Toddler Recovering After 2 1/2 Weeks Alone

http://www.foxnews.com/ ^ | Tuesday , September 30, 2003 | AP

[Merdoug]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A 2-year-old girl survived on ketchup, mustard and dried pasta for nearly three weeks after she was left home alone while her mother served time in jail.

[Merdoug]

Glad to see the little girl is okay, but what does this say about the mother?

[SouthernFreebird]

WTF is wrong with women now a days.

[NotQuiteCricket]

Well, her parents are married although separated, so I guess that everything is OK. </sarcasm>

[Diddle E. Squat]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A 2-year-old girl survived on ketchup, mustard and dried pasta for nearly three weeks after she was left home alone while her mother served time in jail.

The child was recovering from malnutrition (search) Tuesday and was listed in good condition at Wolfson Children's Hospital (search).

"She's sitting up in the bed and laughing and playing with the nurses," said hospital spokesman David Foreman.

The child's father, Ogden Lee, who is separated from the child's 22-year-old mother, Dakeysha Telita Lee, said he had been trying to contact the mother for two weeks and did not learn until Sunday that she was in jail.

When a manager let him into the apartment Monday, the girl was lying in a baby's bathtub, covered with a towel and was watching cartoons (search). She was filthy and covered with dry ketchup, he said.

"She grabbed me and wouldn't let go of me," Lee said. "It is really a miracle how good a shape my daughter is in. I don't know how she did it."

Lee, 33, said the girl had dragged the food, toys and other things into her mother's bedroom, where he found her.

Leaford James, who lives across a breezeway from Dakeysha Lee's apartment, said he had heard crying from the apartment "but nothing to get suspicious about."

The little girl had been left alone since her mother was jailed Sept. 10 for aggravated assault and petty theft. The mother was charged Monday with child abuse, and was being held Tuesday on $20,000 bond.

Dakeysha Lee was represented by the Public Defender's Office on the original charges, but it had not been assigned the child abuse case. Her appointed attorney was not immediately available for comment.

The Department of Children & Families was reviewing the case to determine where the child should be placed.

"The child is safe in our care," said Patricia Mallon, a DCF district manager. "Our every effort is to ensure her safety and well-being."

[DCBryan1]

Glad to see the little girl is okay, but what does this say about the mother?

I dont know but the radio said her name was Tameka, Shoneka, Moneka...or some "ekka"....hmmmm...I wonder...

[xJones]

The mom was in jail. The dad finally went by to check on his daughter. There's an FR thread about it earlier today, but I don't want to do search.

[JonathansMommie]

This is a real sad case.there are some people that would love to have kids But can't and then there are those who should not be allowed to be parents.

[EggsAckley]

The child's father, Ogden Lee, who is separated from the child's 22-year-old mother, Dakeysha Telita Lee, said he had been trying to contact the mother for two weeks and did not learn until Sunday that she was in jail.

[CindyDawg]

Yeah. At least he was concerned. It probably never occured to him that the mother would do this. I hope he is a good dad and she can live with him. How sad for this baby. She's a survivor which indicates to me that this may not be the first time she has had to feed or keep herself warm.

[xJones]

This is a real sad case.there are some people that would love to have kids But can't and then there are those who should not be allowed to be parents.

Tell me about it. I know infertile American couples that pay thousands of dollars, go through a mountain of paperwork, and then fly to China just to adopt an abandoned Chinese feaale infant.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

You wonder what? If you are trying to make a point about the race of the mother, I can tell you without hesitation that race has nothing to do with sorry mothers.

[CindyDawg]

Yep

[JZoback]

I my be in the minority here, but I find it very hard to believe the mother knew her daughter was left alone or would have told someone in authority.

Dollars to donuts someone else (baby sitter) dropped the kid off at the home and figured Mom would be back.

I would not be surprised if I'm wrong, though

[Iowa Granny]

You hit the nail on the head, friend. Race has nothin' to do with the quality of motherhood.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

I wish I could just hug her and hold her, and give one heck of a try to make life better for this little baby. My Lord, what in the world was this woman thinking? I just cannot even imagine leaving a toddler alone for even a minute, let alone days...weeks??? My God, and how my heart breaks hearing that the innocent sweetie was cuddled up inside a little tub in her mommie's room. After all...mommy's not there, and the next best thing to "feeling" mommy when she's not there, is to surround yourself with mommy's things, right?

Oh, little Child of God, my prayers and love from afar. May all your days get brighter and brighter!

[CindyDawg]

I don't understand the anger towards this father. Have yall read something I have missed? It's sad that they were seperated and getting a divorce. It happens though. Does this make him a bad father? He must have been in the childs life because according to the article she went right to him.

[TheWriterInTexas]

Mother?

That creature is NOT a mother, and should never have a child in her care again.

I would move heaven and earth to ensure that my child was in safe hands, scream and yell till anyone with any authority was aware my baby was alone. Question is, why didn't the authorities know she had a kid when she was arrested?

Answer: she didn't have the tot with her when she got busted. That, alone, is grounds for removing the baby from the home. I NEVER leave my kids alone, not even if they are sleeping. Heck, I don't even lock the bathroom door just in case they need me!

The mothers on the block call me the "crossing guard" because if my little ones are playing in the front yard, I'm out there, watching them. As a result, I watch the other kids, too. I get on them if they ride out into the street, watch for cars, and generally keep an eye out to make sure they are safe. There are times all I do is keep a head count, play referee, and dispense drinks from a frig right in my garage.

There are more productive ways to spend my time, I know. But not more IMPORTANT ways to spend my time. Taking care of my kids is my number one priority. Letting a toddler fend for themselves is NEVER acceptable, in my opinion.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

I agree with you, however the fact that she went right to him doesn't mean anything. You'd be glad to see a familiar face too if you were left alone for two weeks.

[perfect stranger]

You said a mouthfull!! And I concur, may God bless this child.