Thursday

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Baby Dies; Pacifier Taped to Mouth - Richland County, SC
A Richland County foster mother is accused of causing the death of a baby in her care by taping the infant's pacifier to his mouth.The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigators said Angela Deniece Dukes, 30, of Columbia, S.C., is charged with unlawful conduct towards a child after a lengthy investigation. According to an arrest warrant, the pacifier obstructed the 9-month-old's breathing, resulting in his death on Feb. 8 at Dukes’ home.

And now a story of survival...
My youngest son ( I have 3) who is now 2 years old was diagnosed at 5 months old with a very rare and terminal genetic disorder. After much research we decided to go to St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN (we live in CA). They had a one of a kind protocol for my son's disorder. At 7 months old my son underwent a life saving Stem Cell Transplant, I had the honor of being his donor. He did better then expected, and except for being left blind (from the disorder, not the transplant) he is a happy and healthy 2 year old. While at St. Jude they provided us air line tickets to get to and from, housing, and food. All at no charge to us. No child is ever turned away for inability to pay. It costs them over $1,000,000 a DAY to run the hospital, and they run it mostly on donations from the public. My son would not be here today if it were not for all the wonderful people and care he got from that hospital. We stayed in Memphis for 6 months, while my son recovered from his Chemo and Transplant.

St. Jude has an Annual Marathon to raise money for the hospital. This year, my husband Gavin and I will be participating in the 5k, to help give back to the place that gave us so much and never asked for anything in return. Please visit my son's website or our marathon site to lend your support or learn more.
Sincerely,
Lindsey

25 comments:

TC said...

Wow, I've often joked about taping a pacy to my kids mouth to keep it there but I would never actually do it.

Poor kid :(

MinuteMuggle said...

this is just horrible. I can't believe how sick some people are.
:(

Nanny and Mother said...

What worries me so much is that this was a foster mother. She is supposed to be able to care for children. What the hell kind of screening process do they have that people like this get by it?

Misplaced comment said...

world's best nanny said...
This is awful. My brother and I are 18 months apart and I think my mother went insane with the 2 of us. My brother was a very colicky baby and I have a clear recollection of her taping the binky to my brothers face! This was back in 1969 and I remember, I couldn't say tape, I called it tap, so I said "Mommy why does "Joey" have tap on his face?!" Psycho mom!!

Lis said...

There is a special place in hell for people like this.

MinuteMuggle said...

Worlds best nanny:

I am so sorry. That just makes me feel awful. :(

kc said...

I am from Memphis and St. Jude is one of about 3 good things from the city. I don't know about other cities but both Memphis/metro area school systems do Math-a-thon every year, which is where kids get a math workbook and for every problem they complete they get someone to donate x amount of money. Depending on how many donations they get/problems they complete, they get t-shirts and stuff. It's a great program.

For anyone who's interested, St. Jude also has a great gift shop on their website with tons of stuff. I believe most of the profits go to the hospital.

Lindsey said...

I just want to thank you Jane for finding a way to put this up. We really appreciate all the support we get from everyone. Thanks again!

Lola said...

God bless you, and all that contribute to such a miraculous organization.

world's best nanny said...

Why was my post taken down and then put back up by "Misplaced comment?"

I was not condoning this woman's behavior. I just made me bring up a recollection, that's all. That and how times have changed.

Nanny Taxi said...

WBN,
Hey! Thank God I was born later, I shudder to think what mom would've done to me! I remember you and mom talking about this. Didn't she tie "Joey" to a fence too because he kept running off? It's funny with mothers day coming up I've been thinking about her and how in death she has become a saint. In reality she was a real woman who was totally stressed out when you guys were young.

Billy Goat Gruff said...

WBN

Because you originally posted it on the wrong thread.

But, this is TYPICAL you!! Once again, you've had the same experience as one posted! Usually your experience has some little twist that makes it even worse, or involves some way you manipulated a situation, shedding doubt on a situation - ultimately making you the worlds greatest troll. It's truly amazing how that happens 80% of the time!

Laney said...

Billy Goat Gruff,

If you're going to get down on WBN for that, you'll have to get down on mom for the same. That woman has an antecdote for every flipping thing under the sun.

"You had seven layer salad once? That reminds me of a time when my kids were little and.... "

nannyinmanhattan said...

Billy Goat Gruff and Laney, too funny!
WBN,nanny taxi? You two know each other? No fair!!
Everyone, all things aside, give to the cause.

nannyinmanhattan

mom said...

Thanks a lot Laney. Although, I hafta say I have noticed that myself...I do seem to have an anectdote for every situation...and wondered why nobody has made an issue of it.


Guess I've lived a lot of life by now...and I like to use examples as I describe things...but honestly all of the little stories I put up here are true. Probably because I spent day after day either volunteering up at the school, at the partk or pool, or had half the neighborhood at my house all the time...I have a ton of bizarre kid and weirdo mom stories. Put me on another site and I'd probably do a lot more reading and a lot less posting.

mom said...

One time, at band camp....

Jane Doe said...

Love your ancedotes, Mom!

mom said...

Awww, thanks Jane.
My son said the other night (I guess, here's another one coming...) that he is going to someday write a sitcom based on our family and all of the weird things that have happened in our lives and in our family, and all of the weirdness we muster when we're together, and that it will be so bizarre that everybody will assume that it's way over the top fiction, but the real secret behind it will be that it's all true! I told him he should. He'll make a mint.

OH, and the reason he said this...it was prompted when I correctly used the phrase "That's what she said," after he made some comment, and he about fell out of his skin with shock at my "inappropriate behavior." (And I hafta brag that it was a really GOOD one!)I just smiled at him and calmly said, "What? I listen and learn from the best."

MinuteMuggle said...

Mom, I love your stories too! And I've missed you! (wink wink)

world's best nanny said...

Excuse me Billy Goat.....I am 43 years old and seen a lot of life. Sorry but not every post I have a story for. Nannies and children on trains. Nope, didn't have one. Nannies in New York parks, nope don't have one. Give me a break! Then again why am I explaining myself to you? Meh.

MinuteMuggle said...

worlds best nanny:

I have to say you are growing on me. I love the word "meh."

:)

Loyal Reader said...

Not only does mom have a anecdote for everything, it takes her 4-7 paragraphs to tell it. Most. Longwinded. Poster. Ever.

To each his own I suppose

MinuteMuggle said...

I don't think mom's posts are long-winded at all. To be honest, they remind me of the books i used to like to read as a child. In fact, I was just thinking of Mom today when I was reading aloud a Laura Ingalls Wilder book to my child. It was "These Happy Golden Years" and I think mom's style of writing is alot like Wilder's. It flows nicely and I like the way she talks about her kids. I look forward to her posts.

SFC said...

I also really enjoy mom's posts :) She generally makes a great deal of sense.

mom said...

Thanks guys. Minute Muggle, there you are! I left a brief message for you on another thread because I couldn't remember where I had "seen" you earlier.
I had wondered if you were "you." I was thinking of you yesterday as I was putting photographs from the last 15 years (Ugh!) into albums. I ran across several of my daughter in costumes we once discussed, and though of how you would have liked them. (You know what I mean.)
And I also came across several of her in her Little House on the Prairie dress that we bought in DeSmet and she wore the entire time we were there and had her picture taken in every possible "Laura" site. You have to go there! It really is a memory not to be missed...and while they're young and into the books it's perfectly magical!

I hope your world is happy and calm and safe. I'm glad to see you here.