The Untold Truth Of The Stauffers
YouTuber Myka Stauffer and her husband, James Stauffer, practically broke the internet in late May 2020 when they announced they had rehomed their adopted 4½-year-old autistic son, Huxley. On May 26, 2020, the YouTuber posted a video on her channel – which, as of this writing, boasts more than 700,000 subscribers — explaining the decision to move their son to a new home, according to People. Her audience — and the internet as a whole — was appalled that Myka placed her adopted son with a new family. At the time, Huxley had been with the Stauffers for about two and a half years.
"Once Huxley came home, there was a lot more special needs that we weren't aware of, and that we were not told," James said in the video. Myka continued, "There's not an ounce of our body that doesn't love Huxley with all of our being."
She added, "There wasn't a minute that I didn't try our hardest and I think what Jim is trying to say is that after multiple assessments, after multiple evaluations, numerous medical professionals have felt that he needed a different fit and that his medical needs, he needed more."
"Do I feel like a failure as a mom? Like, 500 percent," Myka said. "The last couple months have been like the hardest thing I could have ever imagined to going to choosing to do because ultimately, after pouring our guts and our heart into this little boy."
The Stauffers are in some hot water after rehoming their son
After YouTuber Myka Stauffer and her husband, James, announced they were placing their adopted son Huxley with a new family in a May 2020 YouTube video, the internet went wild. "Putting it on social media and describing it as 'We found another family.' Well, what does that mean?" said Susan Soonkeum Cox, the vice president for policy and external affairs for the World Association for Parents and Children, to Buzzfeed News.
An investigation, which was first reported by Buzzfeed News, was launched to confirm Huxley was safe. The Delaware County Sheriff's Office told E! News they received "several inquiries regarding the welfare" of a local child who had been put up for adoption. They made it clear that the child was "not missing."
"Our primary concern is for the well-being of this child, as well as the other children in the household," The Delaware County Sheriff's Office said in a statement to E! News. "Our investigation is ongoing, and will include contact with all children to ensure their safety. All adoption cases are confidential, and must go through a thorough process, with specific requirements and safeguards. In private adoptions there are the same legal requirements that must be adhered to."
"Did they go through an agency? Was there another home study done on the other family? [The way the Stauffers went about it] is highly unusual," Cox told Buzzfeed News.
As of this writing, the investigation is ongoing.