Latest news with #FASD
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I moved in with my man after a one-night stand – now we have 11 kids & feeding them takes 4 trolleys for just snacks
LIFE could have been very different for Alicia Dougherty had she not had a one-night stand with her now-husband Josh. The lovebirds decided to move in together after just one day - and now have a staggering 11 kids together. 6 Alicia and teacher husband Josh raise 11 kids together near New York Credit: instagram/@doughertydozen 6 The couple have four biological children of their own and have adopted or fostered the rest Credit: instagram/@doughertydozen The New York-based family went viral in 2021 after they started posting TikTok videos of their family life on their Dougherty Dozen page, which now has 7.5million followers. Fans have been left stunned at Alicia's The mum shared how their bumper family began, 'And now we are a family of 13. Guess it was meant to be.' More on large families The couple's kids aren't all biologically their own, and Alicia and Josh, a teacher, reportedly suffered 11 heartbreaking miscarriages before deciding to foster and adopt. However, just days after fostering their first son, Alex, in 2010, Alicia learned she was pregnant. The rest was history as Alicia and Josh went on to welcome four biological children - Zoey, Dash, Bodhi, and Harlee - while also adopting/fostering Alex, James, Jordan, Jason, Patrick, Bree, Nevaeh, and Dayshawn. Six of the Doughertys' adopted children have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), which is where alcohol passes from a mother to her baby through the umbilical cord. Most read in Fabulous Of course, keeping all those mouths fed isn't easy, and Alicia, who wakes up at 4am to get organised, Lunch was grilled cheese sandwiches, with soup and fruit - and then they popped to Walmart to get a 'snack', which required a whooping four trolleys. I'm a mum-of-12, I feed my kids on three takeaways a day, I spend a fortune and people troll me but it's my money The family then went to the cinema, with Alicia splashing out on a large popcorn box for each kid. Finally, she used a gigantic metal dish for a goulash dinner and garlic bread. This was all on top of Alicia managing to keep on top of the family's five loads of laundry per day. 6 Alicia gets up at 4am to get breakfast and the house ready for the kids Credit: instagram/@doughertydozen 6 Lunch is grilled cheese sandwiches Credit: instagram/@doughertydozen 6 Alicia fills four trolleys full of items during her Walmart shop Credit: instagram/@doughertydozen 6 Each kid gets their own box of popcorn at the cinema Credit: instagram/@doughertydozen Parenting life doesn't phase dad Josh either, who is inspired to be the father figure he never had, claims Alicia. She told Today: 'Josh was raised by a single mom who worked three jobs . 'And so Josh loves having this big family that's always together.' The world's biggest families The Vassilyev family This family currently holds the record for the most children a couple has parented, after the matriarch gave birth to 69 children, including 16 pairs of twins and seven sets of triplets. Mrs. Vassilyev has given birth to a total of 69 children, including 16 pairs of twins and 7 sets of triplets. 67 of the 69 children survived infancy. The Radfords Sue and Noel are parents to 22 children, and their hectic family life is documented in reality show 22 Kids and Counting. The pair have remained adamant that they won't be having any more kids, but the amount of grandchildren they have is ever expanding, with daughters Sophie and Millie both mums of three. The Duggars Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar have 19 children - 10 sons and nine daughters. All of their children's names begin with the letter J. They also had their own reality show in the United States, and became household names because of it. The Bates family Kelly also has 19 children, with her husband Gil Bates. Of 19 deliveries, 14 of them were natural. The couple also have 28 grandchildren, with four more on the way. The Dougherty Dozen Mum Alicia frequently shares videos and pictures of her family. She and husband Josh have four biological children together, as well as adopting or fostering the rest of their brood. The Rosario family Yalancia and husband Michael are parents of 11. They had their first daughter together earlier this year, and are also parents to Jamel, 15, Michael Jr, 11, Angelo, 10, Gimani, seven, Armani, six, Sincere, three and Khaza, two. Their fourth son, also named Armani, was stillborn.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I moved in with my man after a one-night stand – now we have 11 kids & feeding them takes 4 trolleys for just snacks
Plus, the staggering amount of laundry loads Alicia does each day BUMPER BROOD I moved in with my man after a one-night stand – now we have 11 kids & feeding them takes 4 trolleys for just snacks LIFE could have been very different for Alicia Dougherty had she not had a one-night stand with her now-husband Josh. The lovebirds decided to move in together after just one day - and now have a staggering 11 kids together. 6 Alicia and teacher husband Josh raise 11 kids together near New York Credit: instagram/@doughertydozen 6 The couple have four biological children of their own and have adopted or fostered the rest Credit: instagram/@doughertydozen The New York-based family went viral in 2021 after they started posting TikTok videos of their family life on their Dougherty Dozen page, which now has 7.5million followers. Fans have been left stunned at Alicia's 'chaos hour' routine and how her weekly shop comes to a jaw-dropping $1280.36 [£984.64]. The mum shared how their bumper family began, writing: 'Don't mean to be a bad influence but we moved in together 2 days after our 'one night stand'. 'And now we are a family of 13. Guess it was meant to be.' The couple's kids aren't all biologically their own, and Alicia and Josh, a teacher, reportedly suffered 11 heartbreaking miscarriages before deciding to foster and adopt. However, just days after fostering their first son, Alex, in 2010, Alicia learned she was pregnant. The rest was history as Alicia and Josh went on to welcome four biological children - Zoey, Dash, Bodhi, and Harlee - while also adopting/fostering Alex, James, Jordan, Jason, Patrick, Bree, Nevaeh, and Dayshawn. Six of the Doughertys' adopted children have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), which is where alcohol passes from a mother to her baby through the umbilical cord. Of course, keeping all those mouths fed isn't easy, and Alicia, who wakes up at 4am to get organised, recently showed off what a typical day of meals looks like, starting with 16 boxes of cereals laid out. Lunch was grilled cheese sandwiches, with soup and fruit - and then they popped to Walmart to get a 'snack', which required a whooping four trolleys. I'm a mum-of-12, I feed my kids on three takeaways a day, I spend a fortune and people troll me but it's my money The family then went to the cinema, with Alicia splashing out on a large popcorn box for each kid. Finally, she used a gigantic metal dish for a goulash dinner and garlic bread. This was all on top of Alicia managing to keep on top of the family's five loads of laundry per day. 6 Alicia gets up at 4am to get breakfast and the house ready for the kids Credit: instagram/@doughertydozen 6 Lunch is grilled cheese sandwiches Credit: instagram/@doughertydozen 6 Alicia fills four trolleys full of items during her Walmart shop Credit: instagram/@doughertydozen 6 Each kid gets their own box of popcorn at the cinema Credit: instagram/@doughertydozen Parenting life doesn't phase dad Josh either, who is inspired to be the father figure he never had, claims Alicia. She told Today: 'Josh was raised by a single mom who worked three jobs. 'And so Josh loves having this big family that's always together.'
Irish Examiner
21-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
'Under-recognised' foetal alcohol spectrum disorder a 'silent epidemic'
A British expert on foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is warning that the condition is under-recognised, speaking ahead of a conference which takes place in Clare on Thursday. Raja Mukerjee is an adult learning disability consultant psychiatrist for Surrey, and Border's Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. He will address the conference being organised by FASD Ireland, which takes place in Hotel Woodstock, Ennis, from 9am on Thursday. 'Raising awareness and getting knowledge out there is really important, because FASD is something that is entirely avoidable. It's not that FASD is rare, it is that it is under-recognised,' Mr Mukerjee said. Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder is an umbrella term for conditions which can be caused by drinking alcohol while pregnant. According to figures published by the World Health Organization in 2017, it is estimated that approximately 600 babies are born each year in Ireland with the syndrome. Ireland ranked third out of 187 countries for prevalence of the disorder, behind South Africa and Croatia. The HSE said in a briefing document in 2022 that the prevalence of the disorder in Ireland is estimated at between 2.8% and 7.4% of the population. It said the best available evidence estimates that about 600 Irish babies are born each year with foetal alcohol syndrome, 'with a further nine to 10 times this number of babies born annually in Ireland who have other foetal alcohol spectrum disorders'. It is also estimated that up to 380,000 people with foetal alcohol spectrum disorders are currently living in Ireland. Disorder indicators Among the indicators of foetal alcohol spectrum disorders are ADHD, low body weight, poor co-ordination, poor memory, attention difficulties, difficulties in school (particularly around maths), and learning disabilities. The chief executive of FASD Ireland, Tristan Casson-Rennie, said that the disorder is more prevalent than autism, Down syndrome, and cerebral palsy combined, 'yet it is far less understood, recognised, or supported'. The conference aims to raise awareness, share and promote best practices, and drive the development of coordinated services across sectors. Describing the disorder as a 'silent epidemic', Mr Casson-Rennie added: 'With up to 7.4% of our population potentially affected, the need for national awareness, training, and support systems is fundamental. This conference is a call to action — for professionals, families, and policymakers alike — to come together and shape a more inclusive, informed future He said the conference is open to healthcare professionals, educators, social workers, community organisations, students, people living with the disorder, their families and carers, and anyone committed to improving the lives of people affected by FASD. Also speaking will be chartered psychologist specialising in positive psychology and health from Royal College for Surgeons Ireland, Dr Jolanta Burke; consultant paediatrician with a special interest in developmental paediatrics at Mullingar Regional Hospital, Prof Farhana Sharif; and the national lead at the alcohol and mental health and wellbeing programmes at HSE, Dr Aisling Sheehan. Families will also give their lived experiences of the disorder, along with people who themselves have it. Those wishing to attend the conference can access tickets at
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Indiana Parole Board denies clemency for death row inmate; final decision now up to governor
Death row inmate Benjamin Ritchie appeals to the Indiana Parole Board during a clemency hearing on Monday, May 5, 2025. (Screenshot of livestream) The Indiana Parole Board rejected a clemency plea from Benjamin Ritchie, recommending that Gov. Mike Braun allow the death row inmate's May 20 execution to proceed as scheduled. Ritchie, who fatally shot Beech Grove law enforcement officer William Toney during a police pursuit on Sept. 29, 2000, had petitioned the board to commute his death sentence to life without parole. In a letter dated Tuesday, board chairwoman Gwen Horth said the five-member panel had reviewed Ritchie's application, including 'a vast amount of testimony and evidence' regarding his recent diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD), as well as his history of childhood abuse and neglect, and his conduct while incarcerated. The board also considered the testimony of Toney's family and friends that was provided during a two-hour public hearing on Monday. Horth said the board ultimately found that Ritchie's request for clemency 'does not rise to the level of requiring a commutation of his death sentence.' She did not say in her letter to Braun if all board members agreed. Unlike in other clemency cases, the board did not take a public vote before issuing its decision. Annie Goeller, a DOC spokesperson, told the Indiana Capital Chronicle that the parole board 'decided to make a unanimous recommendation.' A spokesperson for the governor's office said Wednesday that Braun 'is reviewing the recommendation.' 'By all accounts, Bill Toney was a loving husband, father, and friend as well as a devoted public servant who genuinely tried to do what was best for his community of Beech Grove,' Horth wrote on behalf of the board. She noted that Toney left behind a wife, two young daughters — aged 4 and 18 months — and many close friends, neighbors and fellow officers. 'The outcome that those individuals were promised by a jury of Mr. Ritchie's peers was that Mr. Ritchie would ultimately be put to death for his egregious actions,' Horth continued. 'The family and friends of Bill Toney have patiently waited for the day when that sentence would be fulfilled.' Story continues below. Ritchie-Recommendation Ritchie, now 45, has been on Indiana's death row since his 2002 conviction. During his first clemency hearing, held at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, Ritchie admitted for the first time that he had intentionally fired the fatal shot and left the officer to die. 'Mr. Ritchie himself has given multiple versions of the events that transpired,' Horth wrote. 'However, during his hearing on May 5, 2025, Mr. Ritchie did admit to being in a stationary position and intentionally shooting Officer Bill Toney.' At the time of the shooting, Ritchie was in violation of probation for a prior burglary conviction, Horth noted. His record also included a series of juvenile delinquency findings that led to his incarceration as a minor. And although some former corrections officers praised Ritchie's behavior, the parole board's review emphasized that Ritchie has accumulated more than 40 conduct violations during his two decades in prison, some of which involved violent or threatening behavior toward officers and other inmates. Advocates for Ritchie argued that his FASD diagnosis — a condition linked to cognitive impairments and behavioral challenges — should disqualify him from capital punishment, especially when combined with his abusive upbringing and lead exposure as a child. 'A monster running loose in the countryside.' Clemency hearings end for Indiana death row inmate Still, Horth said the board believed those factors had already been weighed by judges and juries over the course of years of legal proceedings. 'We find that a vast majority of the information related to Benjamin Ritchie's history of abuse and neglect, including but not limited to pre-natal alcohol exposure, has been appropriately considered by the fact finders and judicial officers tasked with considering the evidence,' she said in the board's letter. A final clemency decision now rests with Braun. The governor can accept the parole board's recommendation, or elect to commute Ritchie's death sentence to life imprisonment. There's no timetable for the governor to issue his opinion. Without clemency, Ritchie is unlikely to succeed in challenging his death sentence. The inmate's lawyers are seeking a last-minute execution pause from the U.S. Supreme Court, in addition to an emergency stay from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Both filings are still pending. The Indiana Supreme Court already denied a stay. Three clemencies have been granted in Indiana since 1976. The most recent was in 2005, when then-Gov. Mitch Daniels commuted the death sentence for Arthur Baird, who killed his pregnant wife and her parents in 1985. Although the parole board denied his petition for clemency, Daniels granted Baird clemency one day before the scheduled execution, in part citing questions about Baird's sanity. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Kiwiblog
14-05-2025
- Health
- Kiwiblog
Much ado about nothing
Radio NZ reports: Booze industry lobbyists have been granted input into the development of alcohol policies, including how to deal with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. This is framed to seem like something bad, but all it means is that the very industry being regulated gets consulted on regulations that affect them. They don't get any special access. They simply are one of many stakeholders. The hard left activists think that companies which make money are inherently evil and should never be allowed to have a say on regulations that affect them. But this is preposterous. Of course those impacted by regulations should be allowed to have a say on them. Documents obtained by RNZ also show that references to a review of safe drinking guidelines were removed from an Health New Zealand website after an alcohol lobbyist complained to Ross Bell, a manager with the Ministry of Health's Public Health Agency. Further down you learn the reason why. Nothing to do with all powerful alcohol lobbyists. It is simply that the review was a matter for the Ministry of Health, not Health NZ. And that Ministers had not agreed to a review. So Health NZ had incorrect information on their website, which got corrected. An October 2024 email from New Zealand Winegrowers to Bell, which copies in a lobbyist with the spirits industry, shows the extent to which alcohol lobbyists are involved in the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) strategy. 'Appreciate the link to the speech and FASD initiatives,' the wine industry lobbyist says. 'We'd be interested in discussing the opportunity for industry engagement in the refresh of the action plan, as we were involved in the development of the initial plan.' FASD affects about 1800 babies a year in New Zealand. The alcohol industry fought a 20 year battle against product labels warning pregnant women not to drink, before they finally became compulsory in 2023. No one wants kids born with FASD. If the Government and industry want the same outcome, why would you not engage with them. This does not mean you agree with them – just engagement. Engagement is good. As for the issue of warning labels, it is (in my view) one of those initiatives that is entirely ineffective. To think that a warning label about drinking while pregnant will have an impact, you need to believe the following: The pregnant woman genuinely doesn't know she shouldn't drink when pregnant She is purchasing alcohol from a bottle, rather than at a bar or restaurant in a glass She picks up her bottle of wine (or beer) and before drinking from it, reads the various logos and info on the label She sees the no drinking while pregnant logo and realises she should not be drinking, and then puts down the bottle she has purchased, and leaves it undrunk This is a classic issue and example of why you do want to consult with industry. Sticking another logo on labels can have large compliance costs, and actually make no difference at all to FASD. I bet you there is no peer reviewed evidence anywhere that these warnings on bottles have led to a decrease of FASD. There are many good initiatives you could take to reduce FASD. Information at Plunket. Targeted advertising. Television advertising. Whanua Ora funded programmes etc. The story makes it seem like the industry is against reducing FASD levels, as opposed to wanting initiatives to be ones that actually will make a difference. The documents also show that the alcohol industry has input into how the Ministry of Health spends the alcohol levy, a ring-fenced fund of $16.6 million, used to support alcohol harm reduction measures. Bell emailed lobbyists with the wine and beer industries in November 2024, giving them information about the alcohol levy process and calling for their input. Of course they get consulted – they pay the levy into the fund. Just as Telcos get consulted on how the Telco levy is spent. Consultation is not decision making. It is government best practice. Alcohol is a legal product in NZ, and is enjoyed by the vast majority of NZers. It is a minority, not a majority, that abuse alcohol. Why should a vineyard not be consulted on how a levy they pay, is used? The documents show lobbyists from the beer, wine and spirits industries also secured a meeting with health officials on 'the development of New Zealand's position' at a United Nations meeting. It is the job of officials to meet with any interested party, to developed positions on an issue. I am sure they also had scores of meeting with public health activists. What this is about is the activists don't want any contrary views to their own to be heard or considered.
