Editor, Times-Union: 04-11-2011, I got call from my nephew, the hospital was dismissing the mother and baby. Because the test was not back they were taking the baby. I ran back to the hospital to find a different woman with DCS and a police officer. They told me they were removing the child and placing her with a family for her own safety. I asked why I was not the first choice as I had a nice home and my wife and I could care for the child and meet her needs? She handed me a paper that was a court order for a 3 p.m. hearing to remove the child. I read the filing and found discrepancies as to where the child would be living and that the police were called because of the arrogant uncle and father.
I called several lawyers and none of them could go to court by 3 p.m. on that day. I did get information from them and decided to go with my wife. At 3 p.m. we were in the courtroom. The state had five woman from DCS and a lawyer. The mother, father and child had no one on their side. One lady from DCS got on the stand and testified that the child had no decent home to go to and the mother was on drugs and the hospital stated the baby was showing signs of drug withdraw.
I held that child and in my opinion she was perfect, not a twitch or anything seeming abnormal. I was told by the judge I was not allowed to speak, and he asked the parents several questions about their ability to care for the child. He shook his head as they told him of their lack of money, decent job or much of anything. My nephew tried to tell him my wife and I agreed to take in the baby and mother. I spoke up and the judge allowed me to explain about the housing for the mother and child. He asked to have that investigated. Then he was forced to place the child in the custody of the DCS for two weeks and appointed a local attorney to represent the family. On Wednesday the hospital got the drug test results back on the mother and child, they were negative for all signs of drugs. We waited two weeks for the next custody hearing.
On 04-26-11 we showed up for another hearing, including the court-appointed lawyer for the child’s custody placement. After reviewing the drug test and being told by DCS that my home was a safe place for the mother and child, he placed the child back with the mother.
For the next six weeks I took the mother to all the support groups here in Kosciusko County. I must say I was impressed. We are very fortunate to have K21, the state as well as federal government offices to help people in need. When someone says there is no place to go for help in my opinion, they are not looking.
In those six weeks I tried to teach them things about surviving in the world, getting a job to support their child but they wanted nothing to do with any of it. I even drove them to AIM to get their GED while my wife baby sat the child. They walked in the front door and soon after walked out the back.
That was the last straw. I called DCS and told them I felt the parents could not provide for the child in her future and they should investigate them for possible drug usage. When I told the parents this they fled my home in a cab. As of this time, I am unaware of their whereabouts.
If you even suspect your child or loved one of drug abuse ... get help ... do not wait. The life you save may be your own. When drugs get into someone’s life, nothing else seems to matter, only getting their next fix. We have a huge problem in this country, it starts with lack of faith and continues with laziness and wanting to feel great all the time while not doing their share. Well, feeling good all the time and lying around is death, not life.
