"In 2008, a West Allis woman named Carole Eagleman wrote to this newspaper and made a surprising request. She wanted us to print an article saying her severely autistic son, Jessie, needed a new family.

Carole, then 67 and experiencing health problems, didn't know how long she would be able to care for her 37-year-old son. She didn't trust the government safety net, so she was taking matters into her own hands.

"I know Jess would thrive as part of the right family. He deserves this, if only we can make this happen," her letter said.

It did happen. I wrote the story Carole wanted, and Jessie is indeed thriving now as a cherished member of the Robers family in Burlington.

I wish I could tell you it was a smooth transition, but there was emotional turbulence along the way, and contentious court hearings that led to Bobbi and Dan Robers being awarded full guardianship of Jessie while Carole has faded out of the picture.

It's been many months since she has seen her son, Carole told me. She had a stroke in October and now lives in an apartment on Milwaukee's south side.

"I don't want to disrupt the life he has now, because that's what I wanted for him," Carole said. "I believe that where he is now, he's better off.""

Get the Story:
Jim Stingl: Mom's call for new family for son answered with love (The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel 6/4)