A disturbing recent case involving an eight-year-old boy in Somerset, Kentucky, has touched off a national firestorm and a flood of community support. Liam LaFavers, who has fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), inadvertently ordered 73,000 Dum-Dum lollipops on Amazon. His adoption mother, Holly LaFavers, was horrified to find a jaw-dropping $4,200 claim on their checking account!
Liam was diagnosed with FASD within four years. Holly rescued him when he was two-and-a-half. He entered her life when she was only four months old. As a treat for his noteworthily bad behavior, Holly gives her cell to Liam. She’s unaware of the hazards her newfound privilege may pose.
In the midst of getting ready for church one Sunday morning, Holly was shocked to see the large deposit on her checking account. First of all, she told the attendees, “Don’t panic. Reflecting on her startling experience, she said, “I freaked myself out, but let me tell you, don’t freak out.”
Within two hours of posting about the mix-up, friends, family, and even strangers in the local community rallied to help. Local banks, doctor’s offices, and a chiropractor joined forces to purchase all of the boxes of Dum-Dums, demonstrating the community’s quick response to a unique situation.
“My friends and family in Somerset truly stepped up… and they were able to help,” – Holly LaFavers
Holly laughed at the order, but she didn’t think Liam fully understood the scope of what had happened. She wanted to make sure he knew the broader implications. We found the first glimpse into his excitement when he shouted, “My suckers are here!” with glee after the delivery. The poor dude has lived through too many box arrivals. What he completely misses is how this works on an online ordering and delivery from a financial perspective.
As Holly shared, she raised up her story to be a voice for awareness and change for FASD. She pointed out that hundreds of thousands of children are undiagnosed simply because people don’t know what the condition is. These kids remain undiagnosed because so many people are unaware of it,” she said. She stressed the need for education and support for families impacted by FASD.
Liam’s unintended purchase is a great example of how the world can be designed with the needs of children with developmental disorders and their families in mind. Holly’s story is a reminder to always use care when giving children access to devices. Things will always turn out right, so believe that things will be alright, just don’t forget to secure your phone,” she said.
