Esther Minskoff "Be Careful What You Wish For" PDF

Karen had a charmed life - a successful career and a loving husband, Paul. But that ended when she wanted to have a baby. She tried fertility drugs, in vitro fertilization, and surrogacy, but nothing worked so she turned to adoption. She adopted Teddy, a baby from Russia, who was born to a drug-addicted mother and had been physically and sexually abused as an infant. From the start, Teddy showed problems, primarily in relating to others. He was diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder. With time, he displayed anti-social and violent behavior and was eventually diagnosed as a psychopath. The love that Karen and Paul felt for Teddy morphed into hatred.

When Teddy turned 18, he went to Russia where he became involved with the Red Mafia. The FBI knew this and wanted Karen's help in having Teddy unknowingly thwart the Mafia's plan to see small nuclear devices. She agreed to give Teddy a bugged phone that supposedly couldn't be detected. But it was, and resulted in Teddy being murdered by the Mafia members he idolized. Karen has to live with the thought that although she acted for the greater good, she was responsible for the death of her son. More than anything, Karen wished for a child, but the child she wished for was not the child she got.