Hello everyone.
Apologies for not posting until now. We hope you can appreciate that this is quite an unusual situation and not something we'd have wanted to comment on without some thought.
First off, we'd like to say that we almost never discuss who's been banned and why. But since the fact that UnlikelyAmazonian was banned is already 'out there', it might help to clarify that we never ban anybody lightly. Unless they're an out-and-out hairy-handed trucker
Generally speaking, we issue a series of reminders and warnings first, and sometimes impose a temporary ban that we can then lift after some discussion. A more permanent ban is, usually, only imposed after repeated breaking of our Talk Guidelines despite all that.
That said, we agree with many of you here that this is an truly awful, heart-rending situation that UnlikelyAmazonian finds herself in - and our thoughts are very much with her and her son right now. We completely see that posting on MN right now could be a lifeline of support and strength for her.
For that reason, although UnlikelyAmazonian hasn't contacted us herself about being allowed to post again, she is now free to do so. We'll drop her a line to let her know.
Thanks so much to everyone who mailed in/sent a Report. You'll all be getting a reply shortly.