Complaint Review: San Bernardino CPS - Gifford Location

My son was diagnosed with Menengitis at 3 weeks old. He was running a very high temperature and I took him to Loma Linda Childrens Hospital for testing. They performed a procedure called a spinal tap where they remove fluid from the 3 week old babys back by balling him (chest to knees) and inserting a needle into his spinal cord. The test was very hard to complete because of the babys size. They attempted 3 times. They told me he would be given local anesthesia but it would be painless. Afterwards I would be able to hold him and reassure him he was okay. This was a lie....after the 3rd attempt my son was given Morphine and completly drugged out. He could not be held after because he would cringe and cry in pain.

After the results came back it was confirmed that he had menengitis and would have to be hospitalized for 3 weeks. I  cried all the way home to be with my oldest, then 3 year old, son. A couple of days later I received a call saying Amari could come home. We were so excited.

On Dec 3rd, 2010 my 3 month old Amari had a seizure in the back seat of our van in the McDonalds drive thru. At the time we did not know it was a seizure because Amari was not shaking. My husband grabbed him out of his seat and brought him to the front seat where he attempted CPR. There was not enough space so I grabbed Amari and with my hands supporting his head attempted to shake him to wake him up. That did not work so I called 911.

Once the ambulance arrived they informed me that Amari had a seizure and was fine, we could go home. Being a good Mother I insisted that we go to the ER because babies dont just have seizures. Once there they called CPS and said that our son had 3 fractured ribs and a brain bleed, not caused by CPR and there were no signs of shaken baby syndrome. They said we would have had to hit our younest son with the force of a car accident. I lost my mind....how could they say we had hurt our baby.

We were placed in jail and later let go for "lack of probable cause" and our children were taken from us. CPS wanted us to admit we did something we did not do. We completed counseling, and parenting classes and that was not sufficient.

I spoke to a few people (professionals) and they all agree that the injuries very well could have been caused from the menegitis and the procedure to test for menengitis. I took proof, medical records, pictures, etc to the CPS office but they refused to even consider the chance it was accidental and caused by other things.

My husband and I went to court and instead of our court appointed attorneys trying to prove we were innocent, they tried to prove we were "changed people", "better parents".

As of October 2011 our parental rights were terminated and our children given up for adoption. This is a CRIME!! Taking kids from a home, from thier parents with no proof it was their fault.

We were told the "burden of proof" in these cases is less than a normal case. Outrageous!! I need help....I need/want my kids back and I have no where to turn!!

Thank you,

Dee