Haleigh Turns 12 Today (Haleigh Poutre, abuse victim: Send a Card)

The Republican ^ | 2-24-06 | George Graham

[cgk]

Haleigh turns 12 today

Friday, February 24, 2006

By GEORGE GRAHAM

ggraham@repub.com

WESTFIELD - Haleigh Poutre, who had been hospitalized in September in what doctors called a "persistent vegetative state," turns 12 today.

But the Westfield girl, who is now said to be responding to simple yes and no questions and expressing emotions, will be spending her birthday without the presence of her biological mother who has been denied permission by the state to visit her at Franciscan Hospital for Children in Boston today.

"Tomorrow is Haleigh's birthday and from what I can tell, there is going to be nobody in her room that has any connection to her," Wendy Murphy, Allison Avrett's lawyer, said yesterday. "I am besides myself. I am so angry that Haleigh is going to spend her birthday with strangers in a hospital far away from anybody she knows."

Avrett was the first one to notice that her daughter was showing signs of increased awareness at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield and reported her observations to the state Department of Social Services on Jan. 10, Murphy said.

But DSS told Avrett that the girl's movements were automatic reflexes, Murphy said.

Seven days later the state's highest court ruled the DSS could discontinue life support, but subsequent changes to Haleigh's condition resulted in her being sent to Franciscan Hospital.

Haleigh is receiving physical, occupational and speech therapy every day at Franciscan Hospital, officials there have said.

Murphy said given Haleigh's responsiveness to Avrett that her client should be allowed to visit today.

"What better way is there to stimulate Haleigh than to have her mother there on her birthday? " Murphy asked.

Although DSS allows Avrett two 15-minute visits each month, it has not responded to Avrett's repeated requests to visit her today, Murphy said.

DSS has also not responded to Avrett's request for increased visitation - once a week for an hour, Murphy said.

"If they cared about Haleigh's well-being they would let Allison in there any time, night or day," Murphy said.

DSS spokeswoman Denise Monteiro said yesterday that the department did return a call to Murphy's office. Monteiro said, however, that she could not describe what was communicated in that call because it would disclose the girl's condition.

Monteiro said DSS established Avrett's visitation schedule months ago and intends to adhere to that schedule until it gets further feedback from the medical team that is overseeing her treatment.

Avrett most recently visited Haleigh last week. However, she signed a confidentiality agreement with DSS several months ago that prohibits her from discussing her daughter's condition.

Murphy said, however, she could discuss Avrett's perception of Haleigh during that last visit. "Her perception is that Haleigh knows her, recognized her when she walked in and was emotional and sad when she had to leave," Murphy said.

Franciscan Hospital spokeswoman Joanna R. Roffo declined to discuss any specific plans for Haleigh's birthday but said the hospital recognizes the importance of birthdays to its patients.

"Franciscan Hospital for Children loves to join our patients in celebrating their birthdays," Roffo said. "As a pediatric hospital, we understand how important birthdays are for kids, and we will provide an opportunity for fun and happy feelings that can be an important part of treatment."

Haleigh's adoptive mother and stepfather, Holli A. and Jason D. Strickland, were charged with abusing the girl after the unresponsive girl was admitted to the hospital.

According to court testimony, Haleigh was thrown repeatedly down the stairs and hit with a baseball bat by her adoptive mother. She has been diagnosed with a brain stem injury.

Holli Strickland, Avrett's sister, was shot and killed on Sept. 22 in an apparent murder-suicide at the hands of her grandmother, police said. Jason Strickland has denied abuse charges.

Avrett could not be reached for comment yesterday. She has said that her own and Haleigh's woes with both DSS and her sister, Holli Strickland, began in her daughter's fourth year.

Avrett, who was living in Williamsburg, Va. at the time, sent her daughter to visit her sister, Haleigh's aunt, Holli Strickland in Westfield. During that visit, Holli Strickland reported that her niece was being abused. Authorities later removed the child from Avrett's care.

[cgk]

ACTION ALERT! SEND HALEIGH A CARD OR LETTER!

the Boston Globe article :

EXCERPT:

Haleigh Poutre was discharged Thursday from Baystate Medical Center in Springfield and admitted to the Franciscan Hospital for Children. She has been hospitalized since September, when authorities say she was beaten into a coma.

A statement issued by the Franciscan Hospital said: "It is our hope that her stay at Franciscan will afford her the opportunity to maximize her potential for gains in her recovery."

The hospital advertises itself as the largest pediatric rehabilitation facility in New England.

CONTACT INFO FOR FRANCISCAN HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN:

Franciscan Hospital for Children
Attention: Miss Haleigh Poutre
30 Warren Street
Boston, MA 02135
phone: 617-254-3800
fax: 617-779-1119

Message to a Patient

Message To Patient

Franciscan Hospital for Children provides a secure and confidential way for family and friends of our inpatients to send a message over the Internet using this document.  Between Monday and Friday, your message will be printed and confidentially delivered to the patient, usually within 24 hours.  Messages received on the weekend are delivered to the patient the following business day.

ACTION ALERT! SEND HALEIGH A CARD OR LETTER!

the Boston Globe article :

EXCERPT:

Haleigh Poutre was discharged Thursday from Baystate Medical Center in Springfield and admitted to the Franciscan Hospital for Children. She has been hospitalized since September, when authorities say she was beaten into a coma.

A statement issued by the Franciscan Hospital said: "It is our hope that her stay at Franciscan will afford her the opportunity to maximize her potential for gains in her recovery."

The hospital advertises itself as the largest pediatric rehabilitation facility in New England.

CONTACT INFO FOR FRANCISCAN HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN:

Franciscan Hospital for Children
Attention: Miss Haleigh Poutre
30 Warren Street
Boston, MA 02135
phone: 617-254-3800
fax: 617-779-1119

Message to a Patient

Message To Patient

Franciscan Hospital for Children provides a secure and confidential way for family and friends of our inpatients to send a message over the Internet using this document.  Between Monday and Friday, your message will be printed and confidentially delivered to the patient, usually within 24 hours.  Messages received on the weekend are delivered to the patient the following business day.

ACTION ALERT! SEND HALEIGH A CARD OR LETTER!

the Boston Globe article :

EXCERPT:

Haleigh Poutre was discharged Thursday from Baystate Medical Center in Springfield and admitted to the Franciscan Hospital for Children. She has been hospitalized since September, when authorities say she was beaten into a coma.

A statement issued by the Franciscan Hospital said: "It is our hope that her stay at Franciscan will afford her the opportunity to maximize her potential for gains in her recovery."

The hospital advertises itself as the largest pediatric rehabilitation facility in New England.

CONTACT INFO FOR FRANCISCAN HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN:

Franciscan Hospital for Children
Attention: Miss Haleigh Poutre
30 Warren Street
Boston, MA 02135
phone: 617-254-3800
fax: 617-779-1119

Message to a Patient

Message To Patient

Franciscan Hospital for Children provides a secure and confidential way for family and friends of our inpatients to send a message over the Internet using this document.  Between Monday and Friday, your message will be printed and confidentially delivered to the patient, usually within 24 hours.  Messages received on the weekend are delivered to the patient the following business day.

[cgk]

Previous articles on Haleigh can be found here:

Keyword: HaleighPoutre

[cgk]

Pro-Life/Pro-Baby ping!

Please FReepmail me if you would like to be added to, or removed from, the Pro-Life/Pro-Baby ping list...

[yellowdoghunter]

Thanks for the update. I hope she receives many, many cards.

The mother is a different story. She didn't protect her daughter in the first place, why would I think she would today. However, I am all for doing whatever would help the young girl recover.

[Syberyenta]

Here's another idea:
Give a buck or two to the hospital.

http://www.fchrc.org/index.asp?menu=wp115200416153&page=wp11232004102117

[cgk]

Haleigh ping...

[BykrBayb]

Action Alert!!!

Haleigh Turns 12 Today (Haleigh Poutre, abuse victim: Send a Card)

[cgk]

Malkin ping!

Please FReepmail me if you would like to be added to, or removed from, the Michelle Malkin ping list...

---

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HALEIGH

By Michelle Malkin   ·   February 24, 2006 01:10 PM

Haleigh Poutre turns 12 years old today.

Keep her in your prayers.

***

Previous:

Haleigh's story continued: hope lives
Haleigh vs. Tookie
Blogging for Haleigh
Haleigh wants to live

[indcons]

Why do people have/adopt children if they can't treat them properly and kindly? Violence against children is extremely depressing.

Will be sending a card to little Haleigh.

Sad bump

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Remember Terri Schiavo!

[seamusnh]

I'd like to send the little girl a card and then send her father a one-way ticket to a small concrete block room where he can meet two of my friends from high school, Big Ed and Crazy Joe, and their Louisville Slugger collection... The good Lord said "Thou Shalt not Kill"... He didn't say anything about beating a guy like this to within an inch of his life....

Sorry for the violent tone, I've been hearing too much about the Massachusetts court system lately....

[beaversmom]

But DSS told Avrett that the girl's movements were automatic reflexes, Murphy said.

Ah gee, here we go. And when my baby daughter smiles and laughs it's just gas.

[beaversmom]

Murphy said, however, she could discuss Avrett's perception of Haleigh during that last visit. "Her perception is that Haleigh knows her, recognized her when she walked in and was emotional and sad when she had to leave," Murphy said.

It's just gas.

[cgk]

It's just gas

Remember this?

---

On Tuesday, Spence said, he went to Haleigh's room at Baystate and noticed a quiet brown-haired girl lying in bed. In front of her, he said, there were three objects: a yellow duck, a Curious George stuffed animal, and a yellow block. He said a DSS social worker accompanied him, and she said, ''Haleigh, this is Harry."

''Give him the yellow duck," the social worker said, according to Spence's recollection.

Haleigh picked up the yellow duck, he said.

''Where's Curious George?" the social worker asked Haleigh.

Haleigh then picked up the stuffed animal, Spence said.

''It's an astounding case," he said.

Haleigh did not appear to be grimacing or making sounds suggesting she was in pain, he said.

---

Yep, just gas.

[cgk]

Thank you for that :)

[cgk]

It's a tough story. The biological mom is the one who is trying to gain access and guardianship to her daughter again. She gave her up at age 5 or 6 to her sister (she claims under pressure from DSS), who then abused her with Haleigh's stepdad. Adoptive mom is now dead.

[cgk]

Why do people have/adopt children if they can't treat them properly and kindly?

And this was to their own family (niece.) I wish I knew. Thank you for the bump - and for sending Haleigh a card. I hope her room is filled with love.

[cgk]

Completely understandable. Rage wells up in me also everytime I hear of another child abused, and also how the "system" failed them.

[cgk]

Thank you :)