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A Tragic Case That Should Concern Us All
Hi Everyone,
Here is an update on what is happening with Ryan Baldwin, the 16 year old with CFS/ME who was taken away from his parent's by Social Services. This is such a tragedy. Ryan was determined to be medically disabled by Social Security Administration in 2004 and again in 2008 and he has a well documented case of CFS/ME (heart problems and all). Please click on the link below for more info and his medical history: http://parentsagainstmedicalabuse.com/parentsagainstmedicalabuseadvocacypage.html
Despite this, Social Services removed him from his home in Buncombe County (North Carolina). The department accused his parent's as having Factitious Disorder by Proxy (FDP). Factitious disorder by proxy (FDP) is a form of abuse in which a caregiver surreptitiously simulates or induces illnesses in a person for whom he or she is caring for.
Obviously since I have CFIDS/ME and understand how serious this disease can be, I am very concerned about this case. I have already made several calls to officials and tried to educate them about CFS/ME and I plan on sending several e-mails. What I find very disturbing.. is that I read that Ryan is now forced to walk up the stairs at his foster care home. Who are the abusers here ?
Anyhow, Ryan has to wait for his court case in May before he can have any contact with his parent's. If you would like to send a card to Ryan and/or would like Pat Fero's e-mail address (she offered) for more information, please let me know. I will be mailing Ryan a card... just letting him know that I have CFS and may send him some cartoons or something.
With permission to post from Pat Fero:
Hello,
Information about Ryan Baldwin, a 16 yr old NC kid in foster care 90 days, has been posted on lists internationally. If you need background, please e mail me back or look in list archives.
The Baldwin family had 3 days in court this week. Here is a brief summary.
Dr. Paul Cheney testified the first day. In his usual eloquent style, he was well prepared for questions, and went way beyond the court's knowledge of CFS, POTS and the heart condition of this particular kid. My understanding is that Dr. Cheney thought that Ryan should not be climbing stairs several times a day to eat or to go outside and that Ryan definitely needs his power wheel chair.
The second day, the Department of Social Services (DSS) called Lisa to the stand. She had prepared a timeline for years of medical issues, appointments, medications and so on, so she said she was able to stay on track with the questions. That same day, the parents were sequestered with audio and video camera so they could watch Ryan testify. Lisa tells me that he faced the camera, was calm and answered the questions without a negative or hostile attitude. Lisa tells me it appeared that their attorney fashioned questions after Dr. Cheney's responses. Lisa told me over and over that said she and her husband, Rodney, were so proud of the Ryan! They were allowed to see him for 15 minutes at the end of the day, but not allowed to ask him medical questions or anything about the foster home.
The third day, several doctors testified. The DSS social worker was on the stand in the afternoon. Lisa tells me that the social worker could not answer specifics on many questions, but Lisa's atty produced the documents to help her remember. Lisa thought that the Judge might make a decision yesterday. However, he called a recess, asked both attorneys into chambers, and when he came out, the court dismissed until MAY 18th.
17 - 18 more days with no information and no social contact is a long time for a 16 year old kid. It is not like he has TV or computer use even to complete school work. His grandfather did get him a short wave radio. Ryan told the court that he loves to fool with it.
As a community we understand isolation. Ryan does not get mail, so how about we all send him a "Thinking of you card" or "Cheers", "Good Luck" something general like that. You could make a card from a cartoon or paste a picture, use a card you have, whatever you want. The cost is a stamp.
If you are not in US, you might sign several names onto a card and mail as one. I am thinking about how a teenage would feel should a bag of mail appear at the foster home which is fairly isolated in the mountains in North Carolina. It could be very fun for him. And a stamp from Belgium or Japan? Kids love that kind of thing.
I asked Lisa how Ryan gets mail. It all has to go through social services. Please, Please send a card to Ryan at the address listed below. Don't forget to sign your name inside with the place where you live in case he loses the envelopes. My understanding is that no one is allowed to ask him how he is feeling physically or mentally. I have no idea if the DSS will open mail.
LASTLY, please forward this note to any lists, friends, anywhere on the planet and feel free to shorten as you wish. The bottom line is to get a mail bag of cards to Ryan within the next week or so to help him know that he is not alone.
Thank you,
Pat Fero
Wisconsin
Here is an update on what is happening with Ryan Baldwin, the 16 year old with CFS/ME who was taken away from his parent's by Social Services. This is such a tragedy. Ryan was determined to be medically disabled by Social Security Administration in 2004 and again in 2008 and he has a well documented case of CFS/ME (heart problems and all). Please click on the link below for more info and his medical history: http://parentsagainstmedicalabuse.com/parentsagainstmedicalabuseadvocacypage.html
Despite this, Social Services removed him from his home in Buncombe County (North Carolina). The department accused his parent's as having Factitious Disorder by Proxy (FDP). Factitious disorder by proxy (FDP) is a form of abuse in which a caregiver surreptitiously simulates or induces illnesses in a person for whom he or she is caring for.
Obviously since I have CFIDS/ME and understand how serious this disease can be, I am very concerned about this case. I have already made several calls to officials and tried to educate them about CFS/ME and I plan on sending several e-mails. What I find very disturbing.. is that I read that Ryan is now forced to walk up the stairs at his foster care home. Who are the abusers here ?
Anyhow, Ryan has to wait for his court case in May before he can have any contact with his parent's. If you would like to send a card to Ryan and/or would like Pat Fero's e-mail address (she offered) for more information, please let me know. I will be mailing Ryan a card... just letting him know that I have CFS and may send him some cartoons or something.
With permission to post from Pat Fero:
Hello,
Information about Ryan Baldwin, a 16 yr old NC kid in foster care 90 days, has been posted on lists internationally. If you need background, please e mail me back or look in list archives.
The Baldwin family had 3 days in court this week. Here is a brief summary.
Dr. Paul Cheney testified the first day. In his usual eloquent style, he was well prepared for questions, and went way beyond the court's knowledge of CFS, POTS and the heart condition of this particular kid. My understanding is that Dr. Cheney thought that Ryan should not be climbing stairs several times a day to eat or to go outside and that Ryan definitely needs his power wheel chair.
The second day, the Department of Social Services (DSS) called Lisa to the stand. She had prepared a timeline for years of medical issues, appointments, medications and so on, so she said she was able to stay on track with the questions. That same day, the parents were sequestered with audio and video camera so they could watch Ryan testify. Lisa tells me that he faced the camera, was calm and answered the questions without a negative or hostile attitude. Lisa tells me it appeared that their attorney fashioned questions after Dr. Cheney's responses. Lisa told me over and over that said she and her husband, Rodney, were so proud of the Ryan! They were allowed to see him for 15 minutes at the end of the day, but not allowed to ask him medical questions or anything about the foster home.
The third day, several doctors testified. The DSS social worker was on the stand in the afternoon. Lisa tells me that the social worker could not answer specifics on many questions, but Lisa's atty produced the documents to help her remember. Lisa thought that the Judge might make a decision yesterday. However, he called a recess, asked both attorneys into chambers, and when he came out, the court dismissed until MAY 18th.
17 - 18 more days with no information and no social contact is a long time for a 16 year old kid. It is not like he has TV or computer use even to complete school work. His grandfather did get him a short wave radio. Ryan told the court that he loves to fool with it.
As a community we understand isolation. Ryan does not get mail, so how about we all send him a "Thinking of you card" or "Cheers", "Good Luck" something general like that. You could make a card from a cartoon or paste a picture, use a card you have, whatever you want. The cost is a stamp.
If you are not in US, you might sign several names onto a card and mail as one. I am thinking about how a teenage would feel should a bag of mail appear at the foster home which is fairly isolated in the mountains in North Carolina. It could be very fun for him. And a stamp from Belgium or Japan? Kids love that kind of thing.
I asked Lisa how Ryan gets mail. It all has to go through social services. Please, Please send a card to Ryan at the address listed below. Don't forget to sign your name inside with the place where you live in case he loses the envelopes. My understanding is that no one is allowed to ask him how he is feeling physically or mentally. I have no idea if the DSS will open mail.
LASTLY, please forward this note to any lists, friends, anywhere on the planet and feel free to shorten as you wish. The bottom line is to get a mail bag of cards to Ryan within the next week or so to help him know that he is not alone.
Thank you,
Pat Fero
Wisconsin
Wow! What an eye opener! More proof of how littls is known of these diseases. This poor kid!
http://www.mountainx.com/news/2010/091510local-family-feels-vindicated-by-breakthrough-research
Ryan Baldwin is XMRV positive see article above
Ryan Baldwin is XMRV positive see article above
The current web site for the Ryan Baldwin fiasco can now be found at
www.BringingRyanHome.com
It contains all of the current information to date including the two (2)
newspaper articles published in the MountainXpress paper. You will
also find a lot of angry comments and unanswered questions at the
current site.
www.BringingRyanHome.com
It contains all of the current information to date including the two (2)
newspaper articles published in the MountainXpress paper. You will
also find a lot of angry comments and unanswered questions at the
current site.
Yes, this is such a sad case. I will send a card and pray that his trial will bring the family some justice. This is more like abuse by the system than anything they say the parents may or may not have done.
Thank you so much for posting this and for your efforts to help his cause.
Breeze
Thank you so much for posting this and for your efforts to help his cause.
Breeze
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