Mother of Alberta boy who died of meningitis breaks down testifying at trial (with clip)
June 25, 2019
"The mother of a toddler who died of bacterial meningitis broke down several times while she testified at her trial Tuesday that she is still haunted by her boy’s death.
Collet Stephan told court that she still counts Ezekiel, who was 18 months old when he died, among her current living children.
“He’s my son,” she said tearfully. “My role as a stay-at-home mom is to care for my children. It’s my purpose. It’s why I was put on Earth.”
Collet Stephan testified that she has vivid memories of some aspects of Ezekiel’s death but has blocked out others.
“It was an extremely traumatic time which no parent should have to go through,” she said.
Stephan was holding her son and listening to his irregular breathing when he first stopped.
“I had patted him on the back and he started breathing again. I carried him to the bedroom and when I laid him on the bed he stopped breathing again.
”
She said she pinched his nose and blew into his mouth and he coughed up mucus and fluid and seemed to improve.
They called 911 while driving him to hospital...."
Mother of Alberta boy who died of meningitis breaks down testifying at trial
-----
“I didn’t see any health concerns warranting me going to see a doctor sooner,” testifies Collet Stephan
Jun 25, 2019
"LETHBRIDGE, AB – As the fourth week of testimony in the Stephan re-trial continued Tuesday, June 25, the Crown’s cross-examination of David Stephan wrapped up, while his wife Collet’s defense testimony began....''
During his cross-examination, Co-Crown Prosecutor Britta Kristensen asked David, who made the decision March 12 to “hit (Ezekiel) hard with supplements” when he was ill but prior to his hospitalization?
David answered both he and Collet made the decision.
Asked also whether he believed natural supplements worked, David answered “from online research I’ve done, they do have some anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal properties,” however he also agreed that he did not have any medical background training....
As Collet took the stand, she told the court her job and purpose in life was to be a stay at home mother and to take care of her five children (four are living). She also said she was the parent who had the most contact with Ezekiel before and after he became ill....
She described how she had gone to a church function on March 13, 2012 but was called home by her husband, after Ezekiel’s breathing became irregular. After arriving at home, she sat the child on her lap and listened to his breathing.
“I remember him (sic) just stopped breathing.”
The child was taken to a bedroom and placed on his side, then on his back as he intermittently stopped and started breathing. 9-1-1 was called, but called off, and a decision was then made to take the child to the hospital in Cardston....
“Was that the first time he (Ezekiel) had gone to the hospital? asked her lawyer Jason Demers. “Why not sooner?”
“I didn’t see any health concerns warranting me going to see a doctor sooner,” said Collet.
She spoke of “a mother’s intuition,” in the time period between Feb. 27 and March 12; looking into the eyes of her son – to see whether anything was concerning or out of the ordinary.
“Was it mother’s intuition to take him to the doctor’s?” asked Demers.
“No,” said Collet....
The trial continues Wednesday."
https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2019/...see-a-doctor-sooner-testifies-collet-stephan/