UPDATE
9/21/2015 Story By Medical Kidnap
From the #ReuniteandFight4Cesar [1] Facebook page today:
Dr. Holick has confirmed Cesar
has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and he had the infantile rickets In which caused
bone fragility.
As
Health Impact News has previously reported,
On June
29, she says she traveled to Boston to meet with world-renowned Dr.
Michael Holick, Ph.D. M.D., who counts among his accomplishments pioneering
ground-breaking research on vitamin D. After obtaining Cesar and Jessica’s
family history and examining Jessica, he reportedly diagnosed her with
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome III, which is a hypermobile type of EDS. Because she has
the disorder, the likelihood of a similar medical condition in her son is
increased. [See here [2].]
Earlier
in September, a judge approved for Jessica Battiato to take her son Cesar
to Dr. Holick for a visit on September 21, where he has now confirmed the
diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos.
She is
hopeful that this finding will help her get her son back home quickly.
She
still has to face a court battle, where CPS may try to discount the testimony
of Dr. Holick and other experts. Their case is based on the
testimony of child abuse specialist Dr. Kathryn Crowell, who has
previously “misrepresented” medical evidence in the past, resulting in an
innocent father being sent to prison before he was exonerated by the facts.
As of today Cesar is still in
foster care. On July 29, 2015 another
hearing was held in front of Judge Mary Ann Ullman. Lead attorney Matt Kopecki asked the court to
allow for Cesar to see Dr. Michael Holick in his office in Boston. All the medical evidence that has been
gathered was presented. Children and
Youth services refused and instead suggested a second opinion from another
child abuse expert at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The child has not been abused. Dr. Ayoub and
Dr. Holick believe its rickets, but there is a possibility Cesar carries a
genetic defect of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and which can cause bone fragility
among infants who have a combination and who have vitamin D deficiency and
insufficiency. Crowell the Hershey doctor that made the
accusations of child abuse against the parents refuses to accept any other
diagnosis even though she has been on trial before for mis-diagnosing this
disease. Attorney Kopecki countered by
explaining to Judge Ullman that Cesar has a rare condition and very few experts
are available since rickets has returned in children as an illness once thought
to be non-existent for years. Although
Ullman did say a visit with expert Holick was not out of the question she
needed a "significant reason" for the trip.
Cesar's mom feels the whole
reason to send him to CHOP is to cover up Dr. Crowell's mistake. Because both Crowell and BCCYS refuse to look
at valid medical reasons for Cesar's condition.
BCCYS went
as far as to call Dr. Holick a "Quack." Considering she has absolutely no medical
degree it does appear that CYS is refusing to look at the evidence so they can
continue to hold Cesar in foster care. Jessica
stated, "This is my son. Stop
covering your behinds. Give me my son
back."
The motion for that reason was heard
on September 1st. Dr. Holick testified
on Cesar's behalf via telephone. During
testimony the BCCYS workers appeared very nervous and unprepared to deal with a
real expert like Dr. Holick. The county
had no real evidence or substantial testimony to present. Judge Ullman proceeded to grant the motion
for Cesar to go Boston for an appointment with Dr. Holick. The will be accompanied by BCCYS workers and
the foster mom. Berks County is covering
the traveling expenses. Great news for
Cesar and his parents.
“The Mission of the Berks County Children and
Youth Services is to protect children and assure their physical & emotional
well-being as provided by law, and to preserve, strengthen & empower their
families.”
Jessica
feels this statement "promotes false hope." "Berks County Children and Youth
Services failed to assure baby Cesar’s physical and emotional well-being.
Instead, BCCYS and Hershey started name calling our expert, Dr. Holick, a
“Quack.” They’re not focused on my
son’s physical and emotional well-being; instead, they are attacking our
experts. It seems my son’s medical condition has become a joke to BCCYS team
and Hershey Medical Center. They are more focused on covering themselves, than
concluding with the correct diagnosis of Cesar. It seems they are ready for war
and it has become a battle of the experts. But, when it comes to a mother’s
love for her child, it is one of the most powerful feelings that has given me
strength to be fearless for my son. I am ready, I am prepared, and I am his
advocate."
Because
Cesar's injuries were reported as abuse Jessica must also endure a child abuse
investigation. Detective Ivan Martinez
was assigned to her case admitting that he has never done a child abuse
investigation. He attempted to force
Jessica into a polygraph test but he refused to guarantee that if she took the
test and she passes that Cesar would be returned. She refused the test knowing she is innocent
assuming this is just another tactic to manipulate her case without the
guarantee that baby Cesar be given back to her.
The next
court hearing is scheduled for October 13, 2015 at 9:30am. In the interim Cesar's parents are going to
meet with State Rep Mark Gillen on September 8, 2015 and are waiting to hear
from Senator Schwank as well.
Please
contact the governor of Pennsylvania, Tom Wolf, and ask that Baby Cesar be
returned to his family. He may be reached at 717-787-2500.
The
Battiatos are represented by Rep. Mark Gillen, who may be reached at (610)
775-5130.
Senator
Judith Schwank is the senator for the Battiatos’ district. She may be reached
at (717) 787-8925.
Read more about Jessica and Cesar: http://medicalkidnap.com/2015/06/26/medical-kidnapping-in-pennsylvania-parents-of-baby-with-rickets-accused-of-abuse/
Television news program 20/20 also covered this rare
disease on March 11, 2015, featuring Dr. Holick and other families affected by
incorrect diagnoses.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/maine-mom-hopes-diagnosis-rare-syndrome-exonerate-dad/story?id=29026735
More information on Hypermobility may be found at
http://www.ednf.org/hypermobility-type
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