To her surprise, only a week later, the couple showed up with their daughter, adoption papers in hand—and a lawyer.

The mother recalls: “My daughter’s eyes were red from crying, but her voice was steady. She told me, ‘You made it clear that blood is all that matters to you. So we made a decision.’ Her husband held their little girl tightly as he handed me a document.

It was a petition to terminate my legal rights as a grandmother.

My daughter looked me straight in the eye and said, ‘If she isn’t your family, neither are we.’ Then she walked out and slammed the door.

I stood there in shock. In one moment, I realized—I hadn’t just lost the chance to be a grandmother. I had lost my daughter too.

Now I don’t know what to do.”