Adoptive mother abandons baby with rare genetic condition - so birth mother keeps her

After Abigail Lynn Fischer was born in January this year, her mother had planned to give her up for adoption.

Christina Fisher, 36, of Fort Walton Beach in Florida, says she was "basically homeless" as her due date approached. Living in a trailer park with no support from the father, she decided that her baby would be better off with another family, and so sought out a suitable couple through an agency.

The family she found lived in the US state of Georgia - and Christina kept in regular contact with them, sending photos of ultrasounds and keeping them updated on how her pregnancy was progressing.

On discovering Abigail's condition, the adoptive parents almost immediately reversed their decision to take her in.

"I let her (the adoptive mother) take the other wristband into the NICU," said Christina. "She came out crying ... and left the hospital. We never heard from them again."

Christina, on the other hand, was smitten with her baby girl, and says: "I can't imagine my life without her."

She's set up a fundraising page online and is appealing for money to help buy baby clothes, nappies and other essentials. At time of writing she's raised close to $6,000.

As for the couple who had signed on to adopt Abigail, the adoption agency was reportedly "appalled" by their reaction and has apparently flagged the family in their system.

-nzherald.co.nz