I stilll exist

[Ashley Gibson]

My heart breaks for you. I have a 2.5yo and an almost 11-month-old, and I'd die if they tried to take my babies from me. I can't imagine being younger and not understanding even more. I agree with trying to get the pediatrician on board if you haven't already. Depending on the age of the baby they've seen the baby a LOT, and one of the first things they look for are any signs of abuse, or even signs that the baby isn't interacting with the parents as well as they should (which would be another sign of abuse even if physical didn't red flag). I know I personally failed all of my PPD screenings with my son, and the pediatrician said that was the biggest thing they looked for, because if he was being hurt or neglected at all the babies have a way of showing it, but she could tell that even though *I* was struggling he was well taken care of. A broken bone, without any other signs of trauma, no bruising, etc. is strange because from what I've also been told by the social workers I work with, the first abuse usually doesn't reach that scale.

[Noel Collins]

She was born Dec. 14. So very much an itty bitty still. just at 6 weeks now and 2 way from us. That's a third of her life.

They were all bonding well. She recognizes us at visitations but we think the movement in and out of the seat and traveling aggravates the injury. My daughter was having some post partum depression, which we anticipated, so she was already starting therapy when this occurred. We are hoping the nurse will speak for us since she spent so much time in the room. Also the nurses after her being admitted that would have seen the kids parenting and interacting with her. From what the foster has said they have been to a pediatrician twice, the er once, and an orthopedic doctor. Next is a trauma specialist tomorrow. Full body X-rays were also taken and a ct showing no other injuries. Random broken femur. We have a bad feeling it happened during a procedure where the infant is curled up and restrained by holding down the thighs and shoulders. Amber is hella strong for her age and would fight that.

Right now they are at 3 1hr visitations a week. half of which is spent calming her down as she screams bloody murder at them. tomorrow is one but the foster is going to give her pain meds before getting in the car to see if that helps. we think it may be a pain issue from being shifted around. its hovering around zero most days so there's a lot of layers to take on and off of her.

The foster has a baby swing that she absolutely loves so tonight my daughter put ours up for sale and picked up the one she loves at the foster. This way we have it when she gets home. it may be a while. but it gives my girl hope doing these things.

[Ashley Hunt]

I am so sorry! *hugs*

[Noel Collins]

no new updates. we did get visitations increased to 1.5 hours a time but, they also are all on days I can't be there. next court date is this Friday. only the initial hospital records and report have made their way to our lawyer. The medical writeup from a doc at the hospital was very limited and also defensive. I think it may have been written by the doc that's been prosecuted before. The results from the full X-ray set done after the injury have not been released yet. Neither have all the repeated visits she has made to the pediatrician, trauma doc, and orthopedic doc. its really frustrating. half her life has now been separated from us and its time we will never get back.

[Polk Buffalo]

Seems like the hospital should be on the line for not having cameras set up in a situation where they are doing a procedure on a baby where in the past a baby did have a leg broke while under going the same thing. ???

You(your family) are having to prove you didn't do it, but the hospital doesn't have to prove they didn't do it either?

I know this might be a super long shot thing....and I wish I could remember the details...but a long time ago I saw a crime show where parents were accused of breaking their baby's bones...and claimed they were never rough with their baby. It seems the baby while at the hospital had another bone get broke. Turns out the baby had a genetic situation. I looked it up and it said that it's about 1 in 20,000 babies have various degrees of this condition from mild to severe. The parents in the true crime show were exonerated once the condition was discovered in the baby.

This is what it was:
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Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is an inherited (genetic) bone disorder that is present at birth. It's also known as brittle bone disease. A child born with OI may have soft bones that break (fracture) easily, bones that are not formed normally, and other problems. Signs and symptoms may range from mild to severe.
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I'm so sorry you are all going through all of this I hope your lawyer can get all of this resolved for you as soon as possible.
Will the court allow video (zoom) contact with the baby in-between any days when you are allowed real visits...just so the baby can hear your voices and see your faces. If they are worried about the child's safety...that would be a safe way of staying in contact with your grand-child between visits. ???

Also, don't feel like you failed anyone. This was Way beyond your control. It sounds like you are taking action and not just sitting on your thumbs just waiting to see how things go. Hang in there.

Stormy

This is not a long shot at all. I saw a swedish TVprogram where exactly this happened. A couple took their baby to the hospital, I think high fever was the cause even here. X-ray showed multiple fractures. Child was "stolen" at the parking lot. After a few weeks at foster parents the child had several new fractures. The crazy thing is that it took the parents another six weeks to get their baby back. And yes, it was osteogenesis imperfecta in this case too. The hospital didn´t communicate with the parents during these months and they didn´t offer any apology.

In Sweden there is a list of diagnoses that has to be ruled out when suspecting child abuse. Osteogenesis imperfecta is one of them.
Since child abuse is more common than osteogenesis imperfecta, I can almost understand initial behaviour that is protecting the child. I do think that the parents should have full reports on ongoing investigations, investigations should be done in a week and most important. If another diagnos is found, it shouldn´t take 6 full weeks to give the baby back!!!

I hope you get the baby back soon.
/Polk. M.D.

[Noel Collins]

We are looking at months. Right now we can see her with supervision from the county at their appointed times and places. We are never alone with her. 3 times a week for 1.5 hours. Since I'm gramma, not mom, i'm excluded unless the visit is in my home. The visits in my home are on days I work during my work hours. Even when I am somehow able to be there I keep back because my daughters bond with her is seriously suffering. I get a minute or so at start and end and cherish every second.

In our state and country they go through a reunification process that starts with supervised visits and gradually move to the child being back in your care. this can take months, even years. Even though we are not responsible for the injuries we are assumed guilty and had all rights currently taken away. Its not a fair system.

They have been checking and do not find Osteogenesis. Low vitamin D, and my daughter may have Ehler Danlos syndrome. Which the doctor who wrote the medical report says cannot be a contributor to an injury such as this even though a number of other doctors say it can be. Its all so ridiculously insane. IM having a really really tough time with it all. Today was a hopeless crying day. Everything moves so slow and gets delayed. Communication between all parties is horrible. If it does go to trial, any nurses who were there and examined her repeatedly before the break occurred may not remember us.

[Darcy McBride]

I am so sorry this is happening to you and your family. I am praying with all my heart this ends quickly, and she will be returned to your family with no reports on anyone's record. Hang tough in there, girl. May she come home soon!

[Noel Collins]

THanks Darcy.
the stress and depression from this is really getting to all of us but especially my daughter.

[The Steward]

So sorry this is happening. It was horrifying to read.

[Noel Collins]

Thanks Em, It's been nuts. Sounds like today's visitation went really well and they got some really great bonding time in. The foster mom was supervising, and she's taken to our whole family, especially my daughter and her baby, so she is going out of her way to help. Shes also gone toe to toe with the social worker a couple times now.

[Noel Collins]

no new updates. had another court date and the next is in a month. The latest though is the social worker trying to make us look bad because we had cartoons playing on our phones while seeing her a couple times. the visitation site was a stark room with four chair, a table, and a rocking chair. no sound. camera on the wall watching us. they didn't like that we had her laying on the table (where she was most comfortable due to the broken leg) and had the cartoons on for some sound. they also tried to say my daughters claims of lack of bonding are her fault for not holding her as much at visitations. visitations where the baby has a broken leg, the social worker is creepily watching you on camera, and your a post partum depressed introvert who has wrongly had your child taken away.
visitations are now in our house or at a child play center so that's been way better. also that social worker is n to doing the supervising any longer. she just handles the case.

[Noel Collins]

no updates.

More court time coming up in the next couple weeks. Hoping we can move to unsupervised visits then, or at least more. We also are pretty clueless on where the investigation is at. Still just a ridiculous situation and example of some people having more say than they should. Im hearing about more and more cases similar to ours each day and they break my heart. My heart that's already broken by her being in foster.

My daughter is hanging in there but somedays her mental health is stretched so thin you can see right through it. I'm just here for whenever she needs me. Her boyfriend is staying with us which helps them both to just have each other near and be able to talk through things.

Right now she is here on a visitation and I am listening to them play with her. Its supervised so the foster care social worker who is in charge of the case is here observing. Im in the next room so I'm not seen as being part of the "parenting team" so much even though we work as a unit. I have to step back and hide my support which just stinks. In other cultures its normal for grandparents to be heavily involved but that's not so much the case in the US in the eyes of social services.