Please Help Bring Katie Home. (FReeper assistance requested)

Little Katie Hubanks came into the world on March 22, 2006, much to the joy of her Mom and Dad, siblings, grandparents, and other family members. Just over a month later that joy was replaced by anger, fear, disbelief, and any other negative emotion you can name.

I'll allow Katie's "Nana"'s words to express what an entire family has been dealing with for nearly a year:

Kathryn was born in Claremore, OK. on March 22, 2006. She was born 5 week early. Needless to say she was small and came with the risks of certain medical conditions that could develope such as, hypoglycemia, respiratory distress, jaundice and difficulty in maintaining normal body tempurature. Preemies can also have difficulty in feeding because they don't have the reflexes to properly suck.

On April 23, 2006, Katie was taken to the ER in Sapulpa because she was having trouble breathing. Dr. Black, who was on duty, told her mother that the only thing that was going on with Katie was that she had a sinus infection, and that her mother was over reacting. He made this diagnosis without the benefit of any lab tests, x-rays, or any other diagnostic tool. He sent the baby home with saline drops and told her mother to use a cool mist vaporizer. Her mother was told that the baby would sleep more and eat less for the next couple of days.

On April 24, 2006, approximately 24 hours after seeing Dr. Black, Katie was rushed to St. Francis in Tulsa after the ambulance arrived at her parent's home because her parents called them as the baby was having trouble breathing and was turning blue. When the EMTs got there they started to work on her, her breathing was shallow and she was cyanotic. When they took her vitals at 18:33 hrs they were as follows, Pulse 166, normal, Res. 30+normal, left lung normal and clear, right lung normal and clear, temp. 92, skin color=pink skin moisture=normal, pupils=equal and reative. Her blood sugar was 50 Normal is 85-110. At 18:35 hrs. the cardiac monitor indicated sinus tach (fast heartbeat). At 18:50 hrs. they started an IV with saline solution and put her on oxygen. At 18:50 by order of the doctor in the ER EMT administered a 12.5 gm of dextrose by IV push. She got about 1ml of it before the line blew.

Then she was transported from Sapulsa to ST. Francis in Tulsa within 16 minutes, the entire time Katie's blood sugar is dropping.

On April 26, 2006 the Oklahoma Dept. of Human Services took custody of Katie based on the report from St. Francis. Either the Attending doctor in the ER or Dr. Barton called them and said that the parents had failed to provide adequate nutrition. Keeping in mind that Dr. Black said the baby would eat less and that when the EMTs showed up, along with the Sheriff's Dept. only the father was asked when the last time he fed the baby. When he said approximately 8am, all questions stopped. Nothing to the mother, or anyone else about the baby being fed. The fact is, that the baby was fed every 2-3 hrs, but was not taking a full feeding. It sounds like Dr. Black at least got that part correct.

Meanwhile back to St. Francis. Some doctor, we are not sure who, announced to the DHS worker that they found a "bar" of Xanax in the baby's throat. Interesting, since no such medication was anywhere near the baby. And if it was there, why didn't the EMTs find it? If it was there, where is it? If it was there, why wasn't anyone questioned about it or arrested for it? Katie was in the care of the EMTs from 18:33 hrs without her parents having any access to her, so here's the question again, where was the Xanax? The only place it shows up is in the first report from the DHS caseworker in Sapulpa. In the same report from Jennifer Jones, she stated that neither of the parents are ever at St. Francis. Wrong again. The mother and her friend followed the ambulance(father stayed home with the other children) to St. Francis and waited for 11 hrs before being allowed 10 minutes with Katie. I know they were there because I got the collect call from Katie's mom at the hospital. Katie's mom is my daughter,. She called me on a constant basis to keep me informed about Katie. I have the phone records to prove it. When Katie was finally reunited with ther family in July, 2006, it was a happy day. After jumping through all the hoops that DHS put up, Katie came home. At the end of July, Lisa, Katie's mom, asked permission to come to Texas so I could see Katie and the rest of my grandchildren. When she asked, her case worker, Lea Glenn-Borts, said to let her know exactly where she was going to be. On Monday August 6, 2006 Lisa called DHS and let her (Lea) know where she was. At approximately 3:30pm Amanda from Sapulpa DHS called my cell phone and asked if I had been in contact with Lisa. I told her yes as we had just left the local Wal-Mart. She asked to speak to her but I told her we were in separate cars and Lisa would call DHS when we got home. At 4pm Lisa called Lea. Lea informed Lisa that the parents had until that Friday to get the baby back to Oklahoma. At 11:15pm a police officer and a CPS worker from Texas showed up at my door to remove Katie. We saw Katie the next day for 1 hr. before Lea had her on a plane to Sapulpa. The CPS worker here in Texas was great. She conducted studies on my home, ordered hair folicle and urine tests on everyone, and found no neglect on anyone's part.

The pick-up order was received at 4:15pm Lea never had any intention of allowing the parents time to comply with her instructions to have the baby back in Oklahoma by that Friday.

Since then it has been nightmare after nightmare. We call to see what we need to do next, calls don't get returned. We called supervisors, no good. Contacted the Dept. of Human Services in Oklahoma City and asked for Motion to Expedite and Motion for Kinship Placement, Lea will not take them to the judge. It took us 6 weeks to get Lea to fila for ICPC, which transfers everything to Texas. She order a Drug Assessment Test and it took her 6 weeks to get the paperwork to the person who did that. Once that test was done she had the results in 72 hrs. She ordered 2 more urine tests with the results to be to her in 4 days. We made that deadline thanks to the CPS worker here in Texas.

We are all firmly convinced that because of where the parents were living, not making lots of money, and maybe afraid to fight the system, that DHS had a healthy baby available. They never even took notice of my older grandchildren. Why? They have put this family through hell and we still don't have our Katie. We have a lawyer who is working on this and she is very good. It should have never come to this. When Katie got sick, all she needed was the right kind of a doctor, a neonatalogist.

The parents were ordered back to court in Jan. 2007 and in Feb. 2007, when DHS was granted 60 days because, according the DHS and the CASA worker, the baby was "terrorized" by her parents. It probably didn't help that on each and every visit the baby was sick, she was in a strange place being stared at like a zoo exhibit. I would be upset too. Now the parents are going through the "bonding process" and to complete the reunification process.

All we have asked for was to have Katie home. All of DHS and the Courts hoops have ben jumped through. What is the problem?

My FRiends, I am Katie's "Papa". I am currently working in Iraq, in direct support of our military. I got word of Katie's birth by phone. Unfortunately, a month later my daughter had to inform me that Katie had been taken into state custody. Why?! Her parents did nothing wrong, unless living in a trailer park and trying to make a living has become a crime. Katie's parents were accused of "nutritional and medical 'neglect'". How is that possible when they took her to the doctor 24 hours before she had to be rushed to the hospital?!

We have so many unanswered questions. These are questions we have been asking for nearly a year:

If there was even a suspicion of "neglect", why did they only take the infant? Shouldn't they have removed her siblings, also? They didn't. Why not?

When repeated drug screens came back negative, shouldn't that have eliminated the "concern" that there may have been drug use in the home?

How can the State tell people that as a condition of returning a child, the parents would not be "allowed" to live in a multi-generational home, with the grandmother? Regardless of the fact of it being the best situation for the family to support one another, in every way.

Why was this child removed in the first place? Because she was sick? Well, she's been in and out of the hospital repeatedly, while in government care, are they guilty of neglect? Why not?!

This child is placed in "day care" on a regular basis, by her "foster mother". If she was with her family, she wouldn't have spent a single day in "day care". What's better for the child?

There is much more that can be told. My wife, Katie's Nana, (screen-name:Glinda) will be monitoring this thread, as will I. We'll be happy to answer any questions you might have regarding this situation.

There is not, nor as there ever been, any evidence whatsoever, of any neglect or abuse. The abuse has been on the part of the State and it's taken its toll on an entire family, in every way imaginable.

Please call or e-mail the people who refuse to reunite Katie with her family. Simply ask "Why?"

I realize that this may clog their mailboxes and voicemails and that that may be a terrible inconvenience for them but ...oh,well.

If some "friends of the family" or "concerned citizens" help us get what we want, then I guess there wouldn't be further need for any more phone calls or e-mails.

I’m wondering ... from IDEA’s list of federal regs ... do you have grounds to take them into federal court? sue their sorry butts ... that could get their attention .. hold a presser .. just go all out and make it as big and public as possible. A federal suit costs @ $350 to file but coule reap rewards. Your lawyer should know if it qualifies or not.

Believe me, the thought of sueing their butts off is letting them off light. IF we can get alittle help from the FReepers and a few other places, i think that that retiles will run from the light. I don’t know about sueing them in fed court, will check with the lawyer. Thanks

Now we have more crap to deal with in this nightmare. Our 8 Yr. old granddaughter is starting to suffer from what the doctors are calling -stress induced headaches-, she’s 8, what stress should she have in her life other than worring about what she’s going to wear to school? We have to take her to a ped. neuro, but there are only two in town in private practice. I guess these people at CPS really don’t give a damn about any damage they cause. They must be brought out into the light and exposed. I’m not saying that all CPS workers are jerks, but these guys are.

Yes, but, it’s the DSHS in Oklahoma that’s the problem, and I would think your reps/senators should/would want to know about this.....please send them a letter outlining what you said here.....you’d be surprised what you can get done when you ask.....AND, DSHS will HATE that you are going there.

How the heck a doctor could make a diagnosis of “stress-induced headaches” of an 8 year old sounds strange (understatement) unless there are issues within the child’s family that he is aware of. Is your granddaughter the sister of Katie? Or is she a granddaughter from another one of your children?

I have to sign off for now, but you just keep on posting and maybe one of our resident FReeper experts will find this thread and be able to help you more than I. Don’t give up! chena

Vickie is Katie's big sister. When she was taken to the doctor, for what turned out to be a sinus infection, she revealed that she was "worried" and "scared" for both her Mom and baby sister.

Vickie's a very bright little girl, very perceptive. She's also a very caring and sensitive child.

I've spoken to her on the phone a couple of times, trying to reassure her but I don't think it helped much.

My being over here is the only way we can afford to keep up the fight but it's making all this double tough on me.

Thank you for your concern and advice.

Regards

But on that note the caseworker in OK will not allow placement with me because I am too old. I’m 50

My husband is almost 54 yet had no problem getting certified. I think that worker is BSing you! Here is a link to the OK state regs concerning becoming a foster parent, I would be very surprised if there were a cut off age of 50! http://www.okdhs.org/library/policy/oac340/075/07/

Just as I thought.. that arbitrary age limit of 50 has been manufactured! What does OK law say? (from the link in my last post)

340:75-7-12. Initial screening and requirements Revised 6-25-04

(a) Inquiries. Any person who is at least 21 years of age may apply to become a foster parent by contacting the local Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) office. • 1

(b) Requirements. Requirements described in OAC 340:110-5 serve as a framework for families and OKDHS in the mutual assessment process that assists in selecting the best home for children placed in foster family care. All applicants must:

(1) be at least 21 years of age and preferably no more than 55 years older than the child considered for placement;

Your take on the situation?

I'm pretty sure I've already considered what you would probably consider a proper solution.

I've been trying to deal with this long distance and through all the proper channels but my patience is wearing very thin.

I'm reaching out to the FReepers because each time the end seems to be in sight, they raise the bar, change the rules, or throw up another obstacle.

Any insight would be appreciated, my friend.

Regards

“...she’s 8, what stress should she have in her life other than worring about what she’s going to wear to school?”

That SHOULD be her only stress. Instead she has to wonder when the Jack-booted Thugs will be knocking on HER bedroom door. (And it sounds as though they are in the hallway based on the “diagnosis” from the doctor.)

My prayers go out to little Katie as she lives with stranger. Prayers to her mom to keep strong, and prayers to you for wisdom and strength. And prayers for God to send an angel your way that can help you through this mess.

Is there some other foster care worker than you can deal with instead of the friend of the foster “parent”? Something doesn’t smell quite right with that. In our state the foster care program costs something ridiculous to take care of the kids. I don’t know what it was but something like $500,000/yer per child or something unbelievable!

See my post #52.

This is what we've been dealing with for a year. Lies, changing rules, making up rules, you name it, they've done it.

My point, that I keep hammering on, is that we shouldn't even be having these discussions. They took custody. Fine, we couldn't stop that. But, from the initial "investigation" until now, there has been no evidence of any abuse or neglect. So, why do they refuse to return Katie to her family? What is my daughter guilty of? What has she done wrong?

All questions, no answers.

If I was back there, I'd probably be in jail, by now.

Regards

Has a Guardain Ad Litem been appointed for Katie? If not your attorney needs to request such an appointment. The GAL should be independent of either the DHS or the family. His or her is an advocate for the child’s best interest. They will have access to all court and medical documents so they should be able to give a fair appraisal of the situation.

Katie’s medical records should show that she was in the normal percentile for growth. They should show that no abuse was ever suspected by her attending physicians. Use these to bolster your case.

And no matter how much you like him. If your lawyer’s area of practice is not family law ask him to refer you to an attorney who has sucessfully locked horns with DHS.

Here is a website of a case that that happened to an Illionis family as they were traveling through Oregon several years ago. I wish it had a “happy ending” but it doesn’t - not yet at least, put hopefully one day. But, perhaps it will lead you to help, advice, etc.

Good luck and may God bless your efforts.

http://oregonfamilyrights.com/christines/index.html

A PS.

I should clarify that Katie’s records should show that her medical conditions are normal due to her being a preemie.
And that she was making expected progress.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.