Before I go any further I should give you Mark's side of the story because it's only fair. Mark says he was involved in an accident with Nathan in the vehicle, and that this caused the damage to Nathan's brain. However, there are no records of the car crash, no insurance company, nor police station has any information of the so called "accident".
This is regarding an email shown in the middle that my sister sent me explaining the situation.
Okay Kev, I am trying to do this thoroughly and quickly.
Nathan was brought into the ER on May 5, 2000 and was diagnosed with Bilateral Subdural Hematomas, he was put in the ICU at CDH. On 5/6/00 he was transferred to Hope Children's hospital in Oaklawn and placed in the ICU. On 05/8/00 Nathan had a Craniotomy (sp?) to drain the blood from his head. That is where they drain 2 burr holes, one on each side of the skull Dr. called DCFS and reported Shaken Baby Syndrome 5/9 Mark was interviewed by DCFS. 5/10 I was interviewed by DCFS, Nathan was then placed in protective custody. Mark left with his dad and told me he could not speak to me without representation. I remained by Nathan w/mom and dad. 05/11 Nathan was transferred back to CDH and placed in a normal room. Mark visited for 15 min w/both parents. I left him that night. On May 15, Nathan began showing symptoms of being sick again. (projectile vomiting) They did another CT Scan and decided that his body wasn't draining the cerebral spinal fluid properly. The Dr. said that blood that was on the brain killed the cells that absorb the spinal fluid. He then did surgery to place a shunt in. Mark did not show up to even visit Nathan for 5 days, when he did come he came for maybe 15 min with both of his parents. He never called to check on him but maybe once. Nathan was discharged from the hospital and placed with a foster family in Aurora from May 26--May 29. He was then placed with Kim and Steve until approx August 15 when he was returned to me. Mark did not see Nathan for approx. 1 month, he never once called. He then got supervised visits by Catholic Charities on Sunday's for 2 hours. He was not at one of those visits. Nathan was returned to me when there was a medical expert to say that in was not out of the question that it was not shaken baby. It was then dropped out of the Juvenile Court. Mark was given every other weekend visits after he completed his parenting classes. Mark was indicated by DCFS for Bilateral Subdural Hematomas, I was indicated for risk of harm. There was an appeal done to DCFS, (administrative judge) my indicated finding was dropped right there. Mark had to go through the appeal process, there were witnesses Marks appeal was denied. He is on the State Central Registry for Child Abusers and I believe he will remain on for 20 years because of the severity of the injury. The standard of proof is different in DCFS than it is in the court system. It couldn't be proven beyond reasonable doubt that he did this because he did not admit to it and no one saw him. I can't really explain any more than that. All I can say is that Mark won't even be able to get a job in a school but he can have all of this visitation with this child that he so severely injured when he was just a baby. By a preponderance of evidence. Hope this helps Kev. |
