European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 07, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse Kathie Migliaccio hugs her daughter Beverly As Bob gets ready to push her in her wheelchair into their Home. We All eat together mrs. Migliaccio says. I m areal stickler on that. Family is we stick together we re always together adds 19-year-old Jill one of the adopted children. Nadine. 21, a special education major at Edinboro slate College who was adopted by the Migliaccio when she was a child says it s the whole family s decision to she plans to continue the tradition when she gets married. The family 8 Large Home is in a constant state of renovation and repair with two dogs two cats and three goldfish adding to the burgeoning numbers. The Bia that became the family car once served the new Jersey transit system circa 1963. The neighbors cringe when we first move into a neighbourhood Migliaccio laughs. But his wife ads we have found that More people in Corry Are behind us than we realized. The Only ones who talk us Down Are the people whose kids we would although Money it tight All needs Are met. I Migl Lanclo s workmen s compensation amounts to j68 a month. Though he s had two operations for a tipped disc he s considered totally disabled because 7,1985 he can t sit or stand in one position very Long. The seven natural children receive monthly social Security payments of $340. The entire family qualifies Lor medicaid for health emergencies and $300 a month in food Stamps. I Don t lie awake at night worrying about says mrs. Migliaccio. Ii just seems god always provided. Money is wasted by most people. We Don t live extravagantly. We just spent Only $250 for a Couch and a chair that we bought at an auction. We Don t have to buy the Best and spend the most Money. And we Don t have to sacrifice to adopt the income pays Lor the mortgage utilities and a monthly food Bill of about $1,500. We keep it Low by putting up vegetables buying meat on Sale and shopping around for mrs. Migliaccio says. The family spends $400 to $600 a month on clothes which they never buy new unless the stuff is on Sale or unless they go to outlets she said. College tuition for three children is paid for in part with scholarships Loans and work study programs. Birthdays Are celebrated with cake and presents. Christmas spending averages $5.000 to $6,000. What s left in the Bank goes toward vacations and occasional jaunts to local restaurants for dinner or a nearby amusement Park. Some of the kids at school Tell us we re poor says Michelle 17, one of the homemade children. But we live better than a lot of mrs. Migliaccio is proud of her successes with the handicapped children particularly the retarded ones who have progressed beyond the expectations of Kathie Migliaccio cradles 8-year old Billy who suffered severe brain damage at birth. Doctors and caseworkers. The Migliaccio decided they could be parents on a grand scale alter Thoy found Billy who was declared clinically de of Al birth he survived but suffered severe brain damage doctors warned he would never be Able to see. Hear speak or walk when i adopt. I want to know that no one else ants the mrs Migliaccio Sayr. By the tune we got him and found out he was t going to be a vegetable that he could be a person we realized How Many More children Are Oul there who will live in an institution or a Lile in limbo because nobody will help them reach their he s our Miracle adds her husband a lean. Tanned Man who walks with a Cane because of the Back injury. They said he s brain damaged but he s not. I know there s a brain there Migliaccio said i a holy tapping the boy s head. You ust have to break through the Barrier. And we re going to break through it one of these in the Corner another boy. 12-year-old Michael wore a football Helmel and stood in a close Lilling Box to help him stay upright. He Flung his head wildly and gurgled. Michael is another example of Why the couple hates to see children spend their formative years in institutions. Diagnosed As profoundly retarded he was institutionalized for three years. Doctors said he failed to thrive before the Migliaccio adopted him two years ago. They d just let him Lay Migliaccio said. He sat Long enough to Chew a Hole in his shoe. They d let him sit in a wheelchair until he passed out at Bui the family has not been without its problems. Bobby left Home at 18 alter 14 years with the family when he got involved in drugs and alcohol. And the family had to give up 14-year-old Louie a few months after they adopted him. When he stole my ring that was the last Straw mrs. Migliaccio says. But it was t his fault. He was a victim of the system. They had medicated him when he was 5 instead of Linding out what his problem was. As it turned out he blamed himself for his Mother s death. But instead of giving him psychological help they ignored the Migliaccio say they love their adopted and biological children equally regardless of How Long a child has been living with them. Those feelings surfaced when one teen age adoptee almost died of a Luxor disorder after living in the household for seven months. It really became apparent to me How much i cared mrs. Migliaccio says. I used to think who would i grab first if the House was burning i know now i d just grab to the stars and stripes Page 15
