Sean Goldman - UPDATE: "He called me Dad..."

[Luv2Scrap]

Such great news, although it brought tears to my eyes to see that scared little boy in the middle of that mob this morning. I hope father and son are able to rebuild their relationship once they arrive home.

 

[beattyfamily]

I wish David could sue that family for all the legal fees he had to endure to get his abducted son back!

 

[Missy1961]

The family is absolutely shameful. How could they USE that little boy like that?? Parading him through a crush of photographers. It's just abhorrent. Some day that whole family will get their comeuppance.

They are about to board a plane right now. David has been the picture of grace, dignity, determination and fatherly love throughout this ordeal. I wish him and Sean well as they forge their new relationship.

You are 100% correct. That family should be ashamed, and David & Sean deserve nothing but happiness. I hope it all goes well. I'm sure there will be some tough times ahead, but David seems like a great father, and hopefully all will be well.

 

[Missy1961]

I wish David could sue that family for all the legal fees he had to endure to get his abducted son back!

I wish that too.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I wish David could sue that family for all the legal fees he had to endure to get his abducted son back!

That should be on his to-do list.

 

[TEENEE]

I know we will all want to know how they are doing but I sure hope the media leaves them alone. If David wants to make a statement that's fine but really hope they are no hassled.

 

[eduk8r26]

It was reported on the news this morning that they seemed to be getting along fine on the plane. It was an NBC jet and the NBC reporter said they were talking and smiling.

 

[RachelEllen]

We've also been following this case for years and are thrilled with the outcome. But, I just had the really random thought today that one would assume that someone with the name Sean or David Goldman was Jewish. I wonder if his dad even celebrates Christmas. I was also wondering how good his English is after so many years in Brazil. Totally random thoughts, but I just feel so badly for what this boy has to adjust to.

 

[Imzadi]

We've also been following this case for years and are thrilled with the outcome. But, I just had the really random thought today that one would assume that someone with the name Sean or David Goldman was Jewish. I wonder if his dad even celebrates Christmas. I was also wondering how good his English is after so many years in Brazil. Totally random thoughts, but I just feel so badly for what this boy has to adjust to.

If David Goldman's mother was Christian, he may have been brought up Christian & celebrates Christmas. Regardless, this is ONE Christmas he should counting his blessings, thanking the press and Sen. Lautenberg for applying financial pressure.

 

[summerrluvv]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/34587052#34587052

 

[Mermaid02]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/34587052#34587052

Maybe this adjustment won't be as hard as we have all thought- I'm surprised the boy is as comfortable as the reporter has said. Maybe he's not so sorry to be leaving his Brazilian family.....

 

[ols386]

I'm so disgusted by that abduction family and how they turned over Sean...parading him through the press like that.

How can they say they love him and then do that to him.

I'm SO very glad they are at the airport and about to leave that country.

And that Brazilian family didn't have to parade Sean through the press like they did....they were offered the option to bring him in through a back entrance, but they CHOSE to parade him through the press. I think that says alot about them. They don't really care about what's in Sean's best interest....they only have their own agenda to tend to, and that's EXACTLY how they've behaved during these past 5 years. They make me absolutely sick.

I feel badly for Sean, and I hope during the next few months/years he will come to know how much his father loves him. It's so obvious how much David does love his son.

 

[summerrluvv]

It looks like their plane is scheduled to land in a couple of minutes in Orlando. Hopefully they will have some fun together before heading back to the media frenzy that will be awaiting in NJ!

 

[lmhall2000]

I was secretly hoping the charter plane would stop in Orlando, they'd sign in under an alias and they could spend their first few days together at Disney, it would clear away any of the awkward silence moments, give them time to bond and take some pressure off...hoping they get there soon....He's losing all his buddies at school and such, and I think being around kids even if they're strangers in a big theme park would be a great pressure reliever...

I do feel sorry for the grandparents, their desire to have control over the situation caused severe alienation and David Goldman has said that he would never do that to them....hopefully, over time they can all heal and maybe they'll step up to the plate, swallow their arrogance/pride and give a heartfelt apology...for Sean's best interests...

Welcome home Sean!!

Tara

 

[Bluestars]

I was so happy to see them reunited. I have been following this story for a long time. Finally, they are together, and just in time for Christmas.

 

[scrump]

Here's an update that I thought my fellow DISers would appreciate:

THEY ARE IN DISNEY WORLD!!!!!

rio de janeiro, brazil (cnn) -- a father and son reunited after an international custody battle planned to spend their first holiday season together in five years at disney world in florida, a family friend said.

David goldman and his 9-year-old son, sean, arrived at orlando international airport just after 6 p.m. Thursday after meeting earlier at the u.s. Consulate in rio de janeiro, brazil.

Sean goldman had been living in brazil since 2004 when his mother, bruna bianchi, took him to rio de janeiro for what was to have been a two-week vacation. She never returned, instead remarrying there and retaining custody of sean. She died last year in childbirth.

The goldmans will spend their first holiday season together in five years at disney world, a family friend told cnn.

Rep. Chris smith of new jersey, who flew to rio to support constituent goldman, called the father-son reunion "extraordinary" in a conference call with reporters.
Video: U.s. Father, son reunited in brazil
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* brazil
* david goldman
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the lawmaker said "there were lots of smiles, hugs" when the two were reunited. "they talked about basketball, the snowfall in new jersey just recently and how much fun it is to play in the snow."

the christmas eve reunion follows a five-year battle that involved u.s. Secretary of state hillary clinton and numerous brazilian courtrooms.

The chief justice of the brazilian supreme court ruled tuesday in favor of goldman, who had been battling the family of the boy's deceased mother for custody. The ruling by chief justice gilmar mendes paved the way for the reunion when the family said they would not file any new appeals in an attempt to keep the boy with them.

Goldman argued he should be granted custody as the sole surviving parent.

The bianchi family maintained it would traumatize sean to remove him from what has been his home for five years.

Smith criticized the decision of sean's stepfather and other members of his brazilian family thursday to "walk [sean] through a group of reporters and people outside the u.s. Consulate in rio," smith said.

The boy's maternal grandmother, silvana bianchi, had declined a consulate offer of a police escort thursday morning from the family's rio home, saying it would harm the boy psychologically, according to the brazilian broadcast network tv record.

The boy, appearing worried and frightened, arrived at the consulate wearing a yellow and green brazil soccer jersey, and clutched his stepfather as he walked past a throng of reporters.

Tv record reported that sean's grandmother provided david goldman with a list of the boy's allergies and medications.

In a statement read to reporters by smith, david goldman offered his "sincere and humblest gratitude" for the help he received in getting his son. "please know that my love and the rest of sean's family's love for him knows no boundaries."

goldman later let his son speak on the phone with his paternal grandparents, smith said.

The custody battle garnered much media attention and spilled over into the political arena as well.

U.s. Sen. Frank lautenberg, d-new jersey, had placed a hold on a trade bill that would have benefited brazil to the tune of $2.75 billion, but he lifted it after the court's ruling, spokesman caley gray said.

Clinton also has issued statements calling for an amicable conclusion to the case.

"i am thrilled that 9-year-old sean goldman was reunited with his father david goldman earlier today in rio de janeiro and that they are flying home to new jersey," clinton said thursday in a statement.

"i want to thank everyone who helped bring this long process to a successful conclusion, including a number of members of congress and many concerned parties both here and in brazil.

"we also appreciate the assistance and cooperation of the government of brazil in upholding its obligations under the hague convention on international child abduction. I offer my warmest wishes for father and son as they celebrate their first holiday season together in five years."

sean led a privileged life in rio de janeiro, tv record said. He lived in the wealthy neighborhood of jardim botanico and attended escola parque, one of the most prestigious schools in the city.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/12/24/brazil.custody/?imw=Y

 

[ols386]

Here's an update that I thought my fellow DISers would appreciate:

THEY ARE IN DISNEY WORLD!!!!!



http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/12/24/brazil.custody/?imw=Y

That's a very interesting article. Thanks for posting it!

I never heard where David Goldman was employed. Not that it matters. I guess I just wondered about the fact that he had to make many many trips to Brazil over the past few years, and was just curious.

That's great that they are going to WDW. I hope the media will leave them alone, and let them enjoy their time together, getting re-acquainted.

 

[JoiseyMom]

That's a very interesting article. Thanks for posting it!

I never heard where David Goldman was employed. Not that it matters. I guess I just wondered about the fact that he had to make many many trips to Brazil over the past few years, and was just curious.

That's great that they are going to WDW. I hope the media will leave them alone, and let them enjoy their time together, getting re-acquainted.

He works in the family business.

 

[Bluestars]

I'm glad they are in Disney World. I hope they are able to laugh and have some fun together. What a wonderful day for them.

 

[Buckalew11]

I'm glad they are in WDW also. It is such a crowded time there, but it would still be very nice. God Bless them all.