My heart is broken for my sister (Teresa) and brother-in-law (Zach). They've missed over three months of their newborn’s lives, with no end in sight.

On the morning of May 28, 2025, my six-week-old niece Elena Selke was rushed to the ER. This happening, after nine prior visits to the hospital and pediatrician, trying to figure out what was wrong.

They had unfortunately found a brain bleed that morning. Immediately upon this finding, with no explanation, little to no information, and no justification, Zach and Teresa had their six-week-old twins taken away with accusations of abuse. If anyone knows the type of people Teresa and Zach are, they know how badly they wanted children and a family. They also know how utterly ridiculous such an accusation would be.

Fortunately, after three weeks in the PICU, Elena is doing amazing. As is her brother Mason! They’re getting some good Grandma and Grandpa time in, but they miss their parents!

Though we are all grateful for our support system, this is going to be a long uphill legal battle against a government agency that has no incentive to reunite families. Quite contrarily, they are incentivized to stick children in the system. This has the potential to emotionally and financially ruin families and extended families. And most importantly affecting the babies who did not deserve any of this. Quite frankly they do not deserve this injustice.

As medical bills start rolling in, and with no end in sight on legal proceedings, this is going to put an extreme financial burden on this young family. We are fighting like hell to get them back together, but we’re also going to need some help in this fight.