their attorney at this time and that is why they have not responded to our multiple requests to share information with them, including but not limited to all medical information.  We truly hope that one day soon they will open their hearts to the fact that you have a daddy and family that loves you and miss you so much. 

Remember Jack as you are reading this one day, this blog was our only way to reach out at the time to you.  It is where we could express our feelings, upcoming events, notices of court actions, as well as show support for others who have experienced the same loss.  This blog was never to cause pain, but instead a way to deal with ours as we wait for you to come home.  We do hope and pray that your adoptive parents will read this and understand that.  We will continue to pray for you and them daily, we truly only want the best for you.

Love

Grandma Jenny

Still Waiting...

Jackson:

We are still waiting to hear about a court date with the Utah Supreme Court. We haven't given up on you and are still fighting. We will never forget about you even if we are quiet on this blog. We don't ever stop thinking,worrying, or loving you

We were hoping and praying that there was going to be a miracle we were going to be reunited, but it seems that is not going to happen.

Jackson, we can't believe that 2 and 1/2 years of your life have come and gone, and we don't know a thing about you. We hope that one day soon, that will change and we get to be involved with your childhood, with your milestones and in your life. We hope with the many changes happening in the courts daily that we can finally have justice prevail, and have you reunited with your dad, where you belong.

We love you with all of our heart and will always have a special place for you.

XoXo,

Your 1st Family

Utah Legislation Session 2013

Utah is in full swing for their legislative session. There have been numerous adoption related bills. There are quite a few bills that we support, that will be helpful for protecting father's rights. We still have a long ways to go, but I think it's a start.

SB183 helps with pushing agencies, birthmoms or father's, or adoptive parents for commiting fraud. It can be punishable by revoking of the agency's license or can reap attorneys fees if fraud can be proven. Although, this is a good step it doesn't remove the fraud immunity statue in the law and the adoption would not solely be reveresed based on fraud. In Jake's case, we have OUTRIGHT fraud in multiple forms and it would still not bring Jake and Jack together.

SB155 is a bill for open adoption agreements to be enforceable. This will be a great tool for parents thinking to place and are made promises in return for their child. These promises should be upheld. Although, they made revisions to this bill and it will only apply to DCFS currently.

Here is a story Fox13 ran about the legislative bills and Jack's story.

Fox13 Clip


SALT LAKE CITY – A Utah senator has introduced legislation that would provide legal rights for the father of a child put up for adoption.
It’s a scenario you may be familiar with: a mother gives birth to her child and doesn’t tell the father when she gives up the baby for adoption. The dad is left with no legal rights because of a legal loophole, a legal loophole some say could cost a father his child, and a bill aimed at changing that was debated in a committee hearing Tuesday, that got very heated at times.
Some excerpts (a conversation between Senator Luz Robles, D-Salt Lake County, the sponsor of the adoption bill and the chair of the committee):
“It’s my bill Senator, point of order.”
“Thank you.”
“Senator, let me answer your question.”
“Wait, whoa whoa. Questions directed at the Chair. I don’t want badgering going on.”
“I didn’t get an answer to my question.”
Questions and concerns over the adoption bill left its fate in the hands of the committee, where it’s being held for now.
Wes Hutchins, an adoption attorney, says the legislation would have held adoption agencies more accountable. Hutchins claims some agencies encourage deception and lies.
“Adoption agencies coach Mothers on how to cut birth fathers out of the parenting picture,” Hutchins said.
However, lawmakers echoed several concerns saying, “We’re saying that after an adoption occurs in this bill, anyone can say a lie was told in the process?”
Despite strong testimony from Jennifer Graham, whose son has never meet his baby boy Jack because his birth mother gave him up for adoption without his knowledge, legislators said the current law would have protected him had filed for paternity before his child was born.
“He was told that if he did that he would never see his son,” said Jennifer Graham.
“Understood,” said one State Senator.
“That is in text message,” replied Graham.
“I can see that but the law would have worked if he would have filed. You’d have your grandson.”
The Committee did not vote on Senator Robles’ bill, instead deciding to bring it back another day during the session.

Terry Achane

We just wanted to express our excitement for SGT. Terry Achane and for this fundamental case in Utah. SGT. Terry Achane, congratulations for being reunited with your sweet little Teleah. You deserve to be able to raise your child and be in her life. We hope that this tragedy, that should have never happend can be turned into a positive in the state of Utah in getting the laws changed for Father's Rights. We hope that this will be helpful in our case as we have filed our appeal with the Utah Supreme Court. We hope that the judges are sick of seeing father's rights be TRAMPLED and will recgonize that Jake's rights were violated and that Jack needs to be re-united with his father and be in his life.

Source: Inside Edition

If you are new to this blog, please start with reading Baby Jack's Story and see how Jackson was STOLEN from his father who was willing, wanting and excited to be in his child's life. He was manipulated, lied to and deceived just as SGT. Achane was. The only difference was SGT. Achane was married to the mother and Jake Strickalnd was not. We will continue to fight until justice has prevailed. We will be with Jackson one day. It may be when he googles his name in 12 years, but nonetheless we will always be here with open arms.

Thanks again for sharing the word about Get Baby Jack Back. We love and appreciate all of the followers and those who have contributed to Jake's legal bills we appreciate it.

One step closer for father's rights.

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Father reunited with daughter who was adopted at birth by Utah couple

Courts • Terry Achane’s parental rights were unlawfully circumvented, Utah judge has ruled.

By brooke adams

The Salt Lake Tribune

Published: January 25, 2013 10:52AM
Updated: January 25, 2013 03:53PM

Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Birth father Terry Achane, left, with lawyer Mark Wiser were pleased as they leave Provo Fourth District Court where it was decided he would take custody of his 2-year-old daughter, Teleah.

Provo • Terry Achane walked out of a 4th District courtroom Friday clutching a grocery bag containing two baby bottles.

Achane is going to need them.

The previous day, he was reunited with his 2-year-old daughter, Teleah.

It was a happy ending to Achane’s lengthy court battle to gain custody of the girl, who was placed for adoption at birth without his knowledge.

“I’m very happy,” a smiling Achane (pronounced A-chan) said Friday. “It’s 22 months too long — but the wait was worth it. I’ve got my daughter.”

The father and daughter will leave for Fort Jackson in South Carolina on Saturday. Waiting for them is Achane’s extended family, who can’t wait to meet Teleah.

Teleah’s adoptive parents, Jared and Kristi Frei, brought the girl to Achane on Thursday, along with the baby bottles, and a list of instructions outlining what the girl likes to eat and her bedtime.

“They raised my daughter right,” Achane said of the Freis. “They love my daughter just as much as I do.”

Achane added: “They know what I’ve been through. They’re feeling that [pain] now.”

The Freis left the court Friday through a back exit and did not speak with news reporters. Their attorney, Lance Rich, called it a painful time for them and said they are asking for privacy.

Achane’s attorney, Mark Wiser, asked how it could happen that a married father’s child could be placed for adoption at birth without the father’s consent or knowledge

Wiser put most of the blame on the birth mother, who is now Achane’s ex-wife.

“She came to Utah because Utah allows human trafficking in babies,” Wiser said.

Achane, 31, and Tira Bland were living in Texas when she conceived Teleah; the baby was due in mid-March 2011.

Achane — an Army drill sergeant — received a job transfer to Fort Jackson and left Texas in mid-January to report for duty. He planned to return to Texas for the baby’s birth and then expected his family to join him in South Carolina.

But 10 days after Achane left Texas, Bland decided to place the baby for adoption. She contacted the Adoption Center of Choice in Utah and told the agency her husband had abandoned her and had no interest in the child. She gave birth in Utah on March 1, 2011. Two days later, Bland relinquished her parental rights, and the baby was placed with the Freis.

Achane did not learn what had become of his daughter until June 2011. He immediately contacted the agency and demanded the return of his daughter, but both the agency and the Freis refused and attempted to proceed with an adoption.

In November, McDade ruled that Achane’s parental rights had been unlawfully circumvented by Bland, the adoption agency and the Freis, and he dismissed the couple’s adoption petition. McDade set 60 days for the Freis to transfer custody of Teleah to her father.

The Freis responded by asking both McDade and the Utah Supreme Court to stay McDade’s ruling while they appealed the transfer order.

McDade declined to stay his decision, and on Jan. 11, the Utah Supreme Court did, too.

brooke@sltrib.com

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© Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Father reunited with daughter who was adopted at birth by Utah couple

By brooke adams

The Salt Lake Tribune

Next Step.

We have heard back from Judge Hamilton on the constitutionality motion. He has denied Jake's motion. He felt like Jake's constitutional rights were not violated and he did not file timely.

This means we will be moving on with appeals as we originally had planned. It is our belief the judge felt like he was not able to rule on constitutional rights at his court level. We have another 1-3 years of court battles ahead of us.

As you can imagine we are all physically, mentally, emotionally and financially exhausted. Any financial help would be greatly appreciated to help with the ongoing legal battle. You can donate at the paypal account located on the right side of this blog. Jake will not let money get in the way to fight until the end for his son.

We still have hope that the Utah Supreme Court will rule in our favor due to the constitutionality motion. We feel like if we can also get the law changed, there is a hope we can potentially be grandfathered in, but will most likely not happen.

We will be doing some fundraisers in the Spring, and would love any help we can get with donations, or volunteers.

Thank you so much for all of the continued support and prayers. We will never give up on Jackson. He deserves the right to have his father in his life.

Jackson, we will be with you one day, we are hoping it's not when you turn 18, but nonetheless we will be with you! We Love You.

We need your help.

Currently, we are working to change the adoption laws in Utah to protect all parties and need all the help we can get.  Utah Senator Curtis Bramble has stated that he is willing to co-sponsor HB308 which was tabled during the 2012 session.  The problem is that the sponsor, Rep. Christine Watkins was not re-elected. 

HB308 would provide mandatory notice to all potential fathers that an adoption proceeding could be taking place as well as make fraudulent placements criminal for all parties involved.   We are aware that there are other issues which also need to be addressed and changed in Utah’s laws such as open adoption records and adoptions, protection of birth mother rights and options, interstate adoptions, Medicaid fraud, adoptive parent’s rights and most importantly the rights of the adoptee.  We will continue to make changes to the laws one step at a time as necessary until all are protected.  

Some of the issues of concern which held the bill in the 2012 legislative session were;
1. birth mothers would abort if they had to notify the father of the adoption
2. children needed to be placed quickly so that they could bond with the adoptive parents. 

Please help by emailing and/ or calling all Utah State Senators and House Representative requesting that they move to make the necessary changes in Utah adoption laws.  They need to hear from all sides from those who have been affected most by adoption, please give them your story. It is time to be heard.   We must take a stand now to change the laws and stop the current fraudulent actions in adoptions that are destroying one family to create another, which in the end hurts the voiceless children most of all.   Fraudulent adoption hurts adoptive parents and families as well; there is nothing good that comes from a foundation of lies and deception. 

If we stand together we can make a difference. Please forward this request through all social media sites, blogs, and news outlets. It doesn’t matter if you are located in Utah or not, Utah adoption laws affect those well beyond the state line. 

Take 10 minutes out of your day and please email the legislators today.

Senator Curt Bramble  curt@cbramble.com

Rep. Paul Ray pray@le.utah.gov

Rep. Edward Redd eredd@le.utah.gov

Rep. Ronda Menlove rmenlove@le.utah.gov

Rep. Michael Kennedy mkennedy@le.utah.gov

Rep. Brian Greene bgreene@le.utah.gov

Rep.  Lavar Christensen@le.utah.gov

Rep. Stewart Barlow sbarlow@le.utah.gov

Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck rchouck@le.utah.gov

Rep. Tim Cosgrovetcosgrove@le.utah.gov