Family battling Children’s Hospital to bring teen home for Christmas #2

[i.b.nora]

Tuesday, June 17: Justina's Story
Published On: Jun 13 2014 04:34:34 PM EDT

http://m.wcvb.com/chronicle/tuesday-june-17-justinas-story/26482776

Justina Pelletier: her name has attracted national attention for more than a year. The Connecticut teenager is at the center of a custody battle, pitting Massachusetts officials against her angry family and two prominent Boston hospitals against each other. Tonight Anthony Everett uncovers the details of Justina's story, and delves into the often controversial illness at the heart of the battle: mitochondrial disease.​

So, I guess whoever gets WCVB will be able to watch this. I don't really know anything about the station or about Anthony Everett to know if it will be unbiased and worth watching.

 

[sweetmom]

Tuesday, June 17: Justina's Story
Published On: Jun 13 2014 04:34:34 PM EDT

http://m.wcvb.com/chronicle/tuesday-june-17-justinas-story/26482776

Justina Pelletier: her name has attracted national attention for more than a year. The Connecticut teenager is at the center of a custody battle, pitting Massachusetts officials against her angry family and two prominent Boston hospitals against each other. Tonight Anthony Everett uncovers the details of Justina's story, and delves into the often controversial illness at the heart of the battle: mitochondrial disease.​

So, I guess whoever gets WCVB will be able to watch this. I don't really know anything about the station or about Anthony Everett to know if it will be unbiased and worth watching.

The Miracle for Justina Fb page is touting it, so I suspect they think (or already know) that is favorable to the parents.
IMO, It will be frustrating if Everett just repeats a lot of family talking points without having vetted or confirmed them first, as so much of the previous media coverage, especially TV, has done. We shall see.

 

[Linda7NJ]

Exactly sweetmom! Their repeated sabotage of any transfer for Justina is what kept her at BCH for so long. This is just one of the many examples of the poor decision making on the part of the parents.

Just today, they started a phone campaign to demand the release of Justina in time for Father's Day. I would think that if this was a goal, they would have started to ask for it long before the Friday before the Sunday holiday?? (Earlier this week it was "release her today or release her immediately.") Now they are expressing disbelief and outrage when they are told it is too late to get her home in time for Father's Day. I would think that at this point, they would understand that releasing Justina is not an instantaneous process.

I just hope that they have not set this kid up for another disappointment by leading her to believe that she would be home by Father's Day. (Just My Opinion)

I find it so odd that the family keep setting these arbitrary deadlines...


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[sweetmom]

I find it so odd that the family keep setting these arbitrary deadlines...


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Probably a way to boost the fundraising....IMO

 

[believe09]

Just to clarify, sweetmom-In your opinion this family is some how prolonging the court case or arbitrarily changing the days they want Justina home by in order to fleece the general public?

 

[AnaTeresa]

I find it so odd that the family keep setting these arbitrary deadlines...


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Seriously. I want to be on their side. I have concerns about how a lot of this has gone down. But they are really doing themselves no favors with some of these antics.

 

[sweetmom]

Just to clarify, sweetmom-In your opinion this family is some how prolonging the court case or arbitrarily changing the days they want Justina home by in order to fleece the general public?

Not at all. But I do think it is possible they are taking advantage of the goodwill of their passionate (and naïve about legal issues) supporters by creating excitement with these rolling "deadlines" that may also result in increased contributions.
I believe they and their legal counsel know full well that the judge has said he will rule on June 20 and not before, and so, all these requests for phone calls, etc., won't alter that. But those requests do stir up their supporters. It's a marketing tool, IMO.

 

[Donjeta]

It's a way to generate sympathy and outrage because the family has been betrayed by the system over and over again and draw attention away from whatever the family might need to have done to aid reunification and hadn't yet.

Justina needs to be home by Christmas. Oh no, she wasn't home by Christmas, shame on the system.
Justina needs to be home by Valentine's day. Oh no, she wasn't home by Valentine's Day, the system failed her again.
Justina needs to be home on Groundhog Day. Oh no, she wasn't home by Groundhog day, look at how the DCF tortures this poor family.
Justina needs to be home by Easter. Oh no, she wasn't home by Easter, her human rights have been trampled upon.
Justina needs to be home by Mother's day. Oh no, she wasn't home by Mother's Day, it's so inhumane.
Justina needs to be home by her birthday. Oh no, she wasn't home by her birthday...

In the meantime, the family knows perfectly well how this plays out in court and when the next court date is, and the requirements in the reunification plan never included getting n+1 likes on Facebook and the family choosing the date when she will be home.

 

[annahanna]

According to the Boston Globe, Justina was able to spend Father's Day at home (unsupervised) with her family.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/20...family-home/Mg9ecnlpuYCJW9DiPMe4cN/story.html
I would have thought that Lou would celebrate the time he had with his daughter instead of again expressing his anger that she was not yet back home "permanently" and making yet another threat of the lawsuits to follow. I think it is particularly troubling that he is still unwilling or unable to accept the thought that his child has psychological issues.

"The father said Sunday night that he is confident that Justina suffers from mitochondrial disorder, and that the idea that she has major psychological issues is a “scam.”

That, In My Opinion, doesn't sound like Lou has made much progress. I would have thought that his attorneys would have cautioned him not to make these kinds of statements at this point in the case.

 

[Donjeta]

Well, at least it's kind of in conflict with the claims that she has been tortured and sexually harassed and has been dying psychologically and physiologically because of her inhumane incarceration and in need of lots of healing after she gets home, because she has been through so much injustice.

If all that happened and it was all so horrible you'd think that she'd be likely to have some psychological problems.

On Sunday, the girl’s father referred to Juvenile Court Judge Joseph Johnston as the “corrupt judge” who has yet to authorize Justina’s release back to her parents’ custody. He also said that when Justina is finally returned to the family, “there is going to be a firestorm” of legal action against the state of Massachusetts for taking custody in the first place.

When asked about Justina’s current physical condition, he said she is eating adequately, but her bowels still do not work normally and she still relies on a tube placed in her intestines that enables her system to be “flushed” periodically each day.

1. I'm glad she's eating well. After years on the flushing system it would probably be hard to do without.
2. Lou, is it really wise to insult and abuse the judge who is going to decide your case any day soon?

 

[Linda7NJ]

Seriously. I want to be on their side. I have concerns about how a lot of this has gone down. But they are really doing themselves no favors with some of these antics.

The only side I'm on is Justina's.
My deepest sympathy goes out to her....that poor child.
It's abundantly clear to me her father has some psychological issues. IMO.





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[txsvicki]

Wow, he's calling judge corrupt who gave PERMANENT custody to DCF, and denying any psychological issues. This could end up playing out quite awhile longer with weekend visits. Imo, Justina should stay where she is for at least 9 months and continue to receive treatment. I wonder if most of the doctors think she should return home or stay put awhile. Looks like the decision would be mostly up to them and not DCF or anyone else.

 

[Gardenlady]

Tuesday, June 17: Justina's Story

Published On: Jun 13 2014 04:34:34 PM EDT



http://m.wcvb.com/chronicle/tuesday-june-17-justinas-story/26482776

Justina Pelletier: her name has attracted national attention for more than a year. The Connecticut teenager is at the center of a custody battle, pitting Massachusetts officials against her angry family and two prominent Boston hospitals against each other. Tonight Anthony Everett uncovers the details of Justina's story, and delves into the often controversial illness at the heart of the battle: mitochondrial disease.​

So, I guess whoever gets WCVB will be able to watch this. I don't really know anything about the station or about Anthony Everett to know if it will be unbiased and worth watching.

I don't know anything about Everett, I'll watch tomorrow night and see. I haven't watched channel 5 news in a while but my impression has always been that they're at least better than the sensationalistic channel 7.

Frankly I'm not sure how even the most levelheaded reporter/station can do the story justice, with one huge chunk of the story (the medical records/opinions of her doctors) protected (rightfully) by privacy laws.

But- we'll see. If I remember to watch anyway lol.


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[Morag]

She's 'eating well'? No tube? So we know for sure at least one of the issues plaguing her before her admission to BCH has been successfully dealt with. She doesn't seem to have a brace on her leg, either. What little we've heard her say has not been slurred, and certainly not gibberish. And if she was able to attend Cirque du Soleil, then light and sound must not be an issue any longer. I hope she continues to progress when she returns to the original environment of her difficulties.


Patient Name: Justina Pelletier
Originated by: Stephanie Newton MS on 2/10/13
Authenticated by: Gerard Berry MD on 2/13/13
Print Date/Time: 4/25/2013

"HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS: Justina has a longstanding history of possible mitochondrial disease with abdominal pain, poor motility, headaches and fatigue. These concerns started becoming much more severe in October 2012 when she began having what is described as odd movements of her right leg which caused her foot to pronate. She was seen by an orthopedic doctor, Dr. Webster at Tufts who prescribed a brace for the leg. Over time Justina's abnormal movements began to affect the left leg and now the rest of the body is affected. Her mother reports that over the past week she has had increased weakness which cause (sic) her to not be able to walk. She is having significant leg pain. Her headaches are becoming worse with light and sound. She also has intermittent slurred speech and altered mental status. Her mother reports that over the last 6-8 weeks her slurred speech and 'gibberish language' has been getting worse. Justina was admitted to Connecticut Children's Hospital on Monday February 04 due to worsening neurological problems as noted above. Her mother reports that it was difficult to complete this admission as Justina was not felt to have a known identifiable diagnosis. Her mother chose to bring her home from the hospital on February 8 hoping that she would do better. After discharge she was still not doing well, complained of feeling weird was not eating and had abnormalities on swallowing. Her other physicians were consulted and it was recommended that she be admitted here at Boston Chidlren's Hospital. She has been here since February 10."


https://www.facebook.com/BeauBermanFOXCT/posts/536571959772161

BBM- So Connecticut Children's Hospital didn't think she had a known identifiable diagnosis?

 

[Jackalyn]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...spute-doctors-diagnosis.html#comments-2659234

 

[CHICANA]

Exactly sweetmom! Their repeated sabotage of any transfer for Justina is what kept her at BCH for so long. This is just one of the many examples of the poor decision making on the part of the parents.

Just today, they started a phone campaign to demand the release of Justina in time for Father's Day. I would think that if this was a goal, they would have started to ask for it long before the Friday before the Sunday holiday?? (Earlier this week it was "release her today or release her immediately.") Now they are expressing disbelief and outrage when they are told it is too late to get her home in time for Father's Day. I would think that at this point, they would understand that releasing Justina is not an instantaneous process.

I just hope that they have not set this kid up for another disappointment by leading her to believe that she would be home by Father's Day. (Just My Opinion)

Taking her away was pretty instantaneous, getting her back should be too.

 

[CHICANA]

Exactly sweetmom! Their repeated sabotage of any transfer for Justina is what kept her at BCH for so long. This is just one of the many examples of the poor decision making on the part of the parents.

Just today, they started a phone campaign to demand the release of Justina in time for Father's Day. I would think that if this was a goal, they would have started to ask for it long before the Friday before the Sunday holiday?? (Earlier this week it was "release her today or release her immediately.") Now they are expressing disbelief and outrage when they are told it is too late to get her home in time for Father's Day. I would think that at this point, they would understand that releasing Justina is not an instantaneous process.

I just hope that they have not set this kid up for another disappointment by leading her to believe that she would be home by Father's Day. (Just My Opinion)

They should have just let her go home. What services were offered by the state to allow her to remain in her home ?

 

[CHICANA]

JMO but "it never should have happened to begin with" is no kind of excuse or explanation for the parents prolonging it and making it harder for Justina to get back home.

If your children get taken and it never should have happened to begin with, it makes even less sense, not more, to cause obstacles in the reunification process. If your children are kept away from you for a good reason that is one thing but if they are kept away from you because someone made a tragical mistake the last thing you want to do is anything that will make them keep your kids longer.

If you want them back, that is.

:cow:

I think having your child taken from you and not knowing what's happening to them could easily make a sane person crazy.

 

[CHICANA]

In this case, unlike most CPS cases they relied heavily on the medical experts and medical evidence & records and those that reported, as required by LAW...SUSPECTED abuse.

IMO


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Then they should have talked to her regular doctor. They suspect abuse because the parents don't agree with them ?

 

[Morag]

Then they should have talked to her regular doctor. They suspect abuse because the parents don't agree with them ?

Patient Name: Justina Pelletier
Originated by: Stephanie Newton MS on 2/10/13
Authenticated by: Gerard Berry MD on 2/13/13
Print Date/Time: 4/25/2013

"HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS: Justina has a longstanding history of possible mitochondrial disease with abdominal pain, poor motility, headaches and fatigue. These concerns started becoming much more severe in October 2012 when she began having what is described as odd movements of her right leg which caused her foot to pronate. She was seen by an orthopedic doctor, Dr. Webster at Tufts who prescribed a brace for the leg. Over time Justina's abnormal movements began to affect the left leg and now the rest of the body is affected. Her mother reports that over the past week she has had increased weakness which cause (sic) her to not be able to walk. She is having significant leg pain. Her headaches are becoming worse with light and sound. She also has intermittent slurred speech and altered mental status. Her mother reports that over the last 6-8 weeks her slurred speech and 'gibberish language' has been getting worse. Justina was admitted to Connecticut Children's Hospital on Monday February 04 due to worsening neurological problems as noted above. Her mother reports that it was difficult to complete this admission as Justina was not felt to have a known identifiable diagnosis. Her mother chose to bring her home from the hospital on February 8 hoping that she would do better. After discharge she was still not doing well, complained of feeling weird was not eating and had abnormalities on swallowing. Her other physicians were consulted and it was recommended that she be admitted here at Boston Chidlren's Hospital. She has been here since February 10."

https://www.facebook.com/BeauBermanFOXCT/posts/536571959772161

BBM