The untold story

Everything still normal. Baby Nicholas still colic (we thought). Christian was back to school and Anthony had taken a week vacation from work.

October 7, 2010
I woke up to a screaming baby. This wasn't his normal I'm hungry cry, he was in pain of some sort. I tried some gas meds and a little Tylenol. Eventually he fell back to sleep, but was waking every half hour or so. What a long night! Morning came and Nick seemed to be in a much better mood. Got Christian ready and off to school. That is when I realized something is wrong with Nicholas. He wasn't lifting his left arm, and when I lifted it he was screaming. I called on Anthony and showed him what was happening. He didn't think anything was wrong, and said maybe he's stiff? I didn't like the looks of it. His collar bone was swollen and pinkish. I decided to give a call to the doctor. They said bring him in an hour. They decided to go ahead with his appointment he had for next week that day, so he got some shots while we were there. The doctor was as concerned as we were. And suggested we have an x-ray taken. He told me to not worry. Our pediatrician is fantastic and knows us very well, and knows we're worry warts. He said you can go to Ellwood since Nick was delivered there. We also wanted to grab lunch at Vinny's, so we headed down.

Took the x-rays and they said it would take about an hour and had us wait. We waited and a nurse came back and told me Nicholas had a fractured clavicle (collar bone)! We were flabbergasted! They wanted us to go into the emergency room. Went in and a few minutes later a very arrogant doctor walked in. He explained what the x-rays were showing. Not only did Nicholas have a fractured clavicle, but his femurs and humerus look as if they were previously fractured. I remember looking at him saying oh my God. Then he said. I will have to file a report with children and youth services, a two and a half month old baby cannot break his bones on his own. Obviously a two and a half month old baby cannot, but there is no way someone is hurting this child. He thought differently. He was very rude from the beginning. Asked me very silly questions. Nicholas has always had reddish eyelids and the veins in his cheeks show. He wanted to know how that happened? It didn't happen, it's always been that way. Nick was also born with a muscle deformed in his bottom lip. When he cries one side droops and the other doesn't. He wanted to know how that happened? Well, your the medical professional shouldn't you know what that is? Anyhow, I'm panicking now. I called my other mum and dad. She came down right away. At this point CYS had already been there questioning us. They even agreed that there was no way Nick was being abused. Nick's doctor came in and he said no signs of abuse. Their office was just flabbergasted as well. I had enough of these accusations and said I want a second opinion. Again with the arrogant doctor he told me that I could not have a second opinion and x-rays don't lie. I said but you do! I'm leaving! Where do you think your going to take him? I said Children's hospital. CYS agreed that was a good idea, but Nick could not come home with us! WHAT?!?! He had to go home with Pam (other mum). They made a gentlemen agreement and we left. It was late that night and we all agreed to go in the morning.

10-8-2010
We make arrangements for someone to get Christian from school drop and head straight to Pittsburgh. Mum came along she just had to, I couldn't handle it alone. She is very strong and doesn't take much bull crap! We got there and explained what was happening. The first thing the attending doctor noticed was the color of Nicholas' eyes. What is supposed to be white around the pupils are grayish blue. A sign of a rare disease called Osteogenesis imprefecta or brittle bone disease. They run Nick though a series of tests including cat scans and several x-rays. Cat scan was completely clear ruling out shaken baby syndrome (duh I could have told them that). X-rays showed fractures in the clavicle possible fractures of the humerus and femurs. They wanted to take a DNA sample to test him for Osteogenesis imprefecta, except it will take four to six weeks to return.

10-12-2010
Nick still with Pam. We're all torn apart. There is just no way someone is hurting this baby. Something is seriously wrong. We have an answer to why he was always crying, his bones hurt. He has the signs of OI. We just have to pray the science is in our favor. We scheduled a meeting with the CYS caseworker. We wanted Nicholas home. If anyone has ever dealt with CYS you will know that they are never truthful and always misleading. They tell you what you want to hear. We learned quickly to never believe them. Back to our meeting. The caseworker came with her 'supervisor' in tow. And a police detective!!!! Oh my god! They wanted to speak to Anthony and myself, mainly Anthony. They viewed him as a loose cannon because he blew up on a caseworker, how couldn't he? He was being accused! At this point we had done so much research on OI and another condition called Temporary brittle bone disease. We spoke to the detective with Pam for a few minutes. Explaining our findings and what we believe is going on. He insulted my cousin by asking her what her medical back ground was? She said nothing, but the internet. So he called her a medical expert wannabe! That is so not the case! We aren't wannabe's we're trying to figure out what is wrong with our baby! We spoke to the detective agreed to take the polygraph tests. Not too soon later there was a knock at the door. It was the CYS caseworker another supervisor and a state police officer. With an order to place Nicholas in protective custody. I fell to the ground I said this cannot be happening. I ran to Nick I wanted to hide with him. The caseworker said 'Melissa don't make me arrest you, hand him over' I didn't. The police officer took his cuffs out and said please don't make me do this. I handed him over. She didn't care when the last time he ate was, what he ate, what he could be allergic to, or did she care that he was fragile. They ran out and I lost it. I screamed laying on the floor, I wanted to be dead. But I had to fight for my rights and my son's rights. I called our close friend who happens to be a lawyer. We were to be in court in 72 hours. We ran to Christians school. I had to protect him at all costs. I had a feeling they were heading after him next. Thankfully they weren't. They left him alone during the whole process, thank God. He is my rock!


10-14-2010
The morning of our hearing to decided where Nick will go. Home with us or with family. Our lawyer went in and came out a few minutes later and told us. They would drop all the charges IF we agreed to take parenting classes (WHAT) and Antony have a mental health evaluation. This isn't a laughing matter at this point, but everyone had to chuckle at these ridiculous orders. The teacher told me I could teach the class! And when Anthony went for his 'evaluation' they asked him why he was there, he did not need an evaluation! CYS was not happy to hear this! Back to the court  hearing. After a few weeks of classes Nick could come home and it's over. Except they wouldn't allow him with Pam. They did not like her since she stood up for her family. But since our lawyer is a great friend of our family he and his wife said they'd take him, and allowed me to stay with Nick every night. 

The weeks pass. CYS doesn't trust our lawyer anymore, and said they will decide when Nick can return home. And just to put a damper on us they make us wait for test results. 

11-8-2010
Four weeks pass. We have had enough. We're appealing! Back to court again. This time we won! Nick was sent home with us! 

11- 15-2010
A week later the DNA test results came back. Nicholas tested positive for OI (brittle bone disease) he had a mutation in two genes. He was diagnosed with OI type one. The science proved our innocence. The case was dropped and closed. There was nothing more they could do. This disease causes bones to be brittle and break easily. Some people sneeze and fracture a rib. 



This is the first time I have let this story out. Only few people knew. I want to write about my ordeal for people who are battling with children and youth services. This happens to so many families with OI. It's very common. Sadly we have to go through this to find out. It was the second most horrible thing to happen in my life. I thank the Lord daily for my family. He got me though the most of it, the power of prayer is amazing! As for how we handle Nick's brittle bones. Obviously being very careful and seeing the proper doctors is what he needs. We hope to start him on a medication called pamidroate. It will be used to make his bones stronger and to provide pain relief. I will continue to write more blogs about my family like I promised. Thank you for reading.