Off with her Leg!

October 13, 2006 permalink

In an article published this week in the Brantford Expositor, Sharon Edwards speculates that in the future, child protectors might seize a child for the purpose of amputating his leg. Read today's chilling email from Nancy Luckhurst of Michigan:

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A grandmother in Grand Rapids will be in Courtroom 10 A at 10:30 AM this morning in front of Judge Feeney fighting for the right to adopt her own granddaughter she raised nearly from birth. DA Blodgett in GR and the state of Michigan DHS wanted to amputate the child's leg when the grandmother was opting for alternative surgery to lengthen her leg a preferred and recomended treatment by national experts that would have a much better outcome.

The state took the child from Grandmother not because she abused the child. But because they said the child's mother abandoned the child. Sally had raised her granddaughter for 5 years. She is a loving grand who has fought for nearly 2 years to get this child back yet the state disregards Federal mandates linked to Federal Title IV E funding and gives the child to strangers.

The AG has asked for a closed Courtroom this morning. Why???? What does the state of Michigan have to hide? In light of Ricky Holland, Isaac Lethbridge Detroit another child from Canton MI, and a child from Ingham Co all who died horrible violent deaths at the hands of Foster/adopt parents in the last 6 months one has to ask. Does this state make the best decisions for our most vulnerable children?

Please cover this story today. This mother needs help. I and others will be at this courthouse this morning to witness this debacle as it surely will be.

Nancy Luckhurst
President of the Foundation for Children's Rights
(989) 261-1200

Source: email from Nancy Luckhurst

Addendum: Here is a press report on the case. The main concern of the judge is keeping the story quiet, so the chilling details will remain secret.

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Grandma fights for granddaughter's custody

Updated: Oct 13, 2006 10:27 PM, By ANNE SCHIEBER

GRAND RAPIDS - A grandmother spent a full day in court Friday trying to get custody of her grandchild instead of the child's foster parents.

Judge Kathleen Feeney was trying to determine if the state acted properly in determining the foster parents, who have had the child for a year-and-a-half, would make better adoptive parents than the grandmother.

The grandmother, Sally Borghese, had no idea what to expect today when Feeney closed the hearing to the media and Borhese's supporters.

According to Borghese, her case began to unravel after her daughter lost parental rights and an independent family agency intervened. She claims she took care of her granddaughter most of the time her daughter was dealing with alcoholism and mental illness. She and her supporters say there has never been any evidence of abuse or neglect.

The judge ordered Borghese supporters not to discuss the case. They did have plenty to say about why they think such cases end up in disputes in the first place. They claim the state gets more money from the federal government.

"If they put a child with parents or relatives, they don't get the money," said Nancy Luckhurst of the Foundation for Children's Rights. "That's why they put them in foster care, in group homes and with therapeutic foster care, rather than with relatives. They find any excuse not to put them with relatives. This is wrong."

State welfare officials deny that's why they split up families.

The one public file on the case does not discuss Borghese specifically, but it does contain orders for the Borghese to keep her granddaughter away from the birth mother.

One of Borghese's supporters is Darlene King, another grandmother in an adoption fight. She believes Borghese faces a tough road in the state's child welfare agency.

"You have to prove that they are arbitrary and capricious," King said, "and that's a hard thing to do."

The hearing is expected to continue Wednesday. Judge Feeney will have 30 days to make her decision.

Source: WOOD-TV