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My nephew is 5 months old and was prescribed breathing treatments every 4 hours as a result of having acquired RSV over one month ago. My brother and his girlfriend were smoking around the baby but claim they are no longer doing so. They admit to only giving the baby a breathing treatment once a week if that. The baby is still wheezing. The baby was prescribed medicine for oral thrush, but I found the medicine bottle broken and empty in the bottom of the baby's diaper bag. Also in there was a prescription medication for diaper rash, but the baby’s mother stated she wasn't using it because it didn't work. They dropped the baby off one day without wipes. My brother said he would run up to the store to get some, and when he came back he said he took $10 out of the baby’s piggy bank to buy them. He said it was because he had spent their last $70 on a new cat. They had 2 cats, but one died after eating the nipple off a baby bottle. The baby’s mother blames the baby for the cats death. She told my brother to go out and buy her another cat or she would leave him. My brother actually went out and bought another cat, knowing there were no baby wipes, and knowing this may affect the baby's asthma and allergies. My brother is constantly making excuses for his girlfriends behavior, however, he is aware that she is addicted to alcohol, prescription pain killers and smokes weed. Sometimes I don't think she knows that the little one is her baby. She is 19 and did not want the baby, she wanted to terminate the pregnancy as she did her last. I am 10years older than my brother and by choice I have no children of my own. My husband is a paramedic and has 2 grown children from a previous marriage. He wants me to ask my brother to give us custody. I know this is going to cause problems. If I ask my brother he will simply say no. I know if I call CPS my brother will never speak to me or let me see the baby ever again. I don't want to destroy my family, but I don't want the baby hurt either. Any advice on how I should approach the situation without causing irreparable damage to either the baby or our relationship?
This is a terrible terrible situation. Baby is not getting breathing treatments and is still wheezing......this is hypoxia and can be causing brain damage and can cause death.
I'm sorry if your brother or his lousy girlfriend will be mad at you, but it's time to call CPS. This is neglect at its finest, or worst.
Maybe have a talk with him that if anything happens to the baby where it has to be taken to the hospital and CPS gets involved, she as well as him are going to be in serious trouble and the baby will end up being taken off them.
You maybe even could give him an ultimatum and tell him you are calling CPS if he doesn't let you take care of the baby because obviously she isn't.
You say she didn't even want the baby and her neglect seems to show she still doesn't.
Maybe you could even have a talk with the pediatrician.
I agree with J_9 you have to do whats best for the baby's health and well being.
Leaving it alone is like playing russian roulette with the baby's health and well being.
Ok, listen, the baby is wheezing. Do you understand what wheezing is exactly? The right amount of oxygen is not getting into baby's lungs, causing something called hypoxia, which, if the hypoxia is not treated can cause brain damage, such as cerebral palsy, or even death.
Oral thrush is yeast. Baby had a yeast infection in it's mouth...probably from unclean bottle nipples. If this is left untreated it can go deeper into baby's system. Into the larynx, pharynx, down to the lungs and even into the intestines.
This child needs to be out of their care NOW, YESTERDAY.......5 months ago!!!
Can you enlist the help of your mother to talk to your brother about this? Unfortunately, CPS should be called, and should be called sooner rather than later.
Ok, listen, the baby is wheezing. Do you understand what wheezing is exactly? The right amount of oxygen is not getting into baby's lungs, causing something called hypoxia, which, if the hypoxia is not treated can cause brain damage, such as cerebral palsy, or even death.
Oral thrush is yeast. Baby had a yeast infection in it's mouth...probably from unclean bottle nipples. If this is left untreated it can go deeper into baby's system. Into the larynx, pharynx, down to the lungs and even into the intestines.
This child needs to be out of their care NOW, YESTERDAY.......5 months ago!!!
Can you enlist the help of your mother to talk to your brother about this? Unfortunately, CPS should be called, and should be called sooner rather than later.
See, that's the problem. My mom died 10 years ago when my brother was 17. My dad died 3 months ago. I don't have anyone to turn to. I used to call them when I encountered problems such as this. Turns out this is probably happening because they are dead. No elders in the picture. You are right, it is time to do something. My brother asked me if I would babysit tonight. Do I use this as an opportunity to intercept the baby? He said him and his girlfriend wanted to go to the bar, a swinger's bar. I told him he can't pick the baby up tonight then, because of drinking, and he said ok. Do I take the baby to the hospital, do I call CPS, what do I do?
Thank you all for your input, help and for listening. The baby and I appreciate it more than you know. He has no voice to speak for himself, so I will do it for him. I guess sometimes we just need a little shove to get things going in the right direction. You all have been extremely helpful and instrumental in showing me the way. Thanx.
make sure the baby is safe, if this means destroyng any current relastionship, who cares, ( honestly) if he is dong or allowing this to happen to his chil they need to be given a wake up call.
This is not about your brother at all; this is about a child needing help. Your first responsibility as an adult who is aware of the medical neglect, is to call CPS immediately. How the case is handled depends a lot on what state you reside in. In some states you are actually committing a misdemeanor crime by not reporting what you know. Most child protective agencies operate under the principles of placing children with family first and secondly in foster care....assuming the child is determined to be in imminent danger and removed from the parent(s)' custody. After reporting the neglect, you could identify yourself as a concerned family member requesting placement consideration of the baby. The agency will then evaluate your current situation, life, environment, etc. and perform a "home study" to see if your home/family will be an appropriate placement...either temporary or permanent for the baby.
PLEASE do something about this now........signed - previous caseworker
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