For Dawson Laura Webb, Dawson's foster mom, talks with him at the kitchen table with his brother Alex plays. Laura says that is is challenging to help both children with the traumas suffered in their early development. “Alex is always going, but Dawson is a different kind of stress.” Dawson stands in the yard of his foster home in Brownsville, Kentucky. At six years of age, he has spent half of his life in foster care with Laura and Dewayne Webb, along with his younger brother Alex. Dawson attends a trick-or-treating event in Brownsville, Kentucky with his foster family. Due to Reactive Attachment Disorder, Dawson often has trouble in social situations. “To help him socially, we make sure to get him in the community," his foster mother Laura said. Dawson cries in his bed, as common with his bedtime routine. Laura says that the calmness of the ritual throws Dawson into a state of chaos. Due to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Dawson operates at a higher level of stress, which causes him to react poorly to quiet situations, Laura says. Laura waves goodbye as Dawson boards the bus to first grade. Unknown to Dawson, his foster parents would soon leave for a court appointment regarding the adoption of he and his brother. “For three years, these boys have had no sense of permanency,” Laura said. Dawson peers out the window as his family plays outside. He is often withdrawn from social situations, even in his own home. Dawson looks towards the sky after a Sunday afternoon of being with his family. Though his foster mother says there is no “magic wand” to learn about how to deal with Dawson’s trauma, they are learning together. “I guess we’ll be working at this for the rest of our lives, but I least I can be be sure it’ll us together.” His foster parents hope to adopt Dawson and his brother within the next year. Brothers Dawson and Alex play together in the yard of their foster family's home. Alex, 3, came to the Webb home before his first birthday and has less health complications than his older brother.
