Fom the DAILY TELEGRAPH in Australia'

"Suicide rocks Jackman
March 14, 2006

HUGH Jackman and wife Deborra-lee Furness are reeling with with the tragic news the birth mother of their adopted son Oscar has killed herself.

Amber Sanders, 28, endured a long battle with drugs and depression after having given away her boy to the Aussie actors, while two other children were taken away by social services.

"She was very distraught over never being able to see her son Oscar," her father Tom Lanhem has told New Idea.

"She was upset over losing her other children and ending up as a homeless person. And then there were the drugs."

Jackman, 37, and Furness, 45, are now reportedly trying to decide whether to tell five-year-old Oscar about his mother or wait until he is older.

The celebrity parents also have an adopted seven-month-old daughter Ava."

What awful news. Didn't Hugh and Deb let Ms. Sanders live with them during the last weeks of her pregnancy because she was scared and alone? They must have formed some kind of bond, so this is obviously hitting them hard. Her sad life and personal problems unfortunately only show how much better off her children probably are raised elsewhere, but nonetheless, this is bound to affect her biological children to whatever extent. I hope they are all able to surmount the trauma.

Ellen

So Tragic!
May God bless them all.

What a very sad tragedy for all concerned. I am sure Deb and Hugh are devastated. There is no way to make such a sad thing nice. I am sure they will get good advice on how to deal with Oscar and all that implies for him. Oscar's birth mother was such a sad person. Thankfully Hugh and Deb have each other during this sad time for them. My best wishes to all involved in this incredibly horrible event. I am sure Hugh and Deb are hugging Oscar extra close. They are wonderful people and Oscar is a lucky boy. Their strength in each other will hopefully guide them through this.

MT

May she be at peace. She did the right thing for little Oscar. Hopefully she knows that now.

This is indeed sad.Oh Wow this is a little much to tell little guy.These things do happen.And hate to say this,but might be the best thing to very gently tell him at a private beach or something.Just afraid some child at school will come up to him and tell him in the wrong way.And this is sooo private. And have a child shrink in the wings to help.This is why Hugh and Debs adopted him so he will have a better life,and he has,and he will still have a great life.Our hearts go out to everyone.Oscar has other bio brothers and sisters,and correct us if we are wrong on this.Can they see each other some how,especially now? Just a thought.Our hearts and many prayers go out to all.

This is so sad. My prayers are with them all.

Nancy B

Very sad news. Yes, indeed.

WC

From the Australian NEw Idea

Can anybody read that text?

I guess I am one that believes this shouldn't be news. I think it's horrendous that this magazine has to delve into something so incredibly private. I dont know the whole story and personally I'm not sure I should. I hate the fact this woman was having such a difficult time and if the family is trying to say it has something to do with her not seeing Oscar...it's just so wrong...I believe the family shouldn't have said anything to the media especially when it concerns a child who will be effected by this tragedy in someway down the line. This is why I hate journalists!!!! They are pathetic!!! All about the story and not in one bit concerned with the effects on the human beings they are effecting. this is just upsetting...sorry, to vent like this.

My heart goes out to all who have suffered due to this horrendous tragedy.

I agree, MM. It would be awful if some kid in Oscar's class waved that in front of him. But that's the price one pays for being in the public eye. I just hope it doesn't happen like that before his parents have had a chance to talk with him and hopefully with a counselor, too.

The implication that not seeing Oscar brought on her death is patently unfair and absurd. She seems to have had a myriad of other problems as well as other children she had to relinquish to a social service agency. But their adoptive parents aren't celebs, so Hugh and Deb become easier fodder for the sleazier mags. Disgusting.

Ellen

My prayers and thoughts go out to the Sanders family for having to weather this tragedy. I pray that they will come out from this tragedy a stronger family and now Amber will have some peace.

So young... too young to die this way.

How terrible-I saw that article this morning but couldnt read it--how sad for Ambers family and the Jackmans--from what I had read the Jackmans were with her a lot and shared Oscar with her whenever they could>God bless them all!!

I usually flip back and forth btween the Entertainment Channels and tonight did not catch anyhing about this sad affair. Let's hope they let it rest. Such a sad thing for everyone concerned. The Jackmans and the other family need peace and time for reflection.

I was a bit torn about posting this but thought that horrible as it is that we would all like to offer our support to the Jackman family at this time.

Roselady, I just got this email so I would have posted it. How sad. At least Oscar will have a loving mom and dad to take care of him. How said for his mom though. She must have been a tortured young lady.

Jeane

well, it IS out there.
roselady,
you weren't profiting by posting it.
we would have found out anyway.
i think it's what we do with it when we find it.
as ellen said,the jackmans are in the public eye. in addition to all the good things that life brings to them, bad things also can happen. nobody is immune to that. they just happen to live in a fishbowl; we don't.
hugh and deb are grounded people and loving parents. they will help oscar with this.
that's what all good parents do. that's what we would do.

As an adoptive parent myself, I am appalled that people on this forum would even discuss this topic on this site. This is none of our business, this is a truly personal matter between the parties involved, which does not include anyone of us.