I wrote about Cody's story last month. Briefly, he was told the mother of his child had a miscarriage but in reality she placed the child for adoption without his consent even though the agency knew of Cody's wishes. (For more information, read the blog or visit Cody's website.)

I'm revisiting the topic for a few reasons. Cody's daughter just turned one this past week. One. That's a big milestone that he just missed, against his will. He has also missed all of the other milestones that come within that blessed first year, against his will. There are no pictures of him holding her in the middle of those sleepless newborn nights. No pictures of them together on her first birthday. One year of her life, gone. One year of his life, fighting against a legal system which doesn't care about fathers, gone. One year of their life together, non-existent.

It's hard for me to fathom. Even though I have issue with the way my (unethical) agency treated me and lied to me, I was able to participate in my placed child's first year events in some form or fashion. There are pictures of us together. I attended her birthday. I wasn't there like I could have been had things been different but I was there in the only way that I could be. And this father, who never signed a relinquishment form, isn't even afforded the luxury of openness. He is denied even those rights because he was specifically excluded, lied to and cut out of any possibility of involvement in his daughter's life.

It's not fair, plain and simple. It's heartbreaking. And it needs to change. That's where you come in. A petition is now available on the website for you to sign. It is a petition to reunite Cody with his biological daughter whom he never wanted to place for adoption or consented to have placed for adoption. She was stolen from him much in the same way the babies were swiped during the Baby Scoop era. The agency knew what they were doing. The mother knew what she was doing. Both Cody and his daughter are paying for their unethical actions.

Furthermore, if you would like to write to the Utah Government about the sheer ridiculousness of this case, here are the addresses:

US Department of Justice

Mr. Dustin Pead
US Department of Justice
185 South State Street, Suite 400
Salt Lake City, Utah. 84111
Phone: 801-524-6924
Fax: 801-524-5682

Attorney General's Office

General Office Numbers: (801) 366-0260, (801) 538-9600, (801) 366-0300
Toll Free within the State of Utah: (800) AG4 INFO (244-4636)
E-Mail: uag@utah.gov

Utah State Capitol Office
Office of the Attorney General
Utah State Capitol Complex
East Office Bldg, Suite 320
SLC UT 84114-2320
Utah State Capitol Office Mailing Address
Office of the Attorney General
PO Box 142320
SLC UT 84114-2320

Remember, as I've been talking about now and again, change won't happen if we sit here and nod our heads behind a computer screen. Occasionally we need to act. We need to put pen to paper, fingers to keyboards and get balls rolling. Sadly, this is not just a singular case. Stuff like this continues to happen and will continue to happen as long as people don't stand up and shout, "No! We Won't Have It ANYMORE!"

Let us know if you've signed the petition or written a letter. And please, pass on the information. The more, honestly, the better.

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Related Links:

1. When the System Fails Biological Fathers (Cody's Story).

2. Grassroots Reform from a First Mom.

3. Start Reform From the Ground Up.

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Photo Credit.