Court Opinion

ID: 3005282
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-29 00:09:03.946847+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:17:32.079266
License: Public Domain

J-S57017-15

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

IN RE: ADOPTION OF E.J.O., MINOR              IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                    PENNSYLVANIA

APPEAL OF: C.M., MOTHER

                                                 No. 1537 EDA 2015

                 Appeal from the Decree April 21, 2015
         In the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County
                 Orphans' Court at No(s): 2013-A0133
_____________________________________________________________

IN RE: ADOPTION OF S.L.O., MINOR              IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                    PENNSYLVANIA

APPEAL OF: C.M., MOTHER

                                                 No. 1538 EDA 2015

                  Appeal from the Decree April 21, 2015
          In the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County
                  Orphans' Court at No(s): 2013-A0132

BEFORE: MUNDY, J., OTT, J., and STABILE, J.

MEMORANDUM BY OTT, J.:                FILED SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

     C.M. (“Mother”) appeals from the decrees entered April 21, 2015, in

the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County, which involuntarily

terminated her parental rights to her minor daughter, S.L.O., born in
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February of 2010, and to her minor son, E.J.O., born in January of 2011

(collectively, “the Children”).1 We affirm.

        This appeal arises from the petitions for involuntary termination filed

by Mother’s father, R.M. (“Maternal Grandfather”), and his wife, C.M.

(collectively, “Appellees”), on July 26, 2013.2 As discussed in greater detail,

infra, the Children have been in the custody of Appellees since August of

2011, as a result of severe physical abuse inflicted on E.J.O. by Father.

Mother faced criminal charges in connection with this abuse, due to placing

E.J.O. in the care of Father, and then failing to seek out medical treatment

for his injuries. The Children initially were subject to a no-contact order with

Mother. The order was lifted with respect to S.L.O. in October of 2012, and

with respect to E.J.O. in approximately December of 2013.

        A termination hearing was held on March 10, 2015, March 12, 2015,

and April 20, 2015. During the hearing, Appellees presented the testimony

of Detective Michael R. Begley; Montgomery County Office of Children and

Youth    (“OCY”)     caseworker,      Alison   Karpowich;   Maternal   Grandfather;

Maternal Grandfather’s former spouse and Mother’s mother, J.M.B.; Dr.

Melissa Kennedy, who provided medical treatment for E.J.O., both before

____________________________________________

1
  The parental rights of the Children’s father, J.O. (“Father”), were
terminated by separate decrees entered that same day. Father is not a
party to the instant appeal.
2
  Appellees filed amended termination petitions on January 17, 2014.

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and after his injuries; and Mother’s current husband, J.N. (“Husband”).

Appellees also called Mother to testify on cross-examination. The Children’s

guardian ad litem presented the testimony of Erica Paige Hesselson, who

supervised visits between Mother and the Children on August 21, 2014, and

August 27, 2014. Finally, Mother testified on her own behalf, and presented

the testimony of Father’s mother, C.O.; Mother’s therapist, Billie Lee

Orenbuch; and Mother’s sister, D.M.

       The evidence presented during the hearing revealed that Mother has a

history of serious behavioral issues, which began when she was sixteen

years old, as well as a history of violent and tumultuous relationships. 3 N.T.,

3/10/2015, at 126-43. Mother began dating Father in the fall of 2008. Id.

at 144.    In January of 2009, Father attacked Mother, “grabbed her hair,

dragged her down the steps of the front porch, kicked her in the stomach in

the front yard, jammed dirt in her mouth, [and] tore her blouse open.” Id.

at 144-45.        Despite this incident, Mother’s relationship with Father

continued. Id. at 148-49. In January of 2011, about a week after E.J.O.

was born, Mother and Father had “a blowup” in front of the Children, during

which Father kicked in a door, put a hole in the wall, and “was throwing

things indiscriminately around the room.”        Id. at 153-56.    Father also

“scooped [S.L.O.] up and was threatening to take her.” Id. at 156. Mother

____________________________________________

3
 Mother was born in June of 1980, and was thirty-four years old at the time
of the termination hearing. N.T., 3/12/2015, at 143.

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obtained a temporary protection from abuse order (PFA) against Father,

effective January 31, 2011. Exhibit P-5 (Temporary Protection from Abuse

Order) at 1. A final PFA order was entered on April 12, 2011. Exhibit P-5

(Final Protection from Abuse Order) at 1. By the summer of 2011, Mother

had a new boyfriend, R.L. N.T., 3/10/2015, at 158. Despite the PFA order,

Father continued to spend time in Mother’s residence. Id.

     On the evening of August 12, 2011, at about 10:00 or 11:00 p.m.,

Mother went out to a bar to see R.L., and left E.J.O., then age seven

months, in the care of Father. N.T., 3/12/2015, at 114-15. S.L.O. was not

in the residence at the time, because she was visiting with Appellees. N.T.,

3/10/2015, at 184-85.       When Mother returned to her residence at

approximately 3:00 a.m. on August 13, 2011, an argument ensued between

her and Father. N.T., 3/12/2015, at 115-16. Mother called 911 to report

that Father was in her residence and would not leave, in violation of the PFA

order. N.T., 3/10/2015, at 22, 32. The police arrived, but Father already

had departed. Id. at 39-40. Mother then sent text messages to R.L. for a

period of about an hour. N.T., 3/12/2015, at 118. During this time, Mother

observed drops and splatters of blood throughout her residence. Id. at 119.

When Mother checked on E.J.O., she observed that his diaper was on

backwards, and that there was “something wrong with his anus . . . .” Id.

Despite this discovery, Mother did not seek immediate medical attention for

E.J.O. Id. at 121. Instead, at approximately 4:45 a.m., Mother sent a text

message to Maternal Grandfather, in which she stated, “Just come over

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when you get this. [T]here is no way [I] can explain anything. [Y]ou need

to come. [W]hat [I] have to show you is not good.” N.T., 3/10/2015, at

184; Exhibit P-6 (picture of text message). Mother then went to sleep. N.T.,

3/12/2015, at 119-22.

      Maternal Grandfather noticed Mother’s text message about five hours

later, at 10:10 a.m., and drove to Mother’s residence with S.L.O.        N.T.,

3/10/2015, at 185.      “After a few minutes,” Mother brought Maternal

Grandfather to E.J.O. Id. at 186-87. Along the way, Maternal Grandfather

observed a mattress with blood on it, as well as blood on a changing table.

Id. A trash can in Mother’s kitchen was “the most dramatic. It was filled to

overflowing with wipes, paper towels, diapers. They were all bloody. There

was blood on the kitchen floor.” Id. at 187. Finally, Maternal Grandfather

observed E.J.O., who “had a piece of skin hanging out of him,” and

immediately was alarmed.      Id. at 188.   Maternal Grandfather demanded

that Mother take E.J.O. to the hospital.    Id.   Mother “absolutely refused,”

stating that “[i]f I take him to the hospital, they will take my children.” Id.

Maternal Grandfather insisted, and Mother finally permitted Maternal

Grandfather to take E.J.O. Id. at 188-89. Before Maternal Grandfather left,

Mother informed him that E.J.O. had not eaten “for days.”         Id. at 189.

Maternal Grandfather rushed E.J.O. to the hospital.     Id. at 191-92.   Once

there, it was determined that E.J.O had suffered serious injuries, which

required that part of his intestines be removed. Id. at 194-95.

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       As a result of these events, Mother and Father were arrested and

charged with a variety of offenses. Mother pled guilty to endangering the

welfare of children and recklessly endangering another person. Exhibit P-41

(criminal docket for Mother) at 3-4. On October 26, 2012, Mother received

an aggregate sentence of eleven to twenty-three months’ incarceration,

followed by three years of probation.             Id.; Exhibit P-7 (sentencing

transcript) at 59-61. Father pled guilty to aggravated indecent assault of a

child, aggravated assault, and endangering the welfare of children. Exhibit

P-4 (criminal docket for Father) at 5-6.         On September 26, 2014, Father

received an aggregate sentence of fifteen to thirty-five years’ incarceration.

Id.

       Meanwhile, the Children were adjudicated dependent by orders dated

August 30, 2011, and placed in the custody of Appellees.            Exhibit P-8

(shelter care orders and orders of adjudication and disposition).      By order

dated November 27, 2012, the juvenile court relinquished jurisdiction with

respect to S.L.O., because the child was in “the physical and legal custody of

a fit and willing relative, specifically [Appellees].”    Exhibit P-8 (Order for

Termination of Court Supervision).4 Id.

____________________________________________

4
  The record does not contain an order relinquishing jurisdiction with respect
to E.J.O. Nevertheless, there is no evidence in the record that the juvenile
court maintained E.J.O.’s adjudication.

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       Beginning in February of 2013, Maternal Grandfather facilitated visits

between Mother and S.L.O., which took place biweekly while Mother was

furloughed from jail. N.T., 3/10/2015, at 213. Mother was unable to visit

with E.J.O., as she was subject to a no-contact order as part of her criminal

sentence.5     Exhibit P-41 (criminal docket for Mother) at 4; Exhibit P-7

(sentencing transcript) at 60.           Mother’s visits ended in June of 2013,

because Mother stopped receiving furloughs. Id. at 214.

       Mother was released from incarceration on August 19, 2013, about

three weeks after Appellees filed their involuntarily termination petitions.

N.T., 3/12/2015, at 226.         On August 30, 2013, Mother filed a petition for

modification of custody, in which she requested shared legal and supervised

physical custody of the Children.6 Id. at 222-23; Exhibit RM-18 (Petition for

Modification of Custody Order). In addition, on September 9, 2013, Mother

filed a petition to modify conditions of parole, in which she requested that

the no-contact order with E.J.O. be lifted. Exhibit RM-19 (Petition to Modify
____________________________________________

5
  Mother initially was subject to a no-contact order with respect to both of
the Children as part of her bail conditions. Exhibit P-8 (orders of
adjudication and disposition).
6
  The record reveals that, by agreed upon order dated January 3, 2013,
Appellees and the Children’s paternal grandparents were awarded shared
legal custody of the Children. Further, Appellees were awarded primary
physical custody, and the paternal grandparents were awarded partial
physical custody on alternating Sundays. Mother’s Answer to Petition for
Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights, 9/27/2013, at Exhibit B.

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Conditions of Parole), at 3.    By order dated December 23, 2013, the

orphans’ court granted Mother four weekly supervised visits with the

Children, which the court subsequently extended. The record indicates that

there were no visits from sometime in June of 2014, until August 18, 2014,

when the court entered an order again granting weekly supervised visits.

Soon thereafter, on September 4, 2014, the court suspended visitation.

      Following the termination hearing, on April 21, 2015, the orphans’

court entered decrees involuntarily terminating Mother’s parental rights to

the Children pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(2) and (b). Mother timely

filed notices of appeal on May 18, 2015, along with concise statement of

errors complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)(2)(i) and (b).

      Mother now raises the following issues for our review:

      (1) Whether the [o]rphans’ [c]ourt erred in terminating Mother’s
      parental rights when it determined the existence of clear and
      convincing evidence that Mother lacked the capacity to provide
      the [C]hildren with essential parental care necessary for their
      well-being?

      (2) Whether the [o]rphans’ [c]ourt erred in terminating Mother’s
      parental rights when it determined the existence of clear and
      convincing evidence that Mother would be unable to remedy the
      causes and conditions of the incapacity within a reasonable
      amount of time?

      (3) Whether the [o]rphans’ [c]ourt erred when it determined the
      existence of clear and convincing evidence that termination of
      Mother’s parental rights would promote the [C]hild[ren’s] needs?

Mother’s brief at 6.

      We review this appeal according to the following standard:

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     The standard of review in termination of parental rights cases
     requires appellate courts to accept the findings of fact and
     credibility determinations of the trial court if they are supported
     by the record. If the factual findings are supported, appellate
     courts review to determine if the trial court made an error of law
     or abused its discretion. A decision may be reversed for an
     abuse of discretion only upon demonstration of manifest
     unreasonableness, partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill-will. The trial
     court’s decision, however, should not be reversed merely
     because the record would support a different result. We have
     previously emphasized our deference to trial courts that often
     have first-hand observations of the parties spanning multiple
     hearings.

In re T.S.M., 71 A.3d 251, 267 (Pa. 2013) (citations and quotation marks

omitted).

     Termination of parental rights is governed by Section 2511 of the

Adoption Act, which requires a bifurcated analysis:

     Our case law has made clear that under Section 2511, the court
     must engage in a bifurcated process prior to terminating
     parental rights. Initially, the focus is on the conduct of the
     parent. The party seeking termination must prove by clear and
     convincing evidence that the parent’s conduct satisfies the
     statutory grounds for termination delineated in Section 2511(a).
     Only if the court determines that the parent’s conduct warrants
     termination of his or her parental rights does the court engage in
     the second part of the analysis pursuant to Section 2511(b):
     determination of the needs and welfare of the child under the
     standard of best interests of the child. One major aspect of the
     needs and welfare analysis concerns the nature and status of the
     emotional bond between parent and child, with close attention
     paid to the effect on the child of permanently severing any such
     bond.

In re L.M., 923 A.2d 505, 511 (Pa. Super. 2007) (citing 23 Pa.C.S.A.

§ 2511). The burden is on the petitioner to prove by clear and convincing

evidence that the asserted statutory grounds for seeking the termination of

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parental rights are valid.   In re R.N.J., 985 A.2d 273, 276 (Pa. Super.

2009).

     Instantly, the orphans’ court terminated Mother’s parental rights

pursuant to Sections 2511(a)(2) and (b), which provide as follows:

     (a) General rule.--The rights of a parent in regard to a child
     may be terminated after a petition filed on any of the following
     grounds:

                                     ***

           (2) The repeated and continued incapacity, abuse,
           neglect or refusal of the parent has caused the child
           to be without essential parental care, control or
           subsistence necessary for his physical or mental
           well-being and the conditions and causes of the
           incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal cannot or will
           not be remedied by the parent.

                                     ***

     (b) Other considerations.--The court in terminating the rights
     of a parent shall give primary consideration to the
     developmental, physical and emotional needs and welfare of the
     child. The rights of a parent shall not be terminated solely on
     the basis of environmental factors such as inadequate housing,
     furnishings, income, clothing and medical care if found to be
     beyond the control of the parent. With respect to any petition
     filed pursuant to subsection (a)(1), (6) or (8), the court shall not
     consider any efforts by the parent to remedy the conditions
     described therein which are first initiated subsequent to the
     giving of notice of the filing of the petition.

23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(2) and (b).
     In order to terminate parental rights pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A. §
     2511(a)(2), the following three elements must be met: (1)
     repeated and continued incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal; (2)
     such incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal has caused the child to
     be without essential parental care, control or subsistence
     necessary for his physical or mental well-being; and (3) the

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      causes of the incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal cannot or will
      not be remedied.

In re Adoption of M.E.P., 825 A.2d 1266, 1272 (Pa. Super. 2003) (citation

omitted)).   “The grounds for termination due to parental incapacity that

cannot be remedied are not limited to affirmative misconduct.         To the

contrary, those grounds may include acts of refusal as well as incapacity to

perform parental duties.”    In re A.L.D., 797 A.2d 326, 337 (Pa. Super.

2002) (citations omitted).

      With respect to Section 2511(b), this Court has explained the requisite

analysis as follows:

      Subsection 2511(b) focuses on whether termination of parental
      rights would best serve the developmental, physical, and
      emotional needs and welfare of the child. In In re C.M.S., 884
A.2d 1284, 1287 (Pa. Super. 2005), this Court stated,
      “Intangibles such as love, comfort, security, and stability are
      involved in the inquiry into the needs and welfare of the child.”
      In addition, we instructed that the trial court must also discern
      the nature and status of the parent-child bond, with utmost
      attention to the effect on the child of permanently severing that
      bond. Id. However, in cases where there is no evidence of a
      bond between a parent and child, it is reasonable to infer that no
      bond exists. In re K.Z.S., 946 A.2d 753, 762-63 (Pa. Super.
      2008).    Accordingly, the extent of the bond-effect analysis
      necessarily depends on the circumstances of the particular case.
      Id. at 63.

In re Adoption of J.M., 991 A.2d 321, 324 (Pa. Super. 2010).

      On appeal, Mother argues that the orphans’ court failed to properly

weigh her efforts to “rehabilitate herself and reestablish a bond with her

children.”   Mother’s brief at 23-24, 26-27.   Mother insists that the court

placed too much weight on other evidence, including evidence of events that

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occurred when Mother was a minor.7                 Mother’s brief at 22-23.   Mother

further contends that the Children’s needs and welfare would be promoted

by allowing her to maintain her parental rights. Id. at 29. Mother asserts,

inter alia, that she has a significant bond with the Children. Id. at 28.

       At the conclusion of the termination hearing on April 20, 2015, the

orphans’ court explained its decision to terminate Mother’s parental rights on

the record in open court.8            N.T., 4/20/2015, at 166-84.         The court

emphasized that Mother has a history of relationships with violent men, and

that she also has committed acts of domestic violence. Id. at 177-78. The

court lamented Mother’s severe lack of judgment on August 13, 2011, and

found that Mother’s poor judgment continues to the present day.               Id. at

178-81. Finally, the court concluded that Mother will not be able to remedy

____________________________________________

7
  In her brief, Mother suggests that the evidence of events which took place
when she was a minor was unfairly prejudicial and irrelevant. Mother’s brief
at 22. We note that Mother has waived any challenge to the admission of
this evidence, as she failed to include this claim in her statement of
questions involved, and in her concise statement of errors complained of on
appeal. See Krebs v. United Refining Co. of Pa., 893 A.2d 776, 797 (Pa.
Super. 2006) (“We will not ordinarily consider any issue if it has not been set
forth in or suggested by an appellate brief's statement of questions involved,
and any issue not raised in a statement of matters complained of on appeal
is deemed waived.”) (citations omitted).
8
 The orphans’ court did not issue a written opinion. Instead, the court
entered orders on June 5, 2015, in which it indicated that the reasons for its
decision could be found in the termination hearing transcripts.

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her poor judgment within a reasonable period of time.        Id. at 182.   The

testimonial evidence supports the court’s findings, as follows.

      Mother testified that she allowed Father to stay in her home as often

as three nights per week prior to the events of August 13, 2011, despite the

fact that she had a PFA order against him.       N.T., 3/12/2015, at 107-08.

Mother claimed that, when she discovered E.J.O.’s injury, she was

“confused” by what she saw, and was “not in the right state of mind.” Id. at

120-21.   Mother stated that she cries every day, and has spent the last

three years trying to figure out “why I didn’t react in a normal way . . . .”

Id. at 120, 123.     Mother conceded that there was “no excuse” for her

actions. Id. at 120. Mother explained that she now sees a psychiatrist each

month and attends therapy weekly. Id. at 164. Mother also reported that

she has completed parenting classes, and that she is “a better mom” and “a

different mom.” Id. at 221-22.

      Mother further testified that she began dating Husband in April of

2012. Id. at 123-24. They married on October 24, 2012, and Mother gave

birth to a son, K.N., in September of 2013. Id. at 127. Mother admitted

that she recently faced additional criminal charges as a result of an incident

of domestic violence involving Husband in August of 2014. Id. at 127-28.

Husband testified that the incident involved Mother “trying to grab the keys

from me” while he was holding K.N, and that he “got hit” during the tussle.

Id. at 115.   However, Husband also admitted there was “some macaroni

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thrown and some orange juice thrown,” during the incident, that a window

was broken, and that Mother threw a bottle at a wall, which ricocheted and

hit Husband. Id. at 110-113, 118. Mother pled guilty to two counts each of

harassment and disorderly conduct and, on January 29, 2015, received an

aggregate sentence of 360 days of probation. Exhibit P-41 (criminal docket

for Mother) at 3-4.

      Thus, the testimonial evidence supports the findings of the orphans’

court that Mother’s poor judgment renders her incapable of parenting the

Children, and that Mother cannot, or will not, remedy this incapacity.

Mother has a history of engaging in violent and dangerous activities, which

culminated in the events of August 13, 2011.     Moreover, it is clear that

Mother’s irresponsible behavior has continued, as evidenced by the incident

of domestic violence between Mother and Husband in August of 2014. We

discern no abuse of discretion by the orphans’ court, and we conclude that

Mother’s conduct warrants termination pursuant to Section 2511(a)(2).

      Having determined that the orphans’ court properly terminated

Mother’s parental rights pursuant to Section 2511(a)(2), we now review the

decrees pursuant to Section 2511(b).

      The orphans’ court concluded that it would be in the Children’s best

interests to be adopted by Appellees. See N.T., 4/20/2015, at 182-83. The

court found that terminating Mother’s parental rights would not sever any

bond between Mother and the Children, and explained that, “I think your

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children responded well on play dates with you as they would have probably

responded on a play date with me even though they’ve never seen me

before because I know how to play with kids. And that’s not the same thing

as a bond.” Id. at 183. Again, the testimonial evidence supports the court’s

decision.

      Maternal Grandfather testified that, following the events of August 13,

2011, Appellees cared for E.J.O., and assisted him in his recovery.     N.T.,

3/10/2015, at 201-210.     E.J.O. was “doing just great” by the following

summer, “with the exception of the potential long-term problems which still

aren’t taken care of . . . .” Id. at 210. Specifically, Maternal Grandfather

stated that E.J.O. may never have full control over his bowels due to the

injuries he suffered at the hands of Father.    Id. at 273.   S.L.O. also has

been doing well. Id. at 211.

      Maternal Grandfather further testified that he supervised visits

between Mother and S.L.O. while Mother was furloughed from jail.       Id. at

227. S.L.O. enjoyed her visits with Mother. Id. at 227-28. However, since

beginning visits with Mother in February of 2013, S.L.O. has “become more

concerned as to where people were, where they were going, when they were

coming back.” Id. at 216. Maternal Grandfather reported that “every single

night since [visits] began, [S.L.O.] wakes up during the night; she comes in

not horribly upset, I think it’s just to check in, be comforted for a few

minutes, goes back to sleep.”     Id. at 216.    These behaviors have not

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subsided since Mother’s visits were ended.        Id. at 216-17.      Maternal

Grandfather stated that S.L.O. does not ask about Mother. Id. at 220.

      Ms. Erica Paige Hesselson testified that she is a licensed social worker,

who is employed part-time at the Assurance Group. N.T., 3/12/2015, at 64.

Ms. Hesselson explained that that she supervised two-hour visits between

Mother and the Children on August 21, 2014 and August 27, 2014. Id. at

64. Ms. Hesselson noted that the Children were “comfortable” with Mother

during the visits, and that the Children smiled. Id. at 67. During the visit

on August 21, 2014, S.L.O. appeared happy to see Mother, and they hugged

and kissed when they greeted each other.        Id. at 69.    E.J.O. was less

familiar with Mother, and asked Mother if she was “mommy [C.]” Id. at 69-

70. On August 27, 2014, Mother and the Children hugged and kissed when

they greeted each other, and hugged and kissed when the visit was over.

Id. at 70. However, the Children did not appear to be sad when either visit

ended. Id. at 67-68.

      Mother testified that her visits with the Children went well, and that

“[w]e got closer and closer.” Id. at 228. Mother stated that it did not take

long for her to bond with E.J.O. Id. at 236. She explained that, “[m]aybe

I’m not their caregivers, and maybe they have a stronger bond with my dad

and [C.M.] But there was a bond after not knowing me that I never thought

that would be [sic] instantly.” Id.

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     Based upon the forgoing evidence, we discern no abuse of discretion

by the orphans’ court in terminating Mother’s parental rights to the Children

pursuant to Section 2511(b). At the time the Children were removed from

Mother’s care in 2011, S.L.O. was one and a half years old, while E.J.O. was

seven months old.    Since then, the Children have resided with Appellees,

who have cared for them, and assisted E.J.O. with his recovery. Thus, the

record supports the conclusion of the orphans’ court that the Children would

not have a strong attachment or bond with Mother. See K.Z.S., 946 A.2d at

764 (observing that the relationship between K.Z.S. and his mother “must

be fairly attenuated,” given that K.Z.S. had been in foster care for most of

his young life, and given that he had only limited contact with the mother

during this time). Indeed, the record reflects that E.J.O. was not even sure

who Mother was during one of their most recent visits. While there may be

a greater attachment between Mother and S.L.O., it is clear that any bond is

outweighed in the instant matter by S.L.O.’s need for permanence and

stability. See In re Adoption of C.D.R., 111 A.3d 1212, 1220 (Pa. Super.

2015) (concluding that the appellant mother’s bond with C.D.R was

outweighed by the mother’s “repeated failure to remedy her parental

incapacity,” and by C.D.R.’s need for permanence and stability).

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     Accordingly, we affirm the decrees involuntarily terminating Mother’s

parental rights pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2511(a)(2) and (b).

     Decrees affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 9/28/2015

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