The Mercer Family

Donna and Maxine (Max) Mercer live in Brattleboro, with their cat Lily. Donna was born in Colebrook, NH, where she graduated high school in 1977. After hitchhiking across the US, she settled in Washington, became a mother, and worked as a surgical technician. After returning to New England, Donna was involved in a horrible head-on collision that left her disabled. Donna was 54 years old when her granddaughter, Max, was born. Max is now an eighth grader and has lived with Donna since she was an infant. 

 

In this interview, we talk with Donna and Max about their kinship adoption story, what it's like to parent again as a grandmother, how to share a child's story in an age-appropriate way, the housing requirements that foster care and kinships placements must meet, and Max's love of ice cream and swimming. We even talk about how she was tricked into eating rabbit on Adoption Day!