Friday, July 15, 2005
More on the drunken mama
This is the original story from the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise. It's easy enough to get the woman's name, but I don't think it's important to the discussion at hand -- assuming it continues, and if not, cool.
As anyone should suspect with any wire story, there is much more than meets the eye here. Much more. I can tell some things from looking at the woman's picture -- and from being an Oklahoman.
My "gaydar" doesn't work for shit -- but I smell, and see, t-r-o-u-b-l-e from a country mile away. I never thought for a second that this was an isolated incident of drunkenness on the woman's part.
Anyway, here's the story, with the woman's name removed -- 'cause this is a real small state when it comes down to it, and I don't want any grief from friends or family members who see this story here. I could've used her name, but didn't.
--ER
Dewey woman accused of giving birth while drunk
By Tim Hudson
E-E County Reporter
A Dewey woman is being held on $30,000 bond after her arrest for allegedly giving birth while intoxicated.
(The woman), 37, faces charges of child neglect.
Reportedly, (she) gave birth to a baby girl on June 30 who was born with a blood alcohol content close to three times the legal limit set by the Department of Pubic Safety. [Unfortunate typo in original! --ER]
Reports indicate the baby was not breathing upon birth and had to be administered "Narcan" to counteract any narcotics that may have been present in the baby. After an emergency procedure by hospital staff, the child started breathing, reports indicate.
(The woman) reportedly has six other children.
According to a July 11 probable cause affidavit filed in the case, Washington County Sheriff's Office deputies were alerted on June 30 at 11:35 p.m. that a woman who was possibly intoxicated had given birth at Jane Phillips Medical Center.
Upon arrival, deputies were informed that (the woman) had arrived via ambulance after a reported fall from a porch, according to the affidavit. Her baby was later delivered at approximately 10:05 p.m. The infant reportedly weighed 6 pounds and 2 ounces.
Attending physicians reportedly told deputies that (the woman) told them she had been drinking and that she and another individual consumed a case of beer. The affidavit states that (the woman) also told hospital staff that she did not know that she was pregnant.
According to the affidavit, deputies reported that upon entering (the woman's) hospital room, "a strong odor of an intoxicating beverage was immediately present upon entering the room." They further reported that when speaking to (the woman), "her speech was slurred or thick, (and) her eyes appeared slightly red."
(The woman) reportedly told police that she considers herself to be an alcoholic and that she did not consider herself to be drunk at that time. According to the affidavit, she said she was drinking because she was stressed and had been having problems with her in-laws. When asked if she had been intoxicated at anytime during her pregnancy, she reportedly said "maybe a few times." She later said she was intoxicated twice a week during her pregnancy, the affidavit states.
A doctor's report on the baby as of July 5 reportedly indicated that the child's features were consistent with fetal alcohol syndrome and that the child is suffering from withdrawals indicating that it is addicted to alcohol.
According to the affidavit, the child has been moved from one foster home to another due to "the incessant crying" that has accompanied the infant. Eventually, the baby was moved to a caretaker that has experience dealing with addicted infants.
Reportedly, the range or extent of physical and mental damage from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome may only be determined as the child matures, but it is permanent, according to the Center for Disease Control. The CDC lists Fetal Alcohol Syndrome as the leading preventable cause of mental retardation and physical deformity, according to the affidavit.
(The woman) has previous convictions in Washington County for domestic abuse, violation of a protective order, resisting arrest and pubic intoxication.
END
As anyone should suspect with any wire story, there is much more than meets the eye here. Much more. I can tell some things from looking at the woman's picture -- and from being an Oklahoman.
My "gaydar" doesn't work for shit -- but I smell, and see, t-r-o-u-b-l-e from a country mile away. I never thought for a second that this was an isolated incident of drunkenness on the woman's part.
Anyway, here's the story, with the woman's name removed -- 'cause this is a real small state when it comes down to it, and I don't want any grief from friends or family members who see this story here. I could've used her name, but didn't.
--ER
Dewey woman accused of giving birth while drunk
By Tim Hudson
E-E County Reporter
A Dewey woman is being held on $30,000 bond after her arrest for allegedly giving birth while intoxicated.
(The woman), 37, faces charges of child neglect.
Reportedly, (she) gave birth to a baby girl on June 30 who was born with a blood alcohol content close to three times the legal limit set by the Department of Pubic Safety. [Unfortunate typo in original! --ER]
Reports indicate the baby was not breathing upon birth and had to be administered "Narcan" to counteract any narcotics that may have been present in the baby. After an emergency procedure by hospital staff, the child started breathing, reports indicate.
(The woman) reportedly has six other children.
According to a July 11 probable cause affidavit filed in the case, Washington County Sheriff's Office deputies were alerted on June 30 at 11:35 p.m. that a woman who was possibly intoxicated had given birth at Jane Phillips Medical Center.
Upon arrival, deputies were informed that (the woman) had arrived via ambulance after a reported fall from a porch, according to the affidavit. Her baby was later delivered at approximately 10:05 p.m. The infant reportedly weighed 6 pounds and 2 ounces.
Attending physicians reportedly told deputies that (the woman) told them she had been drinking and that she and another individual consumed a case of beer. The affidavit states that (the woman) also told hospital staff that she did not know that she was pregnant.
According to the affidavit, deputies reported that upon entering (the woman's) hospital room, "a strong odor of an intoxicating beverage was immediately present upon entering the room." They further reported that when speaking to (the woman), "her speech was slurred or thick, (and) her eyes appeared slightly red."
(The woman) reportedly told police that she considers herself to be an alcoholic and that she did not consider herself to be drunk at that time. According to the affidavit, she said she was drinking because she was stressed and had been having problems with her in-laws. When asked if she had been intoxicated at anytime during her pregnancy, she reportedly said "maybe a few times." She later said she was intoxicated twice a week during her pregnancy, the affidavit states.
A doctor's report on the baby as of July 5 reportedly indicated that the child's features were consistent with fetal alcohol syndrome and that the child is suffering from withdrawals indicating that it is addicted to alcohol.
According to the affidavit, the child has been moved from one foster home to another due to "the incessant crying" that has accompanied the infant. Eventually, the baby was moved to a caretaker that has experience dealing with addicted infants.
Reportedly, the range or extent of physical and mental damage from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome may only be determined as the child matures, but it is permanent, according to the Center for Disease Control. The CDC lists Fetal Alcohol Syndrome as the leading preventable cause of mental retardation and physical deformity, according to the affidavit.
(The woman) has previous convictions in Washington County for domestic abuse, violation of a protective order, resisting arrest and pubic intoxication.
END
Comments:
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What's appalling about that story is that it's been two weeks and the baby -- a 2-week-old infant -- has already been in two different foster homes. Foster home 1: "wahh, this one cries all the time, we can't deal with it. come take it away!"
# posted by 
: 3:20 PM
: 3:20 PM
It takes very specialized care to support an infant born with FAS. I am grateful the first foster family realized it was beyond their capability and they sought out another home where the foster parents have been trained to handle FAS infants. The crying is, indeed, nonstop 24 hours a day. And that is only a tip of the iceburg of the care this child will need its entire life.
Totally understand about FAS infants. Just don't understand why it wasn't recognized from the beginning that this was the care the child would need instead of trying to place it in regular foster care first. The article states the child was diagnosed with FAS from birth.
# posted by : 3:37 PM
: 3:37 PM
Well, this happened in Dewey, not Indy or OKC. I mean Bartlesville ain't Mayberry, but still. I'll bet the list of foster care givers prepared to take a FAS baby is a short one.
I dunno. If you click thru, Rankovi appears to be a chick in Serbia who started a blog today. Strange.
Now, see, I would say this is a better story--precisely because it makes it clear that "being drunk in labor" wasn't the cause of the arrest, but merely a rather spectacular detail.
Oohhh. You wanted fullness and clarity! I see. ;-)
But it WAS a spectacular detail!
"Never let the facts get in the way of a good story."
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But it WAS a spectacular detail!
"Never let the facts get in the way of a good story."
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