The fight for Parker and Logan
Donation protected
Our family has been enduring a very private and humiliating struggle for the past few months. We have gained the strength to publicize our recent experiences in the hopes that our friends and family will offer their support, come forward with any helpful advice, and to humbly ask for help in fighting this fight. On November 3rd, 2017, after an unfortunate accident in our home, our children were taken from us by Child Protective Services. Since then, we have been fighting to not only address all of Logan’s intensive medical needs, both from birth and resulting from the accident, but to clear our names and bring our children home.
What Happened?
On October 28, 2017, Parker was playfully running across the couch when he collided with Logan and Casey. Logan being only 3 months old at the time, suffered the brunt of the impact. To avoid the collision, Casey jerked, bringing Logan into his jaw, and Parker fell head first into Logan’s head. We took him into St. Alphonsus where they discovered several brain bleeds and a possible skull fracture. We were devastated, we didn't know how to react, or what this meant for our baby boy. We were transferred to Saint Luke’s Children's Hospital and was admitted under observation. The next morning, the investigation began with Boise Police and Child Protective Services interviewing us. They tried to allege abuse, stating Logan had signs of rib and skull fracture and warranted more testing. They also requested an evaluation be done on Parker to determine he was not being abused. Multiple X-rays and skeletal scans were completed, all resulting no signs of abuse. There were absolutely no fractures or breaks, old or new, on Logan. The only fracture on Parker was his long-healed Clavicle fracture from birth. We thought that this was going to be the end, but this was just the beginning. Three days after the abuse scans found no evidence of abuse, Child Protective Services and Boise Police Department forced Casey and I to sign over temporary custody of both boys due to concerns of neglect toward Logan. This deemed both boys in imminent danger and were placed in a relative Foster. BPD and CPS also stated that the injuries did not match the incident, in an average child.
A Little about Logan
Since before birth, Logan has had medical concerns, all of which were being addressed at the time of the accident. Prior to birth, I suffered several complications during pregnancy such as irregular heart rate, gestational hypertension, severely low potassium and as a result, an early C-section. After Logan was born, it was determined Logan had no muscle tone, which suggested the possibility of Down Syndrome. He struggled with eating and digesting, low bilirubin levels, no weight gain, and respiratory distress. Logan was admitted into the NICU for six days following his birth. Just two days after returning home, we started our journey of addressing his ‘failure to thrive’. We have specialists involved with Gastroenterology, Neurology, endocrinology, genetics, occupational and physical therapies, and had several dozen blood panels to help determine why he was not gaining weight. In just three months, we attended twenty-four doctor, specialist, and laboratory visits.
What happened in the hospital?
Logan spent twelve days in the hospital and underwent significant testing due to seizures brought on by the brain bleeds. His case was difficult, which was evident when the nurses had a difficult time gaining an IV access and attempted at least a dozen times on all four limbs. There were two days of EEG monitoring, multiple CT scans, and three MRI’s. Despite all what Logan was going through, the doctors did not believe he would have any long-term effects. This was the greatest news we could receive, since the accident torn apart our lives. Logan was released form the hospital on 11/9/17.
On 11/15/17, as per investigative protocol, Logan underwent a second skeletal scan. A distal radial fracture was detected in his right arm. The radiologist and pediatric orthopedic surgeon stated that the fracture happened 10- 14 days before the x rays were taken. The date of incident would place the break from 11-1-17 to 11-5-17, days that he was admitted in the hospital. During that time, we only saw him a few times due to a temporary custody order. Because of the fracture, CPS immediately removed all of our visitations with the boys. Supervised visits at the Department of Health and Welfare happened a few days later, and a week and a half later, normal visits were able to resume with the supervision of the relative foster. To this day, there has been no explanation for Logan’s arm fracture.
Now What?
This has been extremely difficult on our family, and was especially difficult through the holidays. We still have few medical answers regarding Logan’s issues. We are still going to regular doctors and specialists visits. Both boys continue to be in the custody of the state in a relative foster, and in order to be around our children, we must do so around state-approved supervisors. The investigation is a slow process, and currently there is no evidence of abuse or neglect, or prosecution of criminal charges. Despite that we have several doctors and specialists who can attest to Logan’s conditions and to our diligence to his care, nothing has changed. We have been court ordered to get a mental evaluation and do protective parenting classes, which as part of the case plan, we are actively working on, without default.
This is the hardest thing that we have ever been through. Our case manager told us from the beginning that us getting our kids back is strongly dependent on “how hard our attorney fights”. Unfortunately, the cost of our attorney is adding up and because of Logan’s medical needs, we are limited to one income. We completely support the boys as far as basic necessities, diapers, wipes, formula, medications, and transportation. We are going to fight for our boys back, no matter what it takes; but we have to admit that we need help to continue this fight. Any support, advice, or assistance given will be much appreciated.
What Happened?
On October 28, 2017, Parker was playfully running across the couch when he collided with Logan and Casey. Logan being only 3 months old at the time, suffered the brunt of the impact. To avoid the collision, Casey jerked, bringing Logan into his jaw, and Parker fell head first into Logan’s head. We took him into St. Alphonsus where they discovered several brain bleeds and a possible skull fracture. We were devastated, we didn't know how to react, or what this meant for our baby boy. We were transferred to Saint Luke’s Children's Hospital and was admitted under observation. The next morning, the investigation began with Boise Police and Child Protective Services interviewing us. They tried to allege abuse, stating Logan had signs of rib and skull fracture and warranted more testing. They also requested an evaluation be done on Parker to determine he was not being abused. Multiple X-rays and skeletal scans were completed, all resulting no signs of abuse. There were absolutely no fractures or breaks, old or new, on Logan. The only fracture on Parker was his long-healed Clavicle fracture from birth. We thought that this was going to be the end, but this was just the beginning. Three days after the abuse scans found no evidence of abuse, Child Protective Services and Boise Police Department forced Casey and I to sign over temporary custody of both boys due to concerns of neglect toward Logan. This deemed both boys in imminent danger and were placed in a relative Foster. BPD and CPS also stated that the injuries did not match the incident, in an average child.
A Little about Logan
Since before birth, Logan has had medical concerns, all of which were being addressed at the time of the accident. Prior to birth, I suffered several complications during pregnancy such as irregular heart rate, gestational hypertension, severely low potassium and as a result, an early C-section. After Logan was born, it was determined Logan had no muscle tone, which suggested the possibility of Down Syndrome. He struggled with eating and digesting, low bilirubin levels, no weight gain, and respiratory distress. Logan was admitted into the NICU for six days following his birth. Just two days after returning home, we started our journey of addressing his ‘failure to thrive’. We have specialists involved with Gastroenterology, Neurology, endocrinology, genetics, occupational and physical therapies, and had several dozen blood panels to help determine why he was not gaining weight. In just three months, we attended twenty-four doctor, specialist, and laboratory visits.
What happened in the hospital?
Logan spent twelve days in the hospital and underwent significant testing due to seizures brought on by the brain bleeds. His case was difficult, which was evident when the nurses had a difficult time gaining an IV access and attempted at least a dozen times on all four limbs. There were two days of EEG monitoring, multiple CT scans, and three MRI’s. Despite all what Logan was going through, the doctors did not believe he would have any long-term effects. This was the greatest news we could receive, since the accident torn apart our lives. Logan was released form the hospital on 11/9/17.
On 11/15/17, as per investigative protocol, Logan underwent a second skeletal scan. A distal radial fracture was detected in his right arm. The radiologist and pediatric orthopedic surgeon stated that the fracture happened 10- 14 days before the x rays were taken. The date of incident would place the break from 11-1-17 to 11-5-17, days that he was admitted in the hospital. During that time, we only saw him a few times due to a temporary custody order. Because of the fracture, CPS immediately removed all of our visitations with the boys. Supervised visits at the Department of Health and Welfare happened a few days later, and a week and a half later, normal visits were able to resume with the supervision of the relative foster. To this day, there has been no explanation for Logan’s arm fracture.
Now What?
This has been extremely difficult on our family, and was especially difficult through the holidays. We still have few medical answers regarding Logan’s issues. We are still going to regular doctors and specialists visits. Both boys continue to be in the custody of the state in a relative foster, and in order to be around our children, we must do so around state-approved supervisors. The investigation is a slow process, and currently there is no evidence of abuse or neglect, or prosecution of criminal charges. Despite that we have several doctors and specialists who can attest to Logan’s conditions and to our diligence to his care, nothing has changed. We have been court ordered to get a mental evaluation and do protective parenting classes, which as part of the case plan, we are actively working on, without default.
This is the hardest thing that we have ever been through. Our case manager told us from the beginning that us getting our kids back is strongly dependent on “how hard our attorney fights”. Unfortunately, the cost of our attorney is adding up and because of Logan’s medical needs, we are limited to one income. We completely support the boys as far as basic necessities, diapers, wipes, formula, medications, and transportation. We are going to fight for our boys back, no matter what it takes; but we have to admit that we need help to continue this fight. Any support, advice, or assistance given will be much appreciated.
Organizer
Hailey McClung
Organizer
Boise, ID
