CPS Removes Baby From Loving Father Over Medical Misdiagnosis
I took my child to the doctor multiple times and even got a second and third opinion in the hopes they could help him to stop vomiting. As an infant he started excessively spiting up and turned into vomiting which led to him being failure to thrive and they decided to put a feeding tube in. he continued to vomit and I continued to look for an answer as to why and how to make it stop.
Cares NW Creates False Report
It all started in august 2018 when DCYF of Washington state knocked on my door and told me they had a report made by someone so they needed to investigate. All seemed okay with the interview.
Puking at Doctor Office
They told me that someone was concerned I took my kid to the doctor too much. Fast forward to the end of October 2018. I took my kid to the ER for puking up what looked like blood. The doctor said it wasn’t blood which was a relief. They decided to admit him anyway. He continued to puke while in the hospital and they had a meeting on the third day he was there.
Diagnosed with Munchausen by Proxy
It was DCYF and they claimed to have a pick-up order for all three of my kids. I never once saw these orders. They said I was diagnosed with Munchausen by proxy now known as medical child abuse. I was never tested or interviewed for this by a psychologist as it’s a mental disorder. they kept saying I made it up or I was over exaggerating his vomiting issues.
Parents Removed From Hospital by Police
They kept him in the hospital for a week after they kicked me out. They ran all sorts of drug tests on him that all came back negative for everything. They stopped all tube feeds to make him eat orally.
Children Removed with No Pickup Order
All three boys were put in foster care and DCYF didn’t even consider kinship. had to get a court order for the boys to go with a family member right before Christmas.
Children Denied Love from Parents
I wasn’t allowed to spend any holidays or birthdays with my kids until Thanksgiving 2019 and had to get a court order for that as well. I literally had to get a court order for everything cause DCYF wouldn’t allow me to even attend my oldest sporting events or school functions.
Parental Alienation
DCYF didn’t let me see my kids for a whole month said they wouldn’t let me see them until I admitted what I did wrong and got help. I couldn’t lie and admit to something I didn’t do. had to get a court order to start visits with my kids at first it was one day a week for an hour.
CPS Lies About ER Visit
On the very first visit, I didn’t even see my youngest son cause they claimed he was in the ER at the time of the visit. those ER records showed he was discharged well before the visit time.
Unexplained Bruise in Foster Care
The youngest boy started showing up to visits with unexplained bruising on his upper thighs that looked like finger bruises. It was reported to the caseworker and the caseworker stated that he was moved to a different foster home and not to worry about it. He came to the next visit with a black eye and a large scratch on his face and foot.
CPS Caseworker Lies About Feed Baby
The caseworker claimed that he hadn’t used the feeding tube the whole time he’s been in foster care. The feeding tube “looked” otherwise. He had Pediasure residue in the tube. When he was admitted to the hospital he was almost 30lbs the first time I saw him after they took him from me he was down to 26lbs. The GI doctor took his tube out before he was back up to his prior weight like it was suggested. Still to this day he still is having some episodes with some foods but it’s not like it was.
No Official Investigation Performed
There was no search of the house and there was no search warrant. So now they are saying that here in Indiana. I still have yet to see this document or any legitimate proof that they found this. There was no ipecac in that house or at my current house.
Another False Report
In June of 2020, I was contacted by a caseworker for a report filed by someone that Kayla was alone at the park with my 6 year old daughter from my past marriage. They informed me that someone had called the DCS child abuse hotline and reported this to one of their staff.
Being that I had nothing to hide and never had I had any involvement with DCS in the past I obliged the worker to come into my home and speak with me and Kayla. The worker entered was very polite and asked questions and we made a safety plan based on Kayla not being alone with my other daughter. The conversation was recorded by me in case anything were to happen. She asked about Kayla’s pregnancy and when she was due. I asked the caseworker what was going to happen after my daughter was born. She told me that I shouldn’t expect anything.
On July 16th my 2nd daughter was born and I couldn’t have been happier.
Newborn Daughter Taken Without Cause
On July 20th my newborn daughter had her first checkup with her pediatrician. At 1 pm someone was beating on my door so I opened it to find 2 caseworkers and a sheriff asking to enter my home. They entered my home and removed my child for medical neglect.
On July 22nd there was a hearing held at the Clay County Courthouse for the temporary placement of my newborn. We had another conversation before the detention hearing. Also recorded.
Baby Removed Based on Allegation Alone, No Evidence
This has been an uphill struggle for both of us. That little girl was never subjected to any type of medical abuse in our home. They removed her based solely upon allegations from another state that has never been sent to a Fact-Finding. I feel like they failed their investigation into this matter terribly.
I have been an Indiana resident for 30 years of my life. Also have been a parent for over 6 years and I feel like the state has failed in their job to protect my child. In the above statement, Kayla mentions that her youngest son was very sick at a newborn level and was having a lot of gastric issues. I am seeing the same trend with my newborn described by her accounts of her youngest son.
We continued by getting London checked out per our Pediatricians recommendations. Thank god she was ok. I have found many other families that have been subjected to this same doctor making allegations of MSBP a which I will add.
To whom it may concern,
I’m writing this letter for Kayla Holst and Dacota Straw concerning the cases for CPS in Washington and Indiana. The Washington case is solely Kayla Holst and her 3 oldest children Parker age 9, Eldon age 8, Coleman age 4. This case is based solely on the suggestion from a Pediatric doctor that Kayla is a danger to her kids because he suggests she has a mental disorder called Munchhausen’s by proxy. Munchhausen by proxy. (MSBP) is a mental health problem in which a caregiver makes up or causes an illness or injury in a person under his or her care, such as a child, an elderly adult, or a person who has a disability. Because vulnerable people are the victims, MSBP is a form of child abuse or elder abuse. According to him, Dr. Thomas J. Valvano suggested that she made or coerced the doctors to perform unnecessary surgeries and give unnecessary treatments and or medications for the purpose of getting attention. Now per Kayla’s court documents I’ve not read nor seen mention of the Pediatricians who have performed such unnecessary actions to the said children above ever being contacted or state that they to in fact concurred with the above named Dr. Thomas J. Valvano suggestions or even expressed concern that the children’s mother might be fabricating seeking attention. Furthermore, this entire case is based on the suggestion of the mother “MAY” have Munchausen by the proxy disorder. Upon looking into this case I discovered that Dr. Thomas J. Valvano is not a licensed Psychiatrist but a Pediatric doctor who self-proclaims to be a specialist in child abuse pediatrics with no specialty license/certificate as stated on the Oregon Medical Board of Licensee Services as seen here
https://omb.oregon.gov/Clients/ORMB/Public/VerificationDetails.aspx?EntityID=1484700
So, this brings me to the question: Can he diagnose or even suggest that an adult woman may have a mental disorder other than saying maybe ADHA or ADD? The answer is no he cannot, he is to refer the child to a Psychiatrist, and then the Psychiatrist and Pediatric Dr can work together if need be and cannot diagnose an adult. But nowhere does it state a Pediatrician can see an adult or even suggest a diagnosis as stated here
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18698191/
Upon further research on Dr. Thomas J. Valvano, I discovered a case of malpractice “KESSLER v. Oregon Health & Science University” where Dr. Valvano and Dr. Powers had a lawsuit placed against them by Randy and Brenda Kessler. Plaintiffs had filed a complaint against OHSU and both doctors stated above by diagnosing Mrs. Kessler solely on hearsay and aloud unethical medical practices and staff to disclose private information. The Kessler’s wanted a written form of apology from Dr. Valvano and determinations of Sara Powers, they also requested $180k for pain, suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress. It was also discovered that Dr. Valvano lied under oath in a court of law pertaining to this case. Dr. Valvano claimed the 11th amendment which bars citizens from bringing suits in Federal Court against a state or state agency unless its waved by the states or congress which is the only reason Dr. Valvano was able to file to have this lawsuit dismissed as seen here
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18698191/
This brings me to his standing in the public/former reviews/opinions that are below average at best for a PEDIATRICIAN. This also leads me to the questionable reasonings of the CPS deciding to use his views on ANY case. Furthermore, it brings me to question the morals of CPS in both states to ignore the above facts. Which brings me to the new case in Indiana regarding the new child (London), parents Kayla Holst and Dacota Straw had removed by CPS on the mere decisions coming from such a botched case in Washington. This couple’s child was taken at 4 days old considering the hunch/suggestions of Pediatric doctors who do not specialize in mental health disorders especially such a diverse disorder as MSBP. Also, Indiana to ignore not one but 2 reputable facilities of their choosing’s evaluations (Hamilton Center & Raintree Consulting, LLC.) to take the word of doctors who’ve never even seen the said mother and to practice outside of the range of their licenses. Now it is being stated that CPS in Indiana is asking for yet another psych evaluation done and if they have to do this then it should be a Psychiatrist of the parents choosing, being that they have done 2 previous evaluations at facilities chosen by CPS in Indiana. The above case in Washington has been drug out over a time period of 2 or more years which in fact should have been closed due to the facts presented above and the children returned to the mother but has yet trickled into Indiana causing yet another child to be taken away. This has detrimentally affected the mother who is and has been seeking treatment from a licensed therapist who has testified on her behalf. And it is continuing to cause the mother and father emotional distress, pain, and mental anguish to say the least.
At this time the court dates keep getting pushed further out which is leading to the disconnection of the bond between both parents and their newborn London that is now 5 months of age. Being taken at 4 days old for the assumption that the mother will cause harm to the baby due to the assumptions of a Doctor based solely on hearsay has caused not only the parents mental and emotional distress but also causing the baby to not have any bonding period with either parent which is a form of child abuse in itself. Not to mention the caseworker Eli Rockhill and the supervisor Michaela Lawrence dropping the ball and not setting up the father’s unsupervised visitation properly for almost 2 months. The 2 months of no visitation for the father has led to the baby not knowing him or them both missing vital bonding time for her to recognize him as her parent. As well as, the mother getting very limited time and missing the vital bonding time also.
You are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty and in this case, the parents are being made out to be criminals regarding abuse and neglect that has never occurred. And are being denied their sixth amendment right based solely on deeming it a civil matter.
(Civil rights in the United States: Sixth Amendment, Minnesota Law School, 2020.)
The Child Protective Services is not following their own guidelines/regulations in this case. It was also stated by a former CPS worker with supervisor Stacy Rookesberry present that they had no grounds for removal of London and now said supervisor is refusing to give that worker’s name. In closing, I would like to say that our advocacy nonprofit group will be advocating the unjust system in handling these cases without factual evidence and information/data. We will continue to publicize this to make the public aware of how the system is failing these children and families. We look forward to hearing from you and working together to try and diminish all unjust aspects of these above cases. Thank you for your time in viewing this matter.
Indiana Code, Title 35, article 44.1, chapter 2, section 35-44.1-2-1 (perjury): a person commits perjury by making a false material statement under oath knowing the statement is false or believing its untrue, or making 2 or more material statements in a proceeding before a grand jury or court that are inconsistent to the degree that one of the statements must be false.
Washington.
RCW 9A. 72. 020: Perjury in the first-degree consist of a person is guilty of perjury in the first degree if any official proceeding he or she makes a materially false statement which he or she knows to be false under an oath requires authorized by law, knowledge of the materiality of the statement is not an element of this crime, and the actor’s mistaken belief that his or her statement was not material is not a defense under this section which classifies as a class B felony.
RCW 9A.72.040: False swearing classifies a person is guilty if he or she makes a false statement that he or she knows to be false under an oath required or authorized by law which classifies a gross misdemeanor. Heneghan, A. (2008). Pediatricians’ role in providing mental health care for children and adolescents: do pediatricians and child and adolescent psychiatrists agree?
PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18698191/
United States District Court, D. Oregon. (2013, October 4). KESSLER v. OREGON HEALTH AND SCIENCE UNIVERSITY.
Leagle. https://www.leagle.com/decision/infdco20131030b93
Thomas J. Valvano M.D. | Health care provider | OHSU. (2018). OHSU. https://www.ohsu.edu/providers/thomas-j-valvano-m
Sincerely,
Leslie Drawhorn
1-855-AVOICES
Advocate Voices Inc.
I was too by dcf in my state of MA told i must be munchousen by proxy and took my daughter… he gas since been diagnosed with a rare condition called STAT 3 GOF my daughter is now 16 and was taken as a baby by dcf based on me saying i knew something was wrong with my child… i was a thousand percent right! They never gave her back just closed their case since my mom already had guardianship.. they stole my daughters entire life from me and they continue to do it to others…
We had a baby that was puking the minute he was born and failed to gain weight or get any better after multiple visits to various doctors. A local ER doctor also tried saying that I was causing his issues after only having crammed a tongue depressor down his tiny throat which caused the reflux to get worse. I saw where it was headed and drove to a children’s hospital in another state but they too said it was just colic and a feeding tube may be necessary. A friend of my sister’s had been trying to get word to us for weeks but my sister didn’t want to throw more advice at us that she herself wasn’t sure about. The answer to our prayers was in that advice though. There is a man who can fix these babies who have unexplained puking and “colic”. He’s been doing the treatments for longer than I’ve been alive but doctors don’t want his name out there for the masses because then they can’t perform unnecessary medical treatments and surgeries and line their pockets. The answer is Dr. Scharenburg and he’s located right in the middle of the United States in Wichita, KS. I wish I could broadcast my story on loudspeakers at every birthing center, and hospital across this nation. He saved my child from a lifetime of hardship and it was so damn simple. It wasn’t conventional and he doesn’t agree with any type of poisoning of the body so vaccines are the first thing that are stopped, along with the pharmaceuticals most these tiny babies are required to take but he also treats these babies for the unexplained puking or colic in tandem with giving up the “medically necessary” things we’re told our babies need…..a simple search on YouTube and to his website and the first hand stories tell the whole story of how great this man is! His office is lined with photos and cards of every child he’s helped and the line circles around the entire interior walls of his building. I bet there are thousands if not hundreds of thousands! So if anyone reading this currently has a baby that this is happening with, please, make a call to his office and see what options you’ve got. He will even treat kids that have “outgrown” the colic because they never really outgrow it.
Dr. Scharenburg, Wichita, KS is the answer to any family dealing with this and there are more of them across this country than they like us to believe!
Side note: He has treatments to prevent tubes in the ears too and my sister I spoke of above was reluctant but went ahead and tried them on her oldest child. He never had another ear infection again after being treated and didn’t have to have tubes!
He also figured out why my middle one would speak when all the others said he’s just autistic and that’s how some of those children are. And yes, he is mildly autistic, both my younger ones have some pretty severe processing issues, but that wasn’t the reason he didn’t speak. Traumatic birth can lead to a lot of these issues so if the cord was around the neck, baby had a bowel movement in the womb, baby got stuck and came out with bruising on the head of face; all can contribute to the issues I wrote about.