Daniel Quinn has very little
experience as a father. Nearly none at all in recent years.
experience as a father. Nearly none at all in recent years.
Yet, he may be the most loving,
devoted father I’ve encountered in all my years in the newspaper business.
devoted father I’ve encountered in all my years in the newspaper business.
Some readers out there may remember
the disturbing story I wrote for The Macomb Daily in June 2012 about Quinn fighting
to gain custody of his daughter, an effort that was blocked by an archaic 1956
state law. Quinn’s response was to successfully lobby the Legislature for a change in that custody law.
the disturbing story I wrote for The Macomb Daily in June 2012 about Quinn fighting
to gain custody of his daughter, an effort that was blocked by an archaic 1956
state law. Quinn’s response was to successfully lobby the Legislature for a change in that custody law.
In Feburary, I wrote a follow-up about Quinn’s successes in court to tentatively gain
visitation rights to his beloved Maeleigh (pronounced may-lee), who was taken from him by
visitation rights to his beloved Maeleigh (pronounced may-lee), who was taken from him by
her mother at age 2 ½ and allegedly abused and neglected for years. (Frankly, the story is much uglier than it sounds.)
This past weekend, Quinn finally
had the opportunity to reunite with his daughter, now 6, and hold her for the
first time in years.
had the opportunity to reunite with his daughter, now 6, and hold her for the
first time in years.
Here’s what Quinn, a resident of Highland, near Brighton, wrote on his Facebook
page:
page:
This marked the greatest weekend of
my life. For the first time in many years i was able to hold my little girl
again. Our visit and time together went very well. As I left i made her another
promise. We held out our pinky’s as I pinky-promised her that I would never be
gone for so long again and that I will always be a big part of her life from
now on. She lit up and smiled and seemed very happy about that. Looking
forward to many new memories with my little girl. I love you Maeleigh and, as
always, I hope to see you in dreamland.
my life. For the first time in many years i was able to hold my little girl
again. Our visit and time together went very well. As I left i made her another
promise. We held out our pinky’s as I pinky-promised her that I would never be
gone for so long again and that I will always be a big part of her life from
now on. She lit up and smiled and seemed very happy about that. Looking
forward to many new memories with my little girl. I love you Maeleigh and, as
always, I hope to see you in dreamland.
~Daddy~
Quinn has emerged as a fairly well-known
advocate of father’s rights. You can view his Facebook page here.
advocate of father’s rights. You can view his Facebook page here.
