When a devastating diagnosis tears author Donnie Kanter Winokur’s family apart, an FASD service dog may be their best hope to stay together.
Donnie Kanter Winokur and her husband, Harvey, never could have imagined the heart-wrenching struggle that becomes their new reality after they decide to adopt two infants from Russia. As Iyal and Morasha grow, it becomes clear that Iyal’s development is drastically lagging behind his sister’s. By age four, he has a devastating diagnosis: fetal alcohol syndrome. But naming their battle provides little relief as Iyal and his family try to cope with the lifelong impact of his invisible disability. As the Winokurs’ marriage unravels, Donnie and Harvey hang on to the last shreds of their promise—and the unimaginable thought of an FASD Service Dog.
Iyal was diagnosed with FASD when he was four years old.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are a preventable group of conditions that can occur in a person who was exposed to alcohol before birth. People with FASDs can have lifelong effects, including problems with behavior, mental health, and learning, as well as physical disabilities.
There is no safe time, amount, or kind of alcohol a woman can drink during pregnancy or when trying to get pregnant. This is because a woman could get pregnant and not know for up to 4 to 6 weeks. 1 out of 20 people may have FASD.
It is never too late to stop alcohol use during pregnancy.