Help!!

[Soxsox]

PLEASE HELP!!!

I took my child (down syndrome & suffered from duodenal atresia at birth) to hospital several months ago due to vomiting and at the time it was diagnosed as severe constipation. About a month ago she was still being sick and was losing weight at quite an alarming rate so after trying to get help from various sources e.g Doctor, health visitor, NHS in the previous months back to hospital I returned.

She has now been diagnosed with Reflux and is on medication but even though the dosage has been increased several times she still not fully cured. The Doctor got in touch with social services and yesterday our child was taken into foster care. He says that the condition of reflux wouldn't result in so much weight loss. He stated she was a complicated little girl and yet he informs the social services that we are neglecting her. I've asked for help on several occasions over the past few months and now they're saying its US who are to blame. Our Christmas has been ruined and we're just amazed that we are getting accused of neglecting her. NO ONE IS LISTENING TO THE FACTS!!!!

She was vomiting up to 3/4 of her meals but yet he says there's no known medical reason for her weight loss. We are at an all time low and don't know where to turn for help!!!

There's also been a lot of neglect from the hospital, running out of medicine, asking to send clean clothes in because they have none, left to sit in her own vomit for hours on end. My Husband is at his wits end and with him suffering from depression is it an all time low. WE'VE BEEN WRONGLY DONE BY AND ARE PAYING A VERY HIGH PRICE FOR A DOCTORS INCOMPETENCE AND NOW HAVE OUR YOUNGEST CHILD TAKEN FROM US. THE NHS HAS made the mistake but won't admit it. The evidence we've got and when presented to them they gave no answers as they know they are wrong on all accounts. We are in desperate need of help from someone!!!

BEWARE OF THE NHS in WIGAN!

Sue

Any help and advice would be much appreciated. SO FAR NO ONE IS LISTENING!

WTF? this is appalling. I can only think of contacting a paediatric specialist gastroenterologist. I would have said Andy Wakefield as he listens to parents but of course is not popular and no longer in the country. Simon Murch is another name I have heard good things of. He would investiage fully and listen to you. It is essential you find out what is causing the weight loss.

Document every conversation you have with the medical profession and get yourself a lawyer.

Incidentally a friend of mine who is big into diet and autism also has a son with DS and she reckons a lot of children with DS have problems digesting gluten. She said that the medical profession tend to ignore it because its just seen as something that happens with DS, when in fact it's entirely treatable and should not be ignored.

WHAT

Your child has been taken away from you. I don't understand this at all. How has this happened. Your DD, who has special needs and is ill has been put into the care of foster parents. No, no noooooooooooooooo. How, why, I diodn't get it.

How do you get her back?

Take this out of healtrh and get someone to advise you on how you get your DD back asap.

What did you do when SS came and took her. How can they do that?

this is really beyond me but I don't want you to think no-one cares. Can you afford to pay for a private medical assessment by a gastroenterologist? If not is your local CAB open, they could point you to a good lawyer? I agree you need to record every discussion you have. Keep as calm as you can, although you must feel like murdering them you'll have to try not to show it.

You have to get an alternative medical view somehow and you'll probably need a lawyer to make that happen. Is it the hospital doctor who contacted social services?

looks like you will have to speak to these people www.cafcass.gov.uk/English/Adults/SubAreas/adultsContactUs.htm

as someone from their will be appointed as a childrens guardian by the courts

Should I have a solicitor?
Yes. It is certainly in your interests to get a solicitor to represent you. From that website

Solicitors are free for parents in care proceedings.

CAFCASS strongly recommends any solicitor you use is experienced in cases about children and is a member of the Law Society Children Panel. Details of solicitors who are members of the Panel can be obtained from The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL or found in your local yellow pages under ?solicitors?.

Solicitors who are experienced in cases about children are also likely to be a member of either or both of the Solicitors Family Law Association [www.sfla.co.uk] or the Association of Lawyers for Children 1&2 York Row, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 1E.

Hope it's some help, it's a difficult time of year to do anything.

sorry message got a bit jumbled but at least you know you won't have to pay to get proper representation. Good luck.

I feel sick about this.
I really, really pray you get this sorted asap.
So, so sorry this is happening. Gutted

I can't think of anything that hasn't already been suggested but thought I'd bump this up.

simon murch's contact details. I have heard good things about him from parents. He would investiage fully and would listen to you. It's not necessarily obvious from the link but he is a gastroenterologist.

I agree get representation and a second opinion if possible - from someone who will listen to you and try to find out why this is happening to your lo. I thought SS always tried to keep the child with their parents and tried to sort out the problems and support the family in their home iyswim rather than remove the child. I am appalled they have done this to you and your child. tbh I live in fear of it myself SS seems totally fucked up to me. (My ds is has asd)

awful, just awful
Could be coeliac? Also, some children with special needs and some conditions like DS are known to have a deficiency of digestive enzymes and this would cause vomiting. Why don't the docs do some test before taking such a drastic step??
Any digestive disturbance whether D or C also speaks of the imbalance in gastric flora that can lead to vomiting - the body rejects what it can't handle. I just wish the docs were a bit more enlightened to pursue this rather than involve SS.
Appalling, absolutely appaling..
I do wish you all the best in your battle.

have no answers unlike the other posters however just a thought - have you contacted the DSA -UK they are full of information and can probably help with medical professionals to see as well as other advice.

Second what others say - children with ds can have digestive issues amongst other things.

contact info for Downs syndrome association UK

Hi Sue

No knowledge from a medical or DS perspective, however have worked with social services in the past (used to work for homestart and took on a few of their cases) so have some knowledge from that side.

FWIW a solicitor who specialises is the most important thing you need to arrnage, your CAB can provide you with details of these.

there are also support groups out there - I will get details in a minute for you.

They have to take whata ction they consider important to protect a child; if someone has raised concerns that doesn't mean they don't believe you, only that they are doing everything theyc an to eliminate all potential avenues of harm. I know that's hard to understand but its an important mantra. Most SS professionals I have encountered are extrememly compassionate, but please understand that if this was another child- what would you want them to do? Its very complicated.

Your child may not be with you at the moment, I am sure she will be soon however.

Have you contacted the DS support groups for a start? Christmas is a bad time for this to happen, but if you can get through please do talk to them.

Ask about an advocate as well, as you are no doubt extremely distressed and need someone to work from your perspective. That's especially important when dealing with big groups like the NHS, you need to know your way around.

Please feel free to CAT me, I have nbeen through care case support at work do am happy to listen. If you don't have CAT my e-mail is peaches and cream 04 at btinternet dot com.

Big and please keep us updates, will go find you support group now

have no idea of this chaps credentials but migt be worth a call?

Been thinking of you and hoping you have managed to find a solicitor who can help you.

Been thinking of you and hoping you have managed to find a solicitor who can help you.

Thank you to every one for your help and support. I am currently awaiting a call from the chap who PeachyIsNowAChristmasFruit put me in touch with. I have also written to Simon Murchs but have no reply.
The information that solicitors are free for parents in care proceedings is very useful but I have still not found one who specialises in the area I need. Any recommendations very welcome.

I'm speechless by what has been written here and feel so useless that I have no advice to give you. All I can do is pray this is sorted out for you all as quickly as possible. As well as your obvious own heartache, your little girl must be rather bewildered by being taken away. I wish I had answers for you but all I do is send you lots of positive vibes and big hugs to you all.

Soxsox, I think you should ask for that last post to be deleted, for your own good. This is in the public domain, and will not help your case if it is seen by anyone to do with this case.

HI,

I apologise for my husbands earlier outrage in this thread but he's at his wits end.

Need some recommendations on a very good solicitor that deals specifically in children's law? I don't need some tin pot one like the one I'm currently with. Will being on legal reduce the choices in which solicitors will represent me.

I can't imagine the consequences of losing Tess and the effects it'll have on my whole family especially my depressed husband!!

Best wishes
Sue

Hi,

Forgot to mention that I saw Tess today and she's still vomiting. I recorded 10 lots in a two hour visiting period and this is with all the new medication. WHY DOES NO ONE THAT MATTERS SEE I DIDN'T NEGLECT HER!!! It's staring them straight in their face that while she's now on lots of medication she's still not properly well.

I've got a final hearing in 9 months time, surley I can get her back long before that? but how?

Sue

sorry to hear that your dd hasn't been returned to you. if you are still looking for a solicitor:, then you should be able to see who has a good reputation in the family law area by looking on www.legal500.com. In Liverpool I know that Moorecroft Urquhart (sp) has a good reputation for family law. Alternatively and this is very much a random thought, might the solicitor for Sally Clarke (IIRC called John Batt) be interested in this, or able to recommend someone.

Soxsox how absolutely awful for you and your family. My experience of ss has been that they are completely incompetent. (My parents fostered for many years and were messed about plenty and a friend of mine adopted a little boy only to have him taken away 2 months later saying there had been a mistake and he wasn't available for adoption.) It must all feel very hopeless when you're fighting the system but I do hope the contacts you've been given can give you the help and support you need. The very best of luck to you and I hope your DD is returned to her family very very soon. Please keep us up-to-date.