Opal Fay Elder's Adoption Papers

SOCIAL HISTORY

ELDER, Opal                                                                                                               Informant
Born:9-15-53                                                                                                               Mrs. Elsie Elder

 Mrs. f Elder, was referred to us by                 of U. Hospital. Two appointments were made to see Elder before the delivery of her fifth child whom she wishes to give up for adoption. Due to her stated difficulties of not feeling well, Mrs. Elder did not keep these appointments ‘with us. On 9=16=53 she delivered a baby girl and was seen by us on 9-17 at University Hospital. A large, dark-haired, dark-eyed, slow speaking, affable personality, Mrs. Elder discussed her inability to plan on keeping her fifth cjo;d. She is a widow, her husband having been killed in an auto accident in January of ‘53. four living children, ages 9, 8, 6 and 4 are receiving Social Security Benefits which is barely adequate for their needs. No increment in benefits would be made to provide for the fifth child. Mrs. Elder lives in Brighton with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Siders, at 321 South 7th St. They are both helping her complete the building of a house near by. Both grandparents work to help in the support of Mrs. Elder’s family. Mr. Siders is a scraper in a foundry and Mrs. Siders is a salad girl in a restaurant. Church organizations have been giving gifts of clothes to Elder children of which . Mrs. Elder is appreciative.

 History: Maternal - Mother, Elsie Siders Elders, born 9-5-22, in Virginia. She is 5’6’ tall, weighs 160 lbs. Irish, English parentage, Lutheran religion. She is the youngest in a sibship of three girls. At the age of 11, her family moved to Howell, Michigan, where Mrs.. Elder completed part of the 11th grade. At the age of 16, Mrs.. Elder left school in order to begin earning money as a waitress. Her family’ lived on a marginal income she enjoyed working more than attending school. In her late ‘teens, Mrs. Elder met Charles Elder who later became her husband on 12-6-42 in Howell. This being a first marriage for both. Five children were born of their union.

 MGM: Lillie Siders, a dark-haired woman of medium build. Age 54, born in Virginia, worked in restaurant as a cook after being in grade school. She has recently undergone an operation for a cancerous condition, but continues to work as a salad girl in a restaurant at Brighton in order to help her daughter and grandchildren. She is of Irish—English descent, Protestant religion.

 MGF: Mr. Sam Siders, in his late sixties was born In Virginia, bed a grade school education. He and his wife lived aid worked on their farm in West Virginia, where they raised the three girls. Mr.. Siders is of medium build, dark coloring aid in good health Es is of Irish-English parentage aid Lutheran religion.

Siblings: Mrs. Elsie has two sisters, both older than she, who are married have children, s are in good health. Both sisters live on farms, one in Ohio aid the other in Tacoma,. Washington.

 Maternal Great Grandparents: Are both deceased. They lived to their middle 60’s and died of heart attacks.

 Father: Charles Elder was killed in an auto accident this year. He was 28 years old and bad been a truck driver. Mr. Elder was of German descent, Protestant religion aid born in Hove1l, Michigan. When he was 6 years of age, Mr. Elder’s parents secured a divorce.. Mr. Elder went to live with his father in a hotel in Howell. Be never experienced family life until he met Elsie Sides aid became a frequent visitor to their home. Mr. Eider was of small build, 5’5 tail and weighed 140 lbs. He had blonde to light own hair, blue eyes and a medium complexion. He finished the 11th grade at school and worked in Cunningham’s Drug Store, in a factory’ and as a mason before becoming a truck driver. He enjoyed a good marital relationship with Mrs.

elder who as very distraught for a few months after his death, Mr. Elder served one year in the Army and received a medical discharge due to a hernia condition. He had no other ills and enjoyed good health.

 PGF: Jack Elder is in his 60’s, of German descent and Protestant religion. He has been a factory worker who has had a difficult life due to marital disturbances. For many years, he has been an alcoholic. From Nov., 1946, until May, 1947, Mr. Elder was in the Pontiac State Hospital. His treatment was not very successful and Mr. Elder still drinks quite heavily.

 PGM: Helen Elder has lived in Howell most of her life. Little is known by Mrs.. Elder about her early background. Mrs. Elder described PGM as a critical and rigid personality who had little feeling for her son, Charles. Helen Elder is of small build, weighs about 95 lbs. and as born in Penn. She is reported to be in good health.

 Siblings of Opal Fay: Donald, born12-21-43 is a dark-haired boy in the fourth grade at school. and is of small build and, like his other 3 sib lings, strongly resembles his mother.

Barbara Elder, born 2-16-45 is a healthy, chubby, youngster in the 3rd grade at school.

Michael Elder, born 6-4-47, is in good health except for allergic asthmatic attacks when he is near evergreen trees. He is quite chubby, dark-haired, and in the 1st grade.

Laura Elder, born 6-5-49 is a heavy, dark-haired little girl. She is grossly overweight due to an under active thyroid gland. Laura is under going medical treatment for her condition which involved thyroid pills and diet control.

All four siblings have had the usual childhood diseased which include measles, whooping cough ant chicken pox.

 Opal Fay Elder, born 9-16-53 after a short, 3 hour period of labor, weighed 7;bs & 13 oz at birth. Pregnancy was full, tern, delivery was normal and spontaneous. There were no complications and no birth injuries or deformities. Opal. is a bunny-like, blonde-haired, reddish-complex baby who sleeps and eats well. Opal’s coloring is similar to her father’s and her features are similar to Mrs. Elder’s. She is most appealing and was a favorite of all the hospital nurses. Opal has a distinct nose with a crease at the top of it.

 On 9-22, Mrs. Elder was present at the court hearing for commitment of her child to M.C.I.. Mrs. Elder was co-operative although tense about the court procedure. She tried hard to hold back her tears and had considerable feeling about giving up her baby.. She was unable to see Opal for fear of not being able to go through with commitment. Mrs. Elder felt, however, that due to the realities of her family’s needs and her limited financial moans, commitment would be the best plan for Opal’s future. I’ve tried to support Mrs. Elder in her strength and recognized with her the helpful planning she is making for her baby. Mrs. Elder had great faith in MCI’s ability to plan as normal and! happy a life as possible for Opal. She has been an affable, co—operative woman who gave us a photograph of herself and Mr. Elder for our record and will plan to keep an appointment with Miss Goodman on 10-9. Mrs. Elder did not wish to have her. baby’s court commitment take place at her home in Brighton due to community rumors that the baby is not legitimate. At the time of her husband’s death, she had been pregnant for one month. Her four children have not been planning to see their new a sister and have been more eager for their mother’s return to her active and important family role with them.

 Diagnostic Summary: Opal Fay Elder, b. 9-16-53, of a full term pregnancy at University Hospital. Labor was short, delivery normal, birth weight 7 lbs, l3 oz. Committed to M.C..I. on 9-22 and placed in St. Joseph Nursery until 10-5.

Mother: Elsie Elder — b 9-5-22, 5’é’ tall, weight. 160 lbs., Irish. English parentage, 11th grade education. She worked as a waitress.

MGM: Lillie Siders, age 54, still works in a restaurant. Has recently other gone surgery for cancer.

MGF: Sam Siders, in his 60s works as a scraper in. foundry. Is in good health.

MGGP:  both deceased, live) to middle 80’s., died or beartattacks.

Father: Charles Elder of German descent and Protestant religion, as killed in an auto accident on 1-53 at the age of 28. At the age of 6, his parents were divorced ant he as reared his father. W. Elder as of small build, 5’5” tall, weighed 140 lbs and was discharged from the army due to a hernia. He had an 11th grade education and was as a truck drive.

PGF: Jack Elder, in his 60’ baa been a factory worker. Long on alcoholic, he was hospitalized at Pontiac from 1946 to 1947 14th little successful treatment.

PGM:  Helen Eider, small build, weighs about 95 lbs., and in good health. Has since remarried.

Siblings of Opal Fay:  2 brothers, ages 10 and 5. The five year old has an asthmatic allergy to evergreen trees. 2 sisters, Barbara and.   age 4, is being medically treated for an overweight coalition. All siblings are reported to be doing well in school.

Placement of Opal Fay: A normal, healthy baby, a. foster home in Fenton, near to M.C.I. has chosen as there were mo outstanding problems to be faced in the handling of this baby. The FM has had much experience in the are of newborns and infants. She had requested a baby girl. and was interested when told about our plans for the placement of Opal with the FPs.  On 10-5 Opal left the nursery weighing 8 lbs. and taking a formula of 17 oz milk, 13 water, 2 the. 50% kayo solution, fed on demand as much as possible. Her bottom was sore due to skin sensitivity to her strong urine, zinc oxide was suggested as treatment. When dress to leave, Opal presented an angelic picture and slept throughout our trip. She sucked her fingers s was hungry upon arrival. The FM handled Opal in a relaxed and self-confident manner. She as delighted with the baby and quickly warmed a bottle for her feeding. Holding the baby snugly in. her aims, the FM beamed as Opal sucked vigorously. When placed in her new bed, in the FPs bedroom, Opal as fretful, apparently responding to strangeness in a new environment . The FM rocked the baby while we discussed the routine of care which will be necessary. Opal slept in her boarding mother’s arms. Her crib will be set up in the boarding parents bedroom. The FM described her family’s potential reaction to a baby and felt they would all be quickly enamored of Opal, a cuddly end appealing infant.

 10-9 Opal is now been adjusting well to her new home after having a few bouts of attach gas & inability to sleep when first moved. She is alert, observant, and follows movements. Her bottom is healing nicely no apparent problems are present in the handling of the baby and the FM are enjoying her presence in their home.

 11-5 Home call. The FPs was in an emotionally upset state due to a rash on the baby’s face aid the baby’s hating regurgitated solids, apple sauce and vegetable, which were suggested by Dr_______. The FM asked worker to remove Opal as she could not tolerate the baby’s regurgitation, She feared that Opal would choke to death. this experience has r a latest fear of the potential death of the baby with which 44g. P was constantly pre-occupied. She so feared an accident would happen to the baby that she could no longer enjoy caring for Opal. A rash o the baby’s face, due to the development of her oil giants also frightened the FM who recognized that she “bit off more than she could chew.” Choked with feeling, the FM realized the damaging effects her anxiety would have upon Opal. Lying in her crib, Opal was tense aid uncomfortable, reflecting her boarding mother’s disturbed feelings. I’ve learned that Opal had experienced discomfort each day at dinner time and wanted to be rocked. The FM could not understand the baby’s need for this and considered this too much pressure for her. All the family were affectionate to the baby but were not flexible enough in adjusting to the rhythm of the baby’s needs.

 We carried Opal, clothed in her new bunting, to the car for our trip to Ann Arbor. throughout our ride Opal was unhappy, crying a unable to be soothed. Upon arrival at the nursery she was hungry and soon relaxed with her bottle.

 11-9 Visit to nursery. Opal is reported to be a more relaxed, emotionally calm baby who eats and sleeps well and responds to affection. I’ve noted tenseness in Opal when another baby in the nursery cried aid screamed. Hazel reports this is the only time Opal displays discomfort except the discomfort originating from an organic basis, i.e. hunger or soiled diaper. In another two weeks Opal will be placed N/A experienced boarding family, where it is hoped that Opal can overcome some of the damaging effects of the foster home.
 

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