Dr. Phil

A Mom's Dangerous Decision: A Daughter Damaged Forever (12x141)

Air date: Apr 22, 2014

Twenty-five-year-old Letty and her 24-year-old sister, Francesca, say that growing up, their mother, Stephanie, chose drugs and alcohol over them — and even drank and abused methamphetamines while pregnant with Francesca, who was born with fetal alcohol syndrome. The sisters say they were bounced around among family members and then placed in foster care for nine years, and they resent their mother for abandoning them. Francesca says she has also struggled with intellectual disabilities and a long list of health issues — all due to her mother’s “selfish” decisions. Stephanie, who has been clean for 18 months and now runs a sober living house, insists that she has worked hard to turn her life around and make amends with her daughters — but says Letty and Francesca refuse to let go of the past. Dr. Phil enlists the help of professional locator Troy Dunn, author of the new book, Family: The Good F Word, to get this fractured family on the path to healing. Will Stephanie gain insight into her daughters’ pain? And, can Letty and Francesca get past their resentment toward their mother and find forgiveness?