KASEY | WASHINGTON

“On May 8th 2021 our son, Kane, was born. We were absolutely ecstatic to welcome a son to our family and our 4 year old was SO excited to be a big sister. Life was BEAUTIFUL.

A few days later we took our son in to meet his pediatrician who noted Kane’s cry sounded abnormal. We also all noticed the whites of Kane’s eyes were blue.

Over the next couple weeks we were becoming increasingly concerned about our new baby. He was crying inconsolably so we remained in constant contact with his doctor via portal messages and phone calls. On May 25th, the worry became overwhelming. Kane's belly was swollen like a balloon so we took him to the ER. They took X-rays and noted shadows were present indicating "possible pneumonia", but we were sent on our way with their explanation of he's just a gassy baby.

The next day we had a follow up with our family doctor. We were still worried. Kane was spitting up. Kane was uncomfortable. Kane was not okay. Our doctor said to try switching him to sensitive formula instead of breast milk. At this visit the doctor also noted Kane had significantly abnormal Fontanelles with delayed closure.

On June 7th, 2021 we found a mark on Kane’s calf. We messaged our doctor and he said we can stick to coming into our well child check up already previously scheduled for June 8th. So we did just that.

June 8th... after the doctor laid eyes on Kane he recommended we go to a different hospital for X-rays. He informed us that there would be an investigation launched on us for the calf mark by DCYF once we got there. DCYF involvement was the least of our worries. We needed to know what was wrong with our baby. We wanted him to have relief. So off we went.

This hospital questioned us and found several fractures and then sent us to yet a different hospital.

There they did skeletal surveys on our son and also found breaks. We requested genetic testing and our requests were repeatedly declined. They questioned us about what happened over and over. Hoping we would give a different story. Hoping we would say something inconsistent. I have been raised that the truth will set you free. Be honest. Be respectful. So I did. Doctors are supposed to help your child, right? Wrong.

They told us the fractures in our 4 week old were "3-5 weeks old" then went on to say they couldn’t be from birth. The child abuse pediatrician called Seattle Police Department. They separated Kane’s dad and I. We were questioned. We kept telling the truth. That wasn't enough.

The hospital drew labs on Kane that night and they came back with extremely low vitamin D and elevated phosphate. They continued to deny my requests for genetic testing.

They informed me the next morning that I needed to leave my baby at the hospital an hour before a social worker and placement would be coming to get him and said if I refused or tried to take him I'd be charged with kidnapping.

There was a nurse who was being kind to me..so through my tears and sobs I begged the nurse to be the one to sit with my baby until the social worker and my parents arrived to get him so he wasn’t alone. The feelings of having to leave your newborn with strangers in such a situation is something I will never forget. I choked out the words 'I love you' to my son and I left not knowing what would happen next.

June 18th: Kane’s temporary caregivers took him to his doctor and they did labs which showed, once again, low vitamin D. They noted once again abnormal shaped Fontanelles. Delayed closure.

July 14th: Another checkup on Kane. Abnormal Fontanelles and concerns over popping bones and fussy baby from caregivers. Labs are finally ordered and drawn for genetic abnormalities.

August 31st:

Kane’s labs come back. He has the LRP5 Gene Mutation which is associated with Metabolic Bone Diseases- Osteogenesis Imperfecta. Finally, an ANSWER.

September 1st: Our social worker tells us she's aware of the genetic results, but that it doesn't explain Kane's fractures.

We continued to do ALL the assessments voluntarily that DCYF had to offer. We completed drug and alcohol evals, random UAs, DV Anger Management Assessments, psychological evals, parenting classes, ANYTHING they asked.

On September 24th, 2021 Kane was placed in Olympia at a foster home.

From 9/24/21 to 3/30/2022 we went to DCYFs nearest visitation office to where our son was housed in Olympia. 4 days a week. For 2 hours a slot to soak in those 120 minutes we were allowed each time. In a room we held our son with a visit supervisor sitting right next to us the entire time. 4 days a week we went from Aberdeen, to Olympia , to Raymond and back. Repeat. In the snow, rain, anything Just to see our children who should have never been separated from us.

March 30th 2022:

An order to return Kane home to us is approved. Our nightmare starts to turn.

On March 31st before returning Kane home to us, DCYF wanted to do a skeletal survey on Kane. They didn't tell us and instead had the foster mother take him in. She informed us when and where as it was our right to attend. We did. At the hospital, they told us neither the parents or foster mother could go back with Kane for the exams. This wasn't something she or us were willing to do. The foster mother gave pushback to them, Kane shouldn't be alone with strangers. But it didn't matter, Kane belonged to the state so it had to go on. In the waiting room we all sat listening to him scream for over an hour. After, the foster mother took Kane home and started preparing his belongings.

I got a call that afternoon from my attorney. Kane had four new fractures. WHILE being in state care. Never being alone with his dad or I, as our visits were 100% supervised by DCYF.

I then called the social worker. She's frantic, searching for a new placement and asks ME if I have somewhere Kane can go. Even though he was just ordered to be returned home the day before, they wanted ME to figure out elsewhere to send my son. So, I did. I provided a family member. A safe family member. They place Kane there that evening. All was okay. Our son was finally safe, with his family. Wrong.

The next day, DCYF said my family member actually isn't a suitable placement, and Kane had to be moved AGAIN to a stranger in Olympia. Heartbroken, I wrote a note "please be gentle with me, I have a bone disease" ...packed his bag with his blankey, his note, his foods, and my family member took him back to DCYF. Kane cried. Kane was confused. Being moved again. DCYF would not give us any reason as to why my family was acceptable when they were in a pinch for an entire night, but suddenly now my family wasn't a suitable placement.

April 3rd, 2022: Our final daughter, Zoey, was born. Horrified at the thought of removal, I begged for genetic testing to be immediately done on her. The hospital said no. I asked for them to just do a skeletal survey on her to check for birth injuries. They said no.

DCYF found a judge that had no idea about our situation. Not our regular judge on our case. They gave that judge a petition to remove Zoey. They failed to tell the judge that Kane had been ordered home. Failed to tell the judge Kane has received new fractures in THEIR care.

So we were placed on a hold in the hospital, unable to leave the hospital with Zoey.

April 6th 2022: Finally in court again, in front of the regular judge. He wouldn’t let them remove Zoey and ordered them to return our children immediately. DCYF brought Kane to the hospital, we were discharged, and finally got to go home with our children.

My attorney filed a motion for dismissal of our case, but it got ‘continued' because suddenly the state agreed Kane needed more genetic testing.

So we continued to comply. DCYF enrolled us in an in-home parenting class. DCYF was allowed random check ins day or night with us.

So now here we sit in June 2022 with two specialists saying Kane has Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI). Kane's results saying Kane has OI. Kane’s radiologist saying he has OI. But since one "child abuse doctor" a year ago will not acknowledge it, we still fight for our children. For them to stay home. For the case to be closed.

Until something changes with our system, and my kids receive justice for what they've endured I will not stop telling our story. I will not stop warning other parents. Something needs to change.

If you can please share our story. Don't let what happened to Kane happen to your children."

STORY UPDATE as of November 2, 2022:

“From June 8th, 2021 to November 2nd, 2022 I fought a seemingly never-ending, uphill battle of saving my children from a system of guilty until proven innocent. During this time, I messaged attorneys, specialists, anyone who would give me the time of day as I searched for hope. I volunteered to do any and all DCYF services needed to get my children back. I lost friends, I lost family, all who heard DCYF’s narrative of "she abused her son". I went to that dark place of no hope so many times just to remind myself my kids are my life so I gave it my all and just kept pushing… 512 days. 512 days of x-rays, of genetic testing showing variants that indicated my son’s OI (brittle bone disease), of fractures occurring while my son was in DCYF’s own care, of a child abuse pediatrician who would not budge on the original diagnosis of abuse. 512 days of lost time I never will get back.

Today, I get to celebrate. Celebrate my son being home. Celebrate my kids being under one roof AND being mine. Celebrate getting to be the shot caller again for my son's medical care, to finally be able to get his referral to a bone specialist that he should’ve been able to see 512 days ago. Celebrate having the chance to give him the proper medical treatment he deserves to have a fighting chance at a normal life.

Today, we are FREE! We are finally free. And now I get to fight DCYF from the other side.

To anyone still in the midst of your fight, do not give up. Those babies need you!”