[CedarDave]

Propp's maternal grandfather had arranged for the Smileys to adopt the baby at birth. But when the child was 15 months old, a judge ruled the adoption illegal because the biological mother, Deborah Gardner, had not given her consent.

After caring for the baby for 15-months and raising him as their own, a judge rules against them. These decisions are always tough, but in court the birth mother always seems to prevail, no matter what. It must have been a heart wrenching decision for them to do what they did, knowing that they would be someday found. However, their son is an adult and no longer can be taken from them, and they now seem at peace with their choice. BTW, they were found out when the son applied for a birth certificate so that he could become a police officer and they told him the story. I'd say they raised a fine son.

[MeekOneGOP]

It just seems to me that it's a shame these two have to serve prison time, though.
Don't get me wrong, they broke the law and now they face the consequences. But
the good news is that the system did minimize the prison time. I just hope that
neither comes to harm in the known brutal place that prison can be. They don't
deserve that after having done such a good job raising this adopted son......