Parents are going to prison for a medical diagnosis that may not exist

On a cold Wednesday evening in January 2009, Josh Miller was finishing his 8:00-to-5:00 shift as an automotive detailer at a garage in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. It was just like any other day; he was tired and ready to go home. But that evening, his life would change forever. In just a few hours, Miller would find himself to be one of thousands of people embroiled in an ongoing national medical debate.

After work, Miller picked up his two-month-old son, Rhys (pronounced "Reese"), from the restaurant where his fiancée worked, and headed home with the boy. The two ate dinner and relaxed, sitting together on the couch. They were watching TV — Miller doesn’t remember which show — when the boy started to cry. Miller, who was 32 at the time, tried to soothe Rhys by patting the little boy’s belly and making shushing sounds. But Rhys continued to cry. And cry. And then cry some more. Soon, the cries became uncontrollable, Rhys’ voice cracking and distorting as he filled the air with as much sound as he could muster after each pained breath.

This wasn’t exactly a new thing for Rhys. Miller and his fiancée had other children, and they knew Rhys was colicky. So, as Miller tells it, he did what he’d done in the past with Rhys: he drew a bath. But as Miller filled the tub, the boy’s screams stopped. When Miller went to see why, he found that the boy hadn’t suddenly calmed himself on his own. He’d gone unconscious. And he wouldn’t wake up.

Once CPS got their hands on the family, it was a nightmare to get the kid back. They had a cat. Two more weeks of review before they could get their child. Got rid of the cat, but the social worker lifted the toilet seat and found a small hair during an inspection. Two more weeks of review before they could get their child. There was a drip in their refrigerator. Two more weeks of review before they could get their child. A cup in the sink at the time of the unannounced visit. Two more weeks of review before they could get their child. The bed wasn’t made. Two more weeks of review before they could get their child.

I'd be in jail for killing "social workers" probably several.

21 posted on 04/16/2014 6:32:53 AM PDT by zeugma (Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened - Dr. Seuss (I'll see you again someday Hope))

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