VERY OFF-TOPIC>> . . . On a totally serious subject. . . [Health, Legal & Social Svcs]
[One of the advantages of leading such a great group of individuals]
I was wondering if there were any health and/or legal professionals that could advise me on a pressing matter.
My wife and I have been spending much time away from home helping a close friend. He is in a custody battle for his 18 month old daughter. We've all had growing suspicion of abuse and neglect by mother. . .seemingly jealousy born. . . but yesterday finally gained access to medical records.
We learned that in the 17th month, the baby was just 21 lbs. . . . . .she's not much more now. . 7 percentile weight recently on chart. . .new scale recently started being applied which shows 50 percentile height. . . not sure on weight at present. . . .mother currently has full custody . . [father gets Saturday afternoons] . . .mother just now weaning off breast milk. . .no supplemental formulas. . .mother admits that child eats oatmeal & raisins for breakfast. . an apple and raisins for lunch and some grapes and a pear for dinner.
Mother has child on no fat diet. . .and will not feed meats for misguided fear of "hormones causing premature breast development". . . [where do people get this nonsense?]. . .also, baby sleeps only about 8 to 10 hours per day.
Trial is less than 2 weeks away. . . History of excessive illness and injuries, especially in last month. Babies mouth busted open and teeth jammed through gums on one occasion. . .mother claims baby fell off bed. Currently, a minor with her own 6-month old provides sole day care out in the sticks. Other head injury requiring doctor's care was never reported to father.
Father will do whatever is best for child. . .however, there is no common law in state of jurisdiction. . . father is excellent provider, very loving & giving to both baby and mother [even now]. . . wants to provide care. . . .broken-hearted over not being able to help his baby out of this danger. . . .literally out of his skin because his hands are legally tied, due to her restraining order on false charges. In light of this new evidence, he now wants full & primary custody.
Deposition taken of mother has proven very strong pattern of lying under oath, perjury, filing false documents [Federal, State & Local], etc. etc. . . .Baby and mother lived at fathers home for first 14 months. . [no affection between two since prior to birth]. . .mother began insisting on drinking while breast feeding. . .which directly led to break-up.
However, attorney claims that trial is first necessary to declare father's rights, due to no marriage. So Department of Human Services cannot be notified of situation BEFORE trial for legitimate fear that father could lose all rights. We arranged an "after hours" physical next week . . with the leading pediatrician in the region, who is willing to testify at trial. . . thank God.
We all understand the difficulties involved with getting a father full custody. But the case is shaping up nicely. . . though it has my wife and I working very late evenings to help in gathering evidence and doing research, etc.
My Questions to those in Health, Soc. Svcs &/or Legal Profession:
1. Would it help to coax attorney into getting a special court order for mother to feed a prescribed diet?
2. How can we legally learn whether DHS was called in by baby's regular doctor. . . .who saw baby on average once each month?
3. Needless to say, we feed baby VERY well on Saturday. . .baby food, table food . .like cheese and other high fat, high protein products and plenty of PediaSure. . . until trial. . .what else should we be feeding her on Saturday?
4. What developmental problems should we be concerned with, which doctors or attorney here may or may not know about?
5. What are we forgetting, regarding the welfare of the child? Or other concerns. .
Please respond via PM. Thanks very much in advance.
Rande Is |
