The bloodwork came back showing chronic anemia, iron deficiency, and clear clinical markers of long-term nutritional neglect.

Nothing, thank God, that was irreversible.

But undeniable, documented proof of sustained malnutrition in a child whose father had wired thousands of dollars a month for her food.

Maya also began sessions with a child psychologist, and in my desperation to understand, to know everything, to build my case, I kept wanting to ask her for details, to have her recount things.

But the therapist stopped me, and what she said set me straight and stayed with me.