Please Help Bring Katie Home. (FReeper assistance requested)

Personal Experience | 4/12/2006 | Steve Procopio (Tinman)

[Tinman]

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, as each "condition" was successfully met, another was put in place?

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.

How can you help? If you would, help us get the answer to one simple question:

"Why is Katie being kept in state custody?"

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.

Thank You.

Katie's "Papa"

( below is the contact info for those who can change this immediately)

Lea, Lea.Glenn-Borts@okdhs.org (918) 746-3309, cell 720-4287

Bill Day (supervisor) Bill.Day@okdhs.org (918) 746-3300

Dean Wise (918) 720-1988 (CASA worker)

The child in question is Kathryn Hubanks

[Glinda]

Lisa was given an ISP which spelled out everything that she had to do. She completed the list. When we went to Court on Feb 5th this year, Lea presented her with another ISP that had the addition of additional time to allow for bonding. Once again Lisa did exactly what she was told to. DHS only has to allow one visit per month and they stuck to it until they found a way to shove another roadblock in Lisas path. The new ISP was filed witht the Court on Jan31 this year. Our lawyer didnt even get it until 15 minutes before we went into Court. For whatever the reason, the judge in the case gives DHS whatever they ask for.

[Tinman]

Got to go. I'll be checking in from time to time.

TTYL

You've got mail

[Glinda]

My thoughts exactly. We have alway felt that the bottom line in this issue is money and who is getting it or not getting it as the case may be. I have always felt that this is a case of kidnapping under the protection of the government. My other grandchildren were not even considered for removal. Why? If the abuse/neglect charge is being slapped around, why would a caseworker leave children in the same house? They wouldnt. They targeted Katie and rode hard into hell

[Tinman]

Bump for Katie

[Glinda]

Thank-you very much.

[lastchance]

If the CASA is not acting in Katie’s best interest the attorney needs to request a new CASA be appointed. It may be in Katie’s case that it may be necessary to retain an attorney for her. I know that this is expensive so I would find out if there is a family law attorney who will do pro bono work.

I believe your daughter has a right to examine any reports submitted by DHS and any other court documents. Check with the attorney about this.

Also most negligent parent’s have typically had past run ins with the system. Drug charges and DUIs are common. Also complaints from relatives and friends about inability to care for their children. Mentally healthy fully functioning responsible adults just do not decide one day to stop feeding their baby. And the neglect does not happen in isolation. There will be such things as no proper immunizations given. The child may be dressed in inappropriate clothing. There may not be diapers, bathing supplies, medicines. If the baby is not breastfed there may not be enough formula or clean bottles.

By the way (check with the attorney of course )if they are trying to get your daughter to sign on to a paper telling her what must be done to prevent termination of parental rights. She should be extremely reluctant to sign it. The paper is pretty much an admission of guilt.

I don’t think your daughter should do anything that gives the DHS the possibility of saying “ ah ha you must have known you were guilty or why did you agree to this”. Katie’s parents should behave as innocent people accused unjustly of a horrible crime behave. With outraged indignation and a general atitude of BITE ME.

I will pray for Katie’s health and that she be reunited with her loving family.

[Tinman]

Just checking in.

[Glinda]

Thank-you for your kind words and useful information. Apparently Creek County is its own world as far as playing by the rules. They throw caution to the wind and drive like there is no tomorrow. They plain old just dont give a damn.

[Tinman]

By the way (check with the attorney of course )if they are trying to get your daughter to sign on to a paper telling her what must be done to prevent termination of parental rights. She should be extremely reluctant to sign it. The paper is pretty much an admission of guilt.

I don’t think your daughter should do anything that gives the DHS the possibility of saying “ ah ha you must have known you were guilty or why did you agree to this”. Katie’s parents should behave as innocent people accused unjustly of a horrible crime behave. With outraged indignation and a general atitude of BITE ME

Sound familiar? What they have been doing all along is threating to terminate as a way to get Lisa to meet their demands. Get in touch with our lawyer ASAP. We both know this started badly because Lisa was intimidated by their threats and given bad advice by that "public defender".

[Glinda]

I want to take the time to thank all of you for your kind words, thoughts and prayers. I would like to ask anyone who makes any contact with any of the DHS folks, please let me know. I want to measure the effect and let everyone know just how much power is in many voices.

[Tinman]

Seems like there's not much difference between DHS or BATF, just different letters of the alphabet.

I'd appreciate you breaking out your ping list on this one.

Regards

[Tinman]

Care to get in on this?

Regards

[Tinman]

Read your comments on another thread regarding a granddaughter. Your thoughts?

Regards

[Tinman]

Are you in contact with any of the old NE Freepers?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Regards

[Tinman]

Got to go.

TTYL

[pollyannaish]

Prayers for you, Glinda, Katie and her mom. I have heard stories like this and once a child is in the system, things get very complicated very fast. You did exactly the right thing by getting a good—and hopefully aggressive—attorney. She will be worth every penny you spend.

I will keep you on my prayer list.

[pollyannaish]

Have you ever seen any documentaries on this kind of stuff? I live in Washington state...if you ever want to have your blood curdled...look up the Wenatchee Child Abuse/Sex Ring Scandal.

These are not people with anyone’s best interests in mind. Often, it is about money. They are REALLY scary and tend to go after decent families hard, while leaving families that truly need help to fend for themselves until someone is killed or dies. I have very little respect for the entire lot of them.

[goodnesswins]

Yes....I live in WA State too.....I know ALL about DSHS here.....it’s awful.

[pollyannaish]

Doh. Sorry Goodness, I should have remembered.

Before we had children, we saw a bunch of documentaries and they were enough to scare the living daylight out of us. This is just another example.

[Glinda]

I have always felt that this was always about money. Here we have an newborn, healthy for all practical purposes, all DHS has to do is get her away from her parents. They didnt count on getting a fight. I think they have passed the point of no return, to go backwards would shed light on their abuse of authority. It wouldnt be the first case of baby selling in this country.