Timothy

A Desperate Mothers Plea,
On September 16, 2003 my obstetrician Dr.Michelle Houston decided that it was time to induce my labor due to my severe Pre-eclamsia Toximia. Dr. Houston told Timothy and me that if she did not induce labor my son and I would both die during the birth. I was in labor all the day of the 16th, and nothing was helping me. My blood pressure had risen so high that it was thought I was going to have a seizure or a stroke. Finally on September 17, 2003 at 9:00am Dr. Houston walked in and said "Charmaine we are going to have to do a C-section because I am worried about you and your son's life." No sooner than that was said I became un-respondent. By increasing Magnesium Sulfate intravenously I began responding again. The epidural was put in my spine and they rushed me to the Surgery room, and my C-section was started. In the middle of the C-Section the dosage of Valium had to be increased, because I felt the pain. After I was comfortable again they continued with the C-section. Finally Timothy Isiah-Blair Jenkins was born 4lbs 15ozs at 10:47am on September 17, 2003. Everyone was rushing in the room telling me how cute he was. Timothy (the father) was excited. I still had not seen my son. Finally at 2:30pm they brought Timothy Isiah to me. This was the best day of my life. I prayed and asked God to give me the strength to raise him according to his will. After my delivery I could barely walk. Timothy Isiah had to stay in an Isolate, because he could not maintain his temperature.

Timothy Isiah and I were released from the hospital on the 21st of September 2003. I could not care for myself, get to the bathroom on my own, or dress myself, the very first day we brought Timothy Isiah home. Timothy (the father) had me and the baby to take care of. My grandmother arrived the very next day and assisted with the care of Timothy Isiah, and I was able to rest and breastfeed my baby comfortably. My grandmother started to do what all grandmothers do. Helping me with my new baby, showing me different things that only your grandmother would know. A week later when I thought I was doing well. I took a shower and started to dry off, I noticed I was bleeding. I called for help, my grandmother and Timothy came in the room, noted the situation and called 911. Due to the loosing of blood I was admitted overnight for observation in the short stay unit at Northside Hospital. On discharge I was informed to see my Obstetrician on October 2, 2003. Dr.Houston stated due to my emergency C-section I have formed an infection with a hole 9 centimeters deep. I was admitted to the hospital for treatment of saline irrigation and gauze packing. Timothy Isiah was admitted with me due to the fact of his newborn state and I was breastfeeding. Upon release after a three day admission I was released. A home healthcare nurse was sent to my apartment daily to continue the saline irrigation and packing treatment. This continued until the affected area in my abdomen healed.

November 18, 2003 Timothy Isiah was scheduled to get his immunizations they were postponed because his pediatrician Dr.Gabriella Drake-Forte noticed my son had a right Inguinial Hernia. He was taken to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite Hospital and surgery was set for the 22 of November. Timothy Isiah was found to have bi-lateral Inguinal Hernias during surgery. Surgery was successful. During the month of November Timothy Isiah was referred to Dr.Patel a Gastrointerologist due to his inability to retain his breastfeeding supplement. Timothy's diagnosis was acid reflux, and he was seen twice a month by Dr.Patel in November and December. On December 8, 2003, Timothy Isiah received his first immunizations and Dr.Gabriella Drake-Forte said he was doing well. During the second week of December my son started to have a dry cough. I told this to Dr. Gabriella Drake-Forte and she said to suction his nose because sometimes babies have things caught on the back of their throat. The cough did not get better. On December 28, 2003 Timothy Isiah was rushed to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite ER by ambulance for a very high fever. After arriving at the hospital Timothy Isiah was seen by three different doctors, all three doctors felt the top of his head. Upon questioning the doctors about what was wrong with his head all three doctors told me his soft spot felt full and fontanel. The doctors checked Timothy Isiah but did not do a x-ray or ct-scan off his head. He was treated with Tylenol and hydrated then sent home. December 29, 2003 again he developed a very high fever and rushed back to ER by ambulance. Where doctor's examined him for flu, performed a spinal tap for meningitis and also checked for RSV with negative results. He was treated with antibiotics and admitted overnight. The admitting physician Dr. Kenny instructed me to follow with his pediatrician Dr. Forte. I was with Timothy Isiah during each examination, treatment and admissions. I took him to Dr. Forte and informed her of the E.R. visits Dr. Forte said she was not going to measure his head until his 4 month checkup (Timothy Isiah was 3 months old). Dr. Forte said since he was not holding his head up yet Timothy Isiah was needing to go to Physical Therapy for his developmental delay.

Also at that time she (Dr. Forte) told me "I feel so sorry for you as a new mom, because you have such a sick baby. January 16, 2004 was the first visit to the Physical Therapist. The second was January 21, 2004. Jenny Martin the physical therapist undressed him down to his diaper. Jenny, Timothy Isiah and I would work on his motor skills and practice lifting up his head. The therapist then put him on his tummy to practice him lifting his head. On January 23, 2004 he had his 4 month checkup and Dr. Forte said he was doing really well after voicing my concern in regards to his head Dr. Forte had her nurse measure his head. Dr. Forte stated there was something wrong with his head, because there was a significant increase in size from the last well baby checkup. She then gave me a referral to a Pediatric Neurosurgeon. On January 26, 2004 upon meeting the Neurosurgeon Dr. Kevin Stevenson, Timothy (my sons father) and I were told that he (Dr. Stevenson) could see Timothy Isiah had Hydrocephalus. He explained what it was and gave us a book on it along with the names of some support groups. He said it was nothing I could have prevented because a lot of children are born with the disease. I began to cry because my son had already gone through so much. I know he was tired of going to the hospital, and having staff poke him with needles. I also asked Dr.Stevenson the Pediatric Neurosurgeon why the hospital had not done a ct-scan when Timothy Isiah was hospitalized on December 28, 2003. He informed me he did not work for the hospital, and he apologized the condition had not been detected earlier but he wanted to fix it right away.

After the ctscan was done Dr.Stevenson stated I want to show you something he then proceeded to show us the ct-scan results and informed us there was no Hydrocephalus. Timothy Isiah had "old blood mixed with fluid on his brain." Dr. Stevenson said it looked like it has been there for a while and surgery was needed right away to prevent brain damage. Timothy Isiah was admitted to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta immediately. As soon as Timothy Isiah, his father and I were in the room a Social Worker entered the room and started asking questions. I answered all questions to the best of my ability. I was then informed by her they were going to do a skeletal survey of Timothy Isiah, and a optimology report to check for retinal hemorrhaging. These tests were done the next day. The optimology report showed there was no bleeding behind the eyes. I waited in the hallway and in the room waiting and asking to speak to doctor's no one ever came and talked to me the entire day. Finally I called a patient representative (Nora) and explained to her how I felt my rights as a parent were being violated according to HIPPA). Nora promised a doctor would come in and talk to me. No doctor ever came. At 4:00pm a man in a leather jacket with no identification showing came into the hospital room with a notepad. He introduced himself as Gary Davis, Special Investigations with Fulton County DFACS. He began to interrogate me as to where I live, my social security number, Timothy Isiah's father and all things in regards to our lives. He then asked "what do you know about multiple fractures to your son's body!" I then asked him who, my son because, I was in shock because my son had been seen by various physicians during every month of his life and they all assured me up until the present time that he was fine.

Mr. Davis finished his questions and left the room. I asked the nurses why a doctor had not come and talked to me about my son. She informed me they did not have the results back yet. The entire day went by and no doctor came and talked to me. On January 28, 2004 he was taken to have surgery to have a shunt put in his head. Timothy Isiah's father and I were approached in an elevator on the way to the cafeteria by a social worker named Monica who said we have to talk to you both right now. We agreed. A lady with no visible identification in a coat came in and had a cd in her hand. She did not identify herself. She walked us over to a computer and put the cd in. She pointed with the mouse and said, "these are the fractures that your son has. When we began to ask her for a further explanation she immediately removed the cd. We then went to the administration room of the hospital. Mr. Davis, Monica the social worker and a security guard were present, also with the lady that showed us the x-rays. Mr. Davis addressed the lady with the x-rays as Dr.Degrandi and asked "could these injuries have happened from a fall?" Dr. Degrandi stated "no." (Dr. Degrandi is a Medical Director of Advocates for children for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta). Dr. Degrandi stated (he was slammed to have sustained these types of injuries). My son has beautiful skin with no bruises. He has shown no signs of pain. He has been seen by various doctors and not one of them has mentioned or suspected any of this type of trauma. Mr.Davis again asked "how did your son get these fractures?" I told him I did not understand, because he has no bruises, I do not have an x-ray machine to show me these things, all a mother can go by is the Pediatrician's report and the ER doctors report. I thought something was wrong with him in December but the doctors at the hospital kept telling me he was ok. I feel the hospital should have done a ctscan on his head at that time.

My son's father Timothy told them what happened to his other son. When his other son was 4 months old he died, because the hospital misdiagnosed his son saying it was abuse. By the time they found out it was the hospitals fault the baby had already died because they were so busy pointing the finger. The county found that it was the hospital responsible for the child's death. He passed in January of 1993, at the age four months. It has been thought that it was possibly something genetic. Mr. Davis took that information that Timothy shared with him and completely twisted it around. Mr. Davis turned the information around and said to the doctors at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta that my son's father was convicted for the murder of his son in the past, and that Child Protective Services in New Jersey took his son. His son was never taken from him. The hospital was found negligent. Timothy (my son's father) voluntarily told everyone this information. DFACS did not just go and find this out. DFACS took my four month old son.

My paternal grandmother is a social worker with a master's degree working in a metropolitan hospital clinic for young mother's and children and sent me information on pre-mature children that have had reactions to Pertussis vaccination. Glory be to God my son is still alive and smiling. I have only seen my son twice in 18 days. He will not nurse from a bottle because he has been exclusively breastfed and I worry that he is not getting adequate nutrition. At the Deprivation hearing none of the accusers that alleged my son was physically abused did not even show up to the hearing. I contacted Dr. Harold E. Buttram M.D., F.A.A.E.M. Diplomat, American Board of Environmental Medicine http//www.woodmed.com. in Quakertown PA and familiarized him with Timothy Isiah's condition. Judge Sanford Jones ordered that Timothy Isiah be evaluated by the doctor (Dr. Harold E. Buttram) that wrote the letter to the court about his condition. We raised money for Dr. Buttram's airfare and he will be in Atlanta February 21, 2004 to examine and evaluate Timothy Isiah's condition.

On regaining my health after the birth, I returned to Georgia State University to finish my last year. I am a Political Science major with a concentration in Pre-Law. I have already finished 3 years of college at Morris Brown. I have maintained a 3.0 average. I have been a good mother to my son and his father has been working long hours to pay all the bills of our home. He has gotten a good job so I can finish school and help take care of our son financially. In the beginning the hospital would not give me any of my sons medical records. Only by subpoena did the hospital release the medical records to me. Finally the hospital decided to release them to me for a high price. They also would not give me the x-rays on the CD. I had to call the manager Carl Saylors of Radiology to get the film. I have been charged over $600.00 for all of the records. When I got the medical records I read every single page. Dr. Kevin Stevenson the same Pediatric Neurosurgeon that said my son did not have Hydrocephalus, wrote on the records at the top of each one of them it said DIAGNOSIS: HYDROCEPHALUS.

At every single appointment the doctors kept saying he's doing real good. My son has not shown us, or his doctor's any sign of discomfort. He just smiles and laughs everyday. It just seems like a nightmare has unfolded right before my eyes. Not too long ago I was reading my baby his bedtime story and singing to him his favorite songs. Now he is gone from his family that really loves him. Please help us get Timothy Isiah home. I have prayed and so many people that have gone through this same thing have contacted me from all over the USA. I went through a lot to get my son here and I will not give him up. He does not deserve to be with a family that doesn't know him. I am trying my best to get all the help I can. In December my son was misdiagnosed. When they were walking in and feeling the top of his head when it was full and fontanel the doctors should have done a CTscan at that time. The Hydrocephalus in my sons head has caused a developmental delay. I have all the medical records and there have been so many discrepancies. How do I know these X-rays are true? They hid them from me for so long. All this time my son has had Hydrocephalus and no one did anything about it. When allegations of child abuse were raised they wanted to do every kind of test. They are not caring for my son's total care.

DFACS is trying to look like a hero in a situation they don't even know everything about. The finger is being pointed. We have given DFACS everyone's number that knows us. We have a neighbor upstairs that is home and she did not even know we had a baby on the floor below her. I gave her name and number to DFACS along with other character references. They have not called any of the numbers, or they have not tried to contact any of the family members for temporary placement. I have only seen my son twice since January 28, 2004. I miss him, and me being a mother going through such a traumatic pregnancy should not have to be separated from her son because of the misdiagnosing of negligent doctors. My rights were violated at the hospital from day one. When Timothy Isiah was still in my custody they still did not give me the results of any of the tests they took of my son and then when they took him out of my custody the hospital explained that I could not receive any information on him. When I looked on the medical records it says that DFACS took him into custody on January 27, 2004. The day Mr. Davis said, "Ms. Smith we are going to have to take your son into our care was January 28, 2004. There are so many inconsistencies but not on the parents behalf. The judge ordered on January 30, 2004 that I have supervised visitations. When I received my first visitation Mr. Davis messed up the visitation while my mother and my son's father were present. He constantly talked to us about the case. I had not seen my son in 7 days and he wanted to talk about the case. At the next hearing where DFACS was to prove Deprivation the doctors did not even show up. Our witnesses were there to speak on our behalf. The judge then ordered that Timothy Isiah be evaluated by a doctor for his condition. He also stated that I am to see my son once a week supervised.

Me being a mother going through so much to get him here safely because of my severe pre-eclamsia will not give up on getting him back. There are already too many children in Foster care and there is not enough room for anymore. My son has a loving family. This is my mother's first grandchild, my first child, and he was taken because the system is one-sided. For three and a half years I have been in school studying to be an attorney. Never in a million years did I think I would be going through this whole mess. My son's life and health are very important. The hospital is continuing to misdiagnose. What if something happens to my Timmy while he is in the care of someone else. Who will explain this to his family. How can he be discharged from the hospital when the judge delayed the Deprivation hearing so he can properly be evaluated? I am a mother that loves her son and I will never give up on gaining custody back of him, because I know if he could talk he would say, "Please don't give up the fight for me Mommy."I know of a medical doctor that had a similar condition and so many other parents where children have been wrongfully taken. They all say the same thing never give up. Believe me I won't because Timothy Isiah-Blair Jenkins is worth it. Please I am asking for financial help from any and all. From churches, institutions, foundations, and persons. We need the fee to pay a certified radiologist and other medical providers that will consult with us on Timothy Isiah's condition.