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Yesterday the story of Hamoody Jouda was aired. It was heart warming.
The host family in Snohomish stated they wanted to adopt Hamoody. Everyone needs to remember that Hamoody has a mother in Iraq. There was a landmark case in 2000 of Elian Gonzales in Florida who came over from Cuba by dilapitated boat with his mother and many others. His mother drowned but he made it to shore. The "wet foot dry foot" imigration policy states that he has the right to asylym. Elian had relatives in Miami who desperatley wanted him to stay here, but Elian had a biological father back in Cuba and Janet Reno, the Attorney General at the time, ruled that the biological parent's rights to their child supercedes all other good intentions.
Hamoody Jouda has a biological mother in Iraq and even though the host parents have grown fond of Hamoody his mother's rights trumps their intentions of adoption.
T. Conley

I also was touched by the story of Hamoody Jouda. It demonstrates the compassion and open-heartedness of the American people. Thank God that there are people like his American family and the doctor's and organizations dedicated to helping this adorable Iraqi boy. However, as a parent, I can't help but feel heartache for his biological family in Iraq who have made a painful but loving decision to let their son stay in America because there are inadequate services and narrow minded attitudes towards those with disabilities in Iraq. In the American foster care system, every effort is taken to keep biological families together if at all possible. I certianly would not advocate sending this little boy back into harm's way particularly sincy his family has decided it best for him to stay in the United States. However, has anyone though that in Hamoody's situation, bringing his family to America so that they may share in Hamoody's life, and Hamoody can remain a part of his family and culture would be the best solution for this family?

I,too, heard this story and was deeply moved. I appreciate so much the love that the Washington family has given so selflessly to this little boy; likewise, as a mother of a young boy myself, I can only imagine the anguish his biological mother feels. What a terrible dilemma to both have your son's life saved and lost simultaneously. I agree w/ the last writer - is it possible to get the family here to visit? Is there a way to donate to such an effort?