[harpertrance]

I need help guys.

My kids have been taken by CPS. They are saying that I have abused my daughter.

She was found to have bleeding of the middle of the brain, and two old fractures (we are thinking caused by an old trampoline accident), as well as numberous scrapes (caused by her skin picking) bruising (caused by her pinching/picking, some possibly caused by me/babysitter when having to hold her down for a tantrum) her hair was "falling out" (she pulls it out during a tantrum) hypothermia, hypoglycemia, protien and urobilinogen in her urine, anemia, tachycardia, edema of the extremities. She also had slightly elevated liver enzymes but the singulair she was on can cause hepatotoxicity. Her O2 sats that night dropped to the 49-50s, but after a treatment and deep suctioning, they were back up to 80s-90s. Since then they have been in the 90s.

She was also admitted with anemia. They are relating that to the 4 sippy cups (36 ounces) of milk that she has a day. Milk is high in calcium and low in iron. However I enriched her milk with ovaltine and gave her a Flintstones multivitamin daily. To me, 4 cups of milk is not a lot. I know other children who drink twice as much. I was told during the time with her at the hospital that she was showing signs of becoming anemic back in January, but I was never made aware of this until presently. If they were to have told me this I would have been giving her iron. She has now been started on iron 2x a day.

I was told there was no trauma to the neck. There was no bruising on the outside of her head, no skull fractures and no trauma to her eyes. They did a dilation test in the PICU and they looked inside her eyes and found no damage (at least that is what I was told) Her brain was not swollen, and she only had the small amount of bleeding in the middle, and front of her brain. The neurologist told me several times, that the bleeding was only a small amount. As you can see, it does not quite add up.

she has gi issues (goes from constipation to diarrhea), recieved pt and st, and possibly will also be starting ot, and she also got developental therapy for being delayed. She has a pelvic kidney, but I was told all was fine with that. Shes developmentally delayed, and also speech delayed. She has had issues with weight gain, and behavioral issues.

neuro said *possibly* singulair may be causing some behavioral issues, and has been d/ced since being in the hospital.

does anyone have any idea of what could be going on? They were so close to metabolic and genetic testing before they finally just labled her with abuse, and called off any more testing...

 

[2boyzmama]

Oh my gosh!

I don't have any advice, except to start gathering all medical information you have on all your children. Every dr visit. Every therapy (I can't remember off the top of my head whether she gets therapies). Contact your daycare provider, friends, family, neighbors. Get them all to write a letter of support describing your ability to care for your children. Did she go to the dr after the trampoline accident? Outline what care you gave for her if you didnt' take her in...ice packs, tylenol, you looked for signs of swelling or guarding and she didn't have any so you weren't worried, etc etc etc. Get all her medical records from anybody she's ever seen and get them to CPS.

Poor mama!

 

[AndVeeGeeMakes3]

Holy schmoly!! I'm so sorry this is happening to y'all.

May I suggest posting over in the foster/adoption forum too? There are lots of moms there who know the system really well and would be able to give you some language and resources to help you out.

 

[AuntG]

Since there are no signs of trauma I guess be patient and wait for it to all work out? I dont know. Gee, that seems like a dumb thing to say now.

Can you file for a summary judgement? you ought to be able to do that through family court right away.

Obviously I'm not an expert but that's very, very deep in the brain to be caused by outside trauma. No signs of infection, huh? Before I read your entire post I was thinking brain injury... the irregular temp, irregular HR and sleepiness...
Where were the fractures you're talking about?

Depending on where the fractures are, they may be completely irrelevant.

Gosh, I can't imagine the anxiety you're feeling now. Hold on, mama, it will all get sorted.

((hugs))

 

[harpertrance]

just throwing it out there, that i clarified the first post. thanks guys.

 

[AndVeeGeeMakes3]

Not to be too personal, but is there any chance this is coming from your ex? You are going through a divorce, right? If not, sorry, and disregard.

 

[AuntG]

Gah, mama, I know this must be a nightmare for you! I am so sorry!

So, she has a lot of issues going on. Wonder why abuse was the knee jerk reaction? You're right, doesn't add up.

I'm thinking of you and your family this afternoon as you sort through this.

More hugs!!

 

[jeliphish]

Had CPS or prevention services been involved prior to this? We're they following Molly's issues? Why did they take your older child if there were no signs of abuse/neglect with him? ...The old fractures, where were they?
I'm a CPS prevention worker by the way....I guess I just need more details to give any sort of advice. But it's totally up to you to answer those, you don't have to if you don't feel comfortable.

 

[pixiekisses]

 

[harpertrance]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeliphish Had CPS or prevention services been involved prior to this? We're they following Molly's issues? Why did they take your older child if there were no signs of abuse/neglect with him? ...The old fractures, where were they? I'm a CPS prevention worker by the way....I guess I just need more details to give any sort of advice. But it's totally up to you to answer those, you don't have to if you don't feel comfortable.

i dont know if it was the ex. Caleb came back saying that his dad had been mean to him, but never expanded, and it was when they returned that i noticed my daughter acting off.

They were aware of mollys issues. CPS has been involved before. The first time was a domestic violence, child neglect that was called in due to concerns by somone who lives hours away, the caller didnt even know what was going on. it was an open and shut case.

the second time was because the school called. they found some scratches on my son, they thought was sexual abuse. um, no! they were caused by him climbing over the baby gate, naked. the bruises were caused by elevated liver enzymes due to his anti-seizure medication. Labs showed that. He also had impetigo that was clearning up thanks to atbx. It was also an open and shut case.

This is the third time.

I dont know why they took Caleb. There were NO signs of abuse or neglect. He even had a head to toe checkup done on him, he came back FINE.

the fractures were her pelvis and her leg. I am pretty sure both happened when her leg went through the trampoline and she landed on the metal bar (on her pelvis) this happened at the babysitters. though they told me the leg fracture could have been caused by a normal toddler trip and fall. - they were both old and healing and only seen on the CT not the xray

i am going out of my mind. its so quiet here, i hear the kids playing outside... i just want mine back... i just want them here and never ever let them go again. im so sad about all this...

they acutally suggested that I have mbp because i used to take her to the dr all the time. then i stopped taking her (because they kept finding nothing wrong) and they are using that against me.

she was supposed to be discharged today, but i havent heard anything from anyone. I have called and texted the grandma... but she hasnt spoken to me since yesterday and she didnt even tell me how they were. she just said she needed calebs ss number.

i just want to know that they are okay, and whats going to be going on with molly and caleb now regarding school, and therapies and stuff.

I WANT MY KIDS BACK!

 

[ShadowLark]

HUGS, mama! That's horrible!

 

[sbgrace]

What a nightmare. I guess if the bleeding is consistent with abuse (if) I would be looking closely at the ex (if capable) and childcare. And either way get a lawyer if you can.

So they think the temp regulation and blood sugar issues are caused by the brain injury or what? Because both those are metabolic disorder findings as could be other things she's dealing with. Mitochondrial disorder is an often not known possibility for some of it but not the bleeding to my knowledge. Others can cause brain bleeds though I believe. http://www.simulconsult.com/resources/abuse.html Where was the leg fracture? Anemic kids would bruise easily. Still it would add to the case if those bruises are extensive and in the form of adult fingers/hands.

Am I understanding they are with a grandma? That would be reassuring to me over the alternatives and I hope your situation is similar in that grandma is safe for the kids at least.

 

[harpertrance]

yes, they are with the grandma, that is the only thing keeping me from really going nuts. i know they are with someone that loves them. however when grandma isnt returning my calls or txts, and i have no idea how they are... it really hurts.

the PICU drs were going to order some genetic and metabolic tests, but we got back up to the floor and those tests were never done because they floor doctors had just decided it was abuse.

yes, they are relating the temp control and the blood sugar to the brain injury. They told me her blood sugar was getting back to normal, but of course it was, she was on D5. And it took 3-4 days for her temp to actually get back to a normal temperature.

i know that seizures can cause brain bleeds but the eeg in the hospital showed none. it just showed below normal functioning for a kid of her age. and yes, anemic kids get bruises really easy, but she is very anemic. It seemed like the smallest amount of pressure would cause a bruise and it would take FOREVER for it to heal.

i have a lawyer.

i have no idea whats going on with the case right now, as no one has told me anything since yesterday.

..... i miss my kids.
no noggin on the tv, no one saying they want to cuddle... guys, im so sad...... this cant be happening.

 

[AuntG]

Who is with you tonight, dear?

 

[harpertrance]

no one.....

my kids are usually here... and i dont have any family here. I cant talk to the babysitter, and other people are working, or busy.

its so hard.

 

[gsd1amommy]

Is there a back story? I mean, how did this even start? Did CPS just show up and remove them?

 

[harpertrance]

i took her to the Dr on the 6th because she wasnt acting right at all, and from the dr she was taken by ambulance to the hospital. we didnt know what was wrong with her... then they found the brain bleed, and the old fractures. those with the scratches (caused by her), and busted lip, and bruising (caused by her pinching) they decided it was abuse...

i was with her from the 6th to the 13th, i never left her! and on the 13th they came in and told me that they decided to remove my kids from me... and gave me the order...

if they really thought i hurt her they wouldnt have let me be with her for a whole week......

i think they just ran out of ppl to accuse. but thats because nothing happened! ugh.

 

[gsd1amommy]

good grief! when will you hear what happens next? Are you allowed any contact? Supervised or not?

 

[gsd1amommy]

I think I'd be at my lawyer's office first thing in the morning and see what comes next. Can you get your children's medical records from birth gathered up, including all labs, xrays, therapy evaluations, pharmacy receipts, etc. and have them in hand. What a nightmare!

 

[harpertrance]

cps told me i was allowed supervised visitation, once a week. they are 2 hours away though. and no one had told me anything else about what happens next, or even when the visitation starts. all i was told was that they would be in contact with me

i cant get their records, they are no longer in my custody. i couldnt even call the hospital to check on my daughter. the lawyer said hed work on it though.

i called him today. he told me it was a process, and that i should hear something soon, at the very least friday. he said id need to be patient, but its so hard.

i just want to know they are okay...