Ruthie and Nathan Senatus Need Your Help
Donation protected
Ruthie and Nathan Senatus and their 4 beautiful children need your help. This family has been tested before but this is one of the most heartbreaking and frightening. Ruthie and Nathan are at risk of losing the children they love and have been devoted to all their young lives and need your help to hire a private attorney to keep this family together.
Ruthie survived the Haiti earthquake of 2010 and attended school at St. Ambrose where she reconnected with her high school friend, Nathan. The two fell in love and moved to Florida, got married, found a wonderful church to worship with, and started their family. Christine Zoe was born in June 2015 and Stephen Eli followed shortly after in August of 2016.These dedicated parents were blessed with a Twins pregnancy in 2017 but the babies were born prematurely on June 24th.
Born premature Gabe and Gaby weighed 1lb 11.5 oz and 1 lb 8 oz respectively. Gabe spent 6 months in the Neonatal ICU in Ft. Myers and Gaby was airlifted after 2 weeks to Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami where she spent 5 more months in the NICU there.
Both Gabe and Gaby are dealing with some significant medical problems due to their prematurity. Gabe has multiple issues including a diagnosis of Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome. Gaby has a shunt for hydrocephalus and is also developmentally delayed. Each child has a team of 17 doctors and and other medical professionals, making it necessary to be at appointments constantly since bringing them home.
Through all of this Ruthie and Nathan remained devoted and loving parents to all 4 of their children. Then, on Feb 18th, Gabe began to show signs of a seizure. Nathan immediately called 911 and the EMT's transported him to the Emergency Room. Later that night, he was airlifted to All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg where everyone was shocked to find he had multiple broken bones. No one, including many medical professionals, ever saw any signs of Gabe being in pain or discomfort.
Gabe and all of his siblings were removed from Ruthie and Nathan's home and care. The other 3 children were all behaviorally tested, X-rayed, and examined. They were all found to have no broken bones or any signs of abuse. Gaby was returned home and a judge dismissed her immediate case for foster placement, but the older children have been placed in foster care. It is understood that further investigation is necessary and currently Gabe is being genetically tested for 2 potential culprits for his injuries, Osteogenesis Imperfecta and CIPA -Congenital Insensitivity to Pain and Anhydrosis (unable to feel pain and inability to sweat).
In the meantime, a very zealous child protective services attorney, working under the auspices of the State of Florida has petitioned for termination of parental rights for all four children and a court date has been set for June 4th. For obvious reasons, Ruthie and Nathan have been advised to hire a private attorney who is not overwhelmed with State appointed cases. Needless to say, and to finally get to the point of this fundraiser, this will be very expensive and Ruthie and Nathan are in the fight of their lives, with no financial means to make this happen.
Those of us who know Ruthie and Nathan are so sad for them. Not only are they devastated and trying to come to terms with the worry of yet another medical issue for Gabe, but they are also living the reality that lack of access to private and more prioritized legal help could cost them their family - the children they adore and are utterly devoted to.
Please consider donating to help reunify the Senatus family and keep them together- where they belong. The nightmare of being accused of harming their beloved child is difficult enough. Please help us help them fight the injustice of losing their children.
Ruthie survived the Haiti earthquake of 2010 and attended school at St. Ambrose where she reconnected with her high school friend, Nathan. The two fell in love and moved to Florida, got married, found a wonderful church to worship with, and started their family. Christine Zoe was born in June 2015 and Stephen Eli followed shortly after in August of 2016.These dedicated parents were blessed with a Twins pregnancy in 2017 but the babies were born prematurely on June 24th.
Born premature Gabe and Gaby weighed 1lb 11.5 oz and 1 lb 8 oz respectively. Gabe spent 6 months in the Neonatal ICU in Ft. Myers and Gaby was airlifted after 2 weeks to Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami where she spent 5 more months in the NICU there.
Both Gabe and Gaby are dealing with some significant medical problems due to their prematurity. Gabe has multiple issues including a diagnosis of Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome. Gaby has a shunt for hydrocephalus and is also developmentally delayed. Each child has a team of 17 doctors and and other medical professionals, making it necessary to be at appointments constantly since bringing them home.
Through all of this Ruthie and Nathan remained devoted and loving parents to all 4 of their children. Then, on Feb 18th, Gabe began to show signs of a seizure. Nathan immediately called 911 and the EMT's transported him to the Emergency Room. Later that night, he was airlifted to All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg where everyone was shocked to find he had multiple broken bones. No one, including many medical professionals, ever saw any signs of Gabe being in pain or discomfort.
Gabe and all of his siblings were removed from Ruthie and Nathan's home and care. The other 3 children were all behaviorally tested, X-rayed, and examined. They were all found to have no broken bones or any signs of abuse. Gaby was returned home and a judge dismissed her immediate case for foster placement, but the older children have been placed in foster care. It is understood that further investigation is necessary and currently Gabe is being genetically tested for 2 potential culprits for his injuries, Osteogenesis Imperfecta and CIPA -Congenital Insensitivity to Pain and Anhydrosis (unable to feel pain and inability to sweat).
In the meantime, a very zealous child protective services attorney, working under the auspices of the State of Florida has petitioned for termination of parental rights for all four children and a court date has been set for June 4th. For obvious reasons, Ruthie and Nathan have been advised to hire a private attorney who is not overwhelmed with State appointed cases. Needless to say, and to finally get to the point of this fundraiser, this will be very expensive and Ruthie and Nathan are in the fight of their lives, with no financial means to make this happen.
Those of us who know Ruthie and Nathan are so sad for them. Not only are they devastated and trying to come to terms with the worry of yet another medical issue for Gabe, but they are also living the reality that lack of access to private and more prioritized legal help could cost them their family - the children they adore and are utterly devoted to.
Please consider donating to help reunify the Senatus family and keep them together- where they belong. The nightmare of being accused of harming their beloved child is difficult enough. Please help us help them fight the injustice of losing their children.
Fundraising team (2)
Susan Boyler
Organizer
Bettendorf, IA
Ruth Morency
Beneficiary
Liz and Tom McDermott
Team member
