The First Baby's Death (Autumn) – Died October 28, 2005

The pathologist's report – noted that Autumn had a low therapeutic dose of her anti-seizure medication in her bloodstream (as the foster mother claimed she ran out of it and was not giving it to her), concluding that she likely took a seizure face-down and suffocated (since this is the way this woman slept her-on her tummy). This was now the second baby who died in this foster mother's care, as one died a year earlier.

The Coroner's report documented that her 'death was undetermined.'
The pathologist's report ruled that the 'probable cause of death was due to suffocation from being laid face-down and her taking a seizure. In his report, he noted that the therapeutic level of the drug Phenobarbital to prevent her from taking seizures was too low because the foster mom reported that she had run out of it and had not gotten it refilled.  No inquest- no recommendations – no one had to take responsibility.

For those of us who love babies and children, we must promise that we, as a nation, will endeavour to ensure their protection. When I took a stand with this ministry to protect my grandchildren in opposition to their irrational and unprofessional case-plans for them, they made sure I'd pay -and pay I did, as did my family-we paid dearly even to date.
   
In the fall of 2002, this ministry invited me to attend Regina Children's Justice Department and bring Charlene with me. So I did, believing they may interview Charlene and that she could tell them in her own words what happened to her, as she had already told them.

Instead, it turned out that they wanted to talk only with me concerning a report I'd made about a disclosure that I became privy to from a third party. This report focused on what a teenage girl told her foster mom about her having witnessed a baby killed by the same person whom Charlene had named in the killing (sacrificing) of babies.

Living in a Fish Bowl

The improvement in Charlene's anxiety and trauma reactions never lasted long. There would be an exacerbation (return of the symptoms) when she'd get triggered, like when we took her to the exhibition, when we enrolled her in an Aboriginal Christian camp or after she saw her mom. In all my years of counselling and nursing, I have never experienced such trauma as I witnessed with her.

Thank you, Jesus, for being there with me through those dark and painful nights with her, telling her she was safe and no one could hurt her anymore. If I had not known you (Jesus) and if I hadn't the training and experience to deal with this, I would have 'gone over the edge.' 

Yet I was not prepared to witness the 'depth of fear' and 'pain & suffering' she expressed several times a week.  I know now there are many other children like Charlene, and we as a nation need to bring them healing. 
Many on reserves are teens trying to commit suicide because their pain is so great, and they see no way out. 

So I did try that. I wrote a letter to the Saskatchewan Premier, Mr. Roy Romanow, whose office passed my concerns to Mr. Lorne Calvert, who was the Minister of Social Services (Protection) then. He, in turn, passed my concerns to Mr. David Hedlund, the Regional Director of Saskatchewan Social Services.

It was Mr. Hedlund who was instrumental in 'blacklisting' the rehabilitation program I began: Healing the Nation-One Family At A Time' by sending a memo to the participants' social workers telling them to advise their clients not to enroll in our program and to warn them that if they did enroll, they'd risk losing their Social Assistance check. Such a threat was unconscionable and a stark example of their control and toxic 'mindset.'

Quit Blaming Me!

All the while, the focus should have been to validate my granddaughter Charlene and me; they did the opposite, threatening me and making my life 'hell' by worrying about what they'd do next.
After we re-established a counselling business, Anchor Inn Rehabilitation & Counselling Center, we never fully recovered from their rumours and the damages they caused us. Did the 'devil' make them do all of this? Perhaps even the devil would be upset being blamed.
With this lawsuit now ended and Charlene's website and mine going viral, I no longer feel that I'm swimming 'round and round' in a 'fish bowl' and I am able to tell my story.
In fact, it is time for my voice to be heard, as it is for Charlene's. Her voice can be heard at http://www.voicesofthebruised-reeds.com.
When family members are ignored, maligned and attacked for telling authorities what has happened to our babies and children and grandchildren, and are denied appropriate help when we ask for it, and when they orchestrate malicious acts of retribution, we will continue to litigate them, even if we lose – we must! Without fear of retribution because: 
"Power at its best is love implementing 'the demands of justice.'  Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love". Martin Luther King Jr.