Moms & Babies - People.com » Vietnam

Pax Jolie's birth mother speaks out

cbbauthor — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 04:59:00 +0000

British Newspaper News of the World allegedly scored an exclusive interview with Angelina Jolie’s new son’s birth mother, Pham Thu Dung. Here are the highlights.

On giving Pax, 3, up for adoption, Pham had his to say:

I am not his mother anymore because I abandoned him. I saw his face in the newspapers and I wanted to recognize him but I couldn’t. He was a stranger to me. I wanted to forget all about him but it hurts so much to see his face and hear about everything that is happening to him. It brings all the pain back to me. My dream is that one day he’ll visit me and call me mother. But it’s only a dream, I know it’s impossible.

On an American movie star adopting Pax she said:

I want to see my son again and tell him I’m so sorry I had to give him away. I am very happy for him. I hope he has a good life now. He is better off with the movie star because I am not a good mother. I wasn’t able to take care of my baby.

On her hope of seeing Pax again she said:

I realize I am not capable of looking after him. I can’t even feed myself properly, let alone a baby as well. I only eat one meal a day. I just hope one day I will see him just to see how he is and looks. I want to know that he’s ok and that his new mother loves him.

Pham also talked about her Heroin addiction. She had this to say:

I really want to give up. I know drugs might kill me. If I can manage it, I will live a normal life. I really miss my grandmother and my family. I want to sort myself out and go home. But until I can give up drugs, I know I can never go home. I know my father is angry with me and I know the neighbors will laugh at my family. I don’t want my son to be ashamed of me when he grows up.

Hours after meeting with News of the World, Pham was picked up by police and escorted to her family’s home. A friend who was with her at the time told the paper that her parents have been ordered to keep her there or she faces jail-time.

Source: Us Weekly

The Tale of Pax Thien Jolie

cbbauthor — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 04:19:04 +0000

TIME Magazine recently published an article telling the tale of the young boy who the world now knows as Pax Thien Jolie. According to TIME, Pax was abandoned as a newborn, "His mother gave birth and left immediately," Nguyen Van Trung, director of the orphanage. Signs were posted for 30 days trying to find the woman but no one turned up, so Pax was sent to the orphanage and a police report was made (standard practice in Vietnam). When Angelina Jolie applied to Vietnam through an agency asking for a healthy boy between ages 3 and 5, Pax happened to be the only one at Tam Binh orphanage who met the criteria. There were 31 other boys the same age, but all of them had relatives or were not healthy. Nguyen said,

Only Sang (Pax’s name in the orphanage) met the set criteria for adoption in general and her request, [Angelina] was lucky at the time she applied that there was this boy who met the request and criteria.

Meanwhile, Vietnam’s national adoption director says that he prepared 10 other boys, including those at other orphanages, in response to Angelina’s original application and criteria. Pax will definitely be missed at the orphanage, most by his caretaker Ms. Tuyen. She commented on how Pax will be thought about, remembered and missed:

He was here, and now he’s gone, I’m very happy for him. I miss him and so I am sad — but we have other children to take care of. Everyone is sad since he’s left. We have mixed feelings — happy, proud of him, missing him. He’s very clever and I hope he has a good life. We just hope he will return to visit us. But we don’t know.

For now, Tuyen, and everyone else at the orphanage will be getting regular updates on the boy they grew to love and his new high profile life. The orphanage director said:

She is required to send a report every six months updating us about his health, mental development, hobbies — and a photo. It’s required for the first three years. After three years, it’s not required because we can see if the kids are being taken care of for the first three years so we can be assured they are in the good home.

After Angelina’s original visit to the orphanage in Novemeber and her visit most recently to pick up Pax, orphanage workers agree she will make a good mother for Pax and he will have a good future in America: "I think she’ll be a good mother to him, she already has the experience," said Ho Thi Kim Thoa.

Source: TIME

Thanks to CBB reader Maya.

Angelina Jolie leaves Vietnam, officially introduces Pax Thien

Natalie — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 03:28:00 +0000

Update:Mother and son left Vietnam this morning on their flight to the US.

In this week’s People Magazine, Angelina Jolie officially introduces her new son, Pax Thien, 3. The shoot, which took place in Vietnam earlier this week, also includes photos of Pax with his new siblings Maddox, 5, and Zahara, 2. Quotes from the interview have Angelina saying,

He is a very sweet little boy. We are slowly beginning to build his trust and bond but it will feel complete only when we are all together. You can imagine what courage it takes to be in all new surroundings, with new people and a new language. He is very strong. It will take him a while to realize he has a family, and that his new life is permanent and that it won’t keep changing.

Many people have asked about Brad Pitt and Shiloh staying at home. Brad’s rep said,

He has specific days on the movie that couldn’t be changed or production would run over. Shiloh has been on the Button set everyday with her father.

Source: People

Thanks to CBB reader Nicole.

PaxWatch: Angelina Jolie expresses regret over media frenzy over her new son Pax

Natalie — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 06:23:21 +0000

After an emotional introduction to his new mother, Angelina Jolie‘s new son, Pax Thien Jolie, broke down in tears. Angelina feels very bad for subjecting Pax to the media frenzy and told Ho Chi Ming City Law newspaper that she’ll be dedicating herself to all of her children as a stay-at-home mom.

In a statement that may not be exactly what she said because it was translated from English into Vietnamese and back into English for the US’s Associated Press, Angelina said,

I will stay at home to help Pax adjust to his new life. I have four children and caringfor them is the most important thing for me at the moment. I am veryproud and happy to be their mother.

Photographs and press coverage will make him upset. I’mvery worried about that. I would like to say I’m sorry for bringingthis into Pax’s life.

Everyone would agree that children need to have a family.I have the ability to help children fulfill that desire. Why should Isay no?

Source: People

Thanks to CBB Reader Mary Beth.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt visit Vietnamese orphanage

cbbauthor — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 21:28:45 +0000

It has already been rumored that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie might adopt from Cambodia. Well, just as they did in India, they have now visited an orphanage in Vietnam. We don’t think this is because they want to adopt another child; they visited the orphanage in India and left with no child. They apparently visited on Thanksgiving to give out gifts and candy to the children. Their children Maddox, 5, Zahara, 22 months and Shiloh, almost 6 months, did not go with them.

Source: Herald Sun

Photo from PEOPLE, with permission