Identified! TN - Carryville, LIVING female, 15-21, mentally disabled, Jun'12 - Lynn Cameron

That mother's story sounds like BS to me
I wonder if Lynn understands what her mother did to her?Poor girl-my heart just breaks for her-They better not give her mother visitation either!!!

What a sad story! What will happen to Lynn? I can't imagine how confused she must be..... some humans are less evolved than animals when it comes to maternal instincts.

When I googled the mom and her home town.I got a listing for a very nice home in a nice neighborhood. I also noticed a comment on
Local News: Algonquin, IL topix "Really I know this family an their are a lot of serious issues going on its time for the state to take care of the other two children in that house."

I would hope the state does check on the welfare of the other two children.(If in fact there are two) If she gave up on one what will happen to the others? I also wonder did Lynn really have a baby? What was that story?? How does your constant needs child end up with a baby?? I think we will hear more about this family in the future..

I think before everyone starts ripping this mother, they might want to see what the state of affairs is in Illinois with help for the disabled.

Sadly, this mother might not have had any other choice, and this might have been the most difficult decision she had to make, in order to ensure Lynn is cared for properly. Especially now that Lynn is no longer a minor.

Perhaps being a ward of the state, in a state other than Illinois, will ensure Lynn gets the care she needs.


The first article is a year old. It has only gotten worse here in Illinois.

Parents of disabled children giving up on Illinois


Families move to other states as Illinois' social service funding shrinks

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/...abled-children-united-cerebral-palsy-illinois



Parents sue over cuts to children’s medical care

By: The Associated Press | 12 hours ago

CHICAGO – A group of parents has filed a lawsuit seeking to preserve an Illinois program that pays for home care for their medically fragile children.

http://wjbc.com/parents-sue-over-cuts-to-childrens-medical-care/

ALGONQUIN – An Algonquin woman accused of abandoning her severely disabled 19-year-old daughter at a Tennessee bar late last month said Tuesday that she brought her daughter to the state because it has the "No. 1 health care system in the United States of America

http://www.nwherald.com/2012/07/10/algonquin-mother-wont-take-disabled-teen-back/awybm7g/


None of those who are bashing this mothers decision live in Illinois. I live in Illinois. There is really no more funding for the disabled. There were massive cuts which went into effect in June of this year. It's really not good. This mother did not kill her daughter like we've seen with so many others. She brought her daughter to a state which she believed could provide her daughter with care she could not in Illinois.

Cubby said:

ALGONQUIN – An Algonquin woman accused of abandoning her severely disabled 19-year-old daughter at a Tennessee bar late last month said Tuesday that she brought her daughter to the state because it has the "No. 1 health care system in the United States of America

http://www.nwherald.com/2012/07/10/algonquin-mother-wont-take-disabled-teen-back/awybm7g/


None of those who are bashing this mothers decision live in Illinois. I live in Illinois. There is really no more funding for the disabled. There were massive cuts which went into effect in June of this year. It's really not good. This mother did not kill her daughter like we've seen with so many others. She brought her daughter to a state which she believed could provide her daughter with care she could not in Illinois.

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There are far better ways to go about this situation than she did.

My daughter was born in Chicago. Because of the poor health care (not welfare benefits) we moved to Arizona after the clearance from all of her specialist. I did what was best for my child at the age of 23. With that being said you would think a 45 year old could do the same.

The bottom line is...SHE DROPPED HER DAUGHTER OFF IN THE DARK AT A BAR IN A STRANGE AREA WITHOUT NOTIFYING ANYONE! For that reason alone I believe she is wrong for doing what she did.

I guess at this point we can agree to disagree. But there are laws to protect Lynn and I hope those are enforced.

ETA: Cubby I understand where you are coming from. But living this lifestyle everyday puts this into a whole different perspective for some. We are on many forums with the exact same thoughts and I respect you. I hope this didn't come off snappy. Most states are cutting funding...it is just another bump in the road.

I totally respect the mother's decision to drop Lynn of rather than get rid of her in the manner we are accustomed to here at WS's. I just deleted a long statement I was making about our healthcare system, and the approach of our current government to the situation. I will not make this political (Reannan bites her tongue, and refuses to say anything else)... I simply want to know what happened to Lynn, and what will the future hold for her? She looks like a really happy, good soul that would be a joy to know.

tlzzdavis said:

There are far better ways to go about this situation than she did.

My daughter was born in Chicago. Because of the poor health care (not welfare benefits) we moved to Arizona after the clearance from all of her specialist. I did what was best for my child at the age of 23. With that being said you would think a 45 year old could do the same.

The bottom line is...SHE DROPPED HER DAUGHTER OFF IN THE DARK AT A BAR IN A STRANGE AREA WITHOUT NOTIFYING ANYONE! For that reason alone I believe she is wrong for doing what she did.

I guess at this point we can agree to disagree. But there are laws to protect Lynn and I hope those are enforced.

ETA: Cubby I understand where you are coming from. But living this lifestyle everyday puts this into a whole different perspective for some. We are on many forums with the exact same thoughts and I respect you. I hope this didn't come off snappy. Most states are cutting funding...it is just another bump in the road.

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I have a cousin who is in her 40's who is mentally disabled and will need life long care. She'll need care well after her parents are gone.

You're lucky you were able to leave and move across country at 23. not everyone is able to just pick up and move.

Selling is not an option for many in this market. Perhaps it is not for Lynn's mother. Perhaps her home's value is tens of thousands below what is owed on the mortgage value like many. Many homes market value is at best 50% of the mortgage owed due to the decline in the RE market in just the last few years.

I agree she could have done things differently, but none of us know how we might act in desperate times or desperate situations. She did not kill her. Gosh, we've seen mothers murder - pull feeding tubes out of their children and grandchildren and leave them to die a slow and painful death on the side of the road. This mother did not do that. Could she have done things differently, sure. But when one is at their wit's end feeling hopeless who knows.

I think this is just the begining of what we may be seeing out of desperate parents and families in Illinois.

Cubby said:

ALGONQUIN – An Algonquin woman accused of abandoning her severely disabled 19-year-old daughter at a Tennessee bar late last month said Tuesday that she brought her daughter to the state because it has the "No. 1 health care system in the United States of America

http://www.nwherald.com/2012/07/10/algonquin-mother-wont-take-disabled-teen-back/awybm7g/


None of those who are bashing this mothers decision live in Illinois. I live in Illinois. There is really no more funding for the disabled. There were massive cuts which went into effect in June of this year. It's really not good. This mother did not kill her daughter like we've seen with so many others. She brought her daughter to a state which she believed could provide her daughter with care she could not in Illinois.

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I couldn't agree more, Cubby.

Here is a great article that is not biased and explains the situation better:

http://www.nwherald.com/2012/07/10/algonquin-mother-wont-take-disabled-teen-back/awybm7g/?page=1

And some quotes:

"There has been nothing presented to our office to show she has been physically harmed or suffered any immediate or irreparable harm," Assistant District Attorney Scarlett Ellis said. "While it morally is not right – it's something that goes straight to the heart – it does not rise to the level of criminal codes here."

Eva Cameron said that she has another disabled child and that caring for both was too much to handle.

"We need to change the law so that if a mother has two children that have issues with disabilities, that there needs to be more help offered by the state," she said. "They just say, 'You don't qualify.' "


As well as this:


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/10/eva-cameron-abandoned-dev_n_1663334.html?utm_hp_ref=chicago

Describing the situation to the Northwest Herald, Cameron painted a different picture of the incident. She says she drove to Tennessee and left her daughter in the state's care because it has the "No. 1 health care system in the United States of America," and would be better able to provide for Lynn than her family, which was overextended caring for her sibling.

"We need to change the law so that if a mother has two children that have issues with disabilities, that there needs to be more help offered by the state," Cameron told the newspaper. "They just say, 'You don't qualify.' "

While Cameron's actions may be ethically questionable, they reflect an increasingly common struggle for Illinoisans living with mental health issues or relatives who need care. According to a 2011 report by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) titled "State Mental Health Cuts: A National Crisis," Illinois tops the nation in mental health cuts following the closure of six of the Chicago's 12 mental health clinics and two state institutions this year.

Lynn Cameron is currently at the Michael Dunn Facility in Roane County, Tenn. while officials make plans for her long-term care, WVLT-TV reports. Two of Illinois' comparable live-in care facilities were closed in a cost-cutting move earlier this month that displaced roughly 600 patients to shave $20 million off the state budget.

I think the mother researched the situation and did the best she could do with the resources she had at the time. There is something to be said for attempting to give Lynn a better life. Seriously. It is amazing how we praise people for their unselfish and giving act when placing a baby or young child for adoption, but, can't see that this woman recognized that keeping Lynn was depriving Lynn of opportunities or perhaps even placing Lynn in a situation where she would eventually end up neglected, abused or harmed. We don't know the situation at home, but, the mother...in her own way...is looking out for Lynn.

She could have dropped her off at a police station,hospital,church-she probably would not have been charged- she did not get charged for dropping her off at a damn bar-I am furious at this woman!!There were better ways for this woman to see that her daughter got the care she so deserves & could not provide for her-I mean really-lets drive to a other state and drop off a (child in my mind) at a bar with strangers-no ID & not a clue where she is & probably does not understand what is going on..If this had been a small child-she would have been charged!!Yes-I understand that states across the country are making big cuts-but to drop off a poor mentally challenged person who is childlike in a bar to me-is just down right wrong-Thank god nothing happened to her with all the creeps out there!

If she brought her to the state b/c it had the best health care-then why didn't she drop her off at a hospital?

Cubby said:

ALGONQUIN – An Algonquin woman accused of abandoning her severely disabled 19-year-old daughter at a Tennessee bar late last month said Tuesday that she brought her daughter to the state because it has the "No. 1 health care system in the United States of America

http://www.nwherald.com/2012/07/10/algonquin-mother-wont-take-disabled-teen-back/awybm7g/


None of those who are bashing this mothers decision live in Illinois. I live in Illinois. There is really no more funding for the disabled. There were massive cuts which went into effect in June of this year. It's really not good. This mother did not kill her daughter like we've seen with so many others. She brought her daughter to a state which she believed could provide her daughter with care she could not in Illinois.

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Cubby is SO right. I live in IL as well, the state cuts to so many needed services is just mind blowing.

On another note - I have been a WS member a long time. I am also active on FB, very active, and post a lot of things as well as a lot of missing stories. It came to me (I was told, eta) today that when I posted Lynn's story last week, a friend shared it, and one of their friends is the one who recognized
Lynn as they knew the family and called it in. This is the first time I know something I have done in this area has paid off, and, honestly I am sad and crying. I will keep posting, but, so sad over this whole story,

LucyOso said:

I couldn't agree more, Cubby.

Here is a great article that is not biased and explains the situation better:

http://www.nwherald.com/2012/07/10/algonquin-mother-wont-take-disabled-teen-back/awybm7g/?page=1

And some quotes:

"There has been nothing presented to our office to show she has been physically harmed or suffered any immediate or irreparable harm," Assistant District Attorney Scarlett Ellis said. "While it morally is not right – it's something that goes straight to the heart – it does not rise to the level of criminal codes here."

Eva Cameron said that she has another disabled child and that caring for both was too much to handle.

"We need to change the law so that if a mother has two children that have issues with disabilities, that there needs to be more help offered by the state," she said. "They just say, 'You don't qualify.' "


As well as this:


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/10/eva-cameron-abandoned-dev_n_1663334.html?utm_hp_ref=chicago

Describing the situation to the Northwest Herald, Cameron painted a different picture of the incident. She says she drove to Tennessee and left her daughter in the state's care because it has the "No. 1 health care system in the United States of America," and would be better able to provide for Lynn than her family, which was overextended caring for her sibling.

"We need to change the law so that if a mother has two children that have issues with disabilities, that there needs to be more help offered by the state," Cameron told the newspaper. "They just say, 'You don't qualify.' "

While Cameron's actions may be ethically questionable, they reflect an increasingly common struggle for Illinoisans living with mental health issues or relatives who need care. According to a 2011 report by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) titled "State Mental Health Cuts: A National Crisis," Illinois tops the nation in mental health cuts following the closure of six of the Chicago's 12 mental health clinics and two state institutions this year.

Lynn Cameron is currently at the Michael Dunn Facility in Roane County, Tenn. while officials make plans for her long-term care, WVLT-TV reports. Two of Illinois' comparable live-in care facilities were closed in a cost-cutting move earlier this month that displaced roughly 600 patients to shave $20 million off the state budget.

I think the mother researched the situation and did the best she could do with the resources she had at the time. There is something to be said for attempting to give Lynn a better life. Seriously. It is amazing how we praise people for their unselfish and giving act when placing a baby or young child for adoption, but, can't see that this woman recognized that keeping Lynn was depriving Lynn of opportunities or perhaps even placing Lynn in a situation where she would eventually end up neglected, abused or harmed. We don't know the situation at home, but, the mother...in her own way...is looking out for Lynn.

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:goodpost:


BBM. Thank you. We're on the same page. Thank you for finding the words I was unable to find.

SyraKelly said:

If she brought her to the state b/c it had the best health care-then why didn't she drop her off at a hospital?

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When the safe haven laws changed, and that father brought his entire family of kids..... I think parents thought they could not bring children to a hospital past a certain age and not face criminal charges.

Things are very very difficult in IL right now. My sons godmom works with trusts for the disabled. She has to know all the ins and outs of all the new laws with regards to funding from the state for the disabled. I don't understand all of it, but I trust her with my life and my sons life...... and I know it is not pretty right now. Not pretty at all for those with disabled family who need any financial assistance of any kind from the state.

I am not questioning the reasons why she did it-I understand the reason why-but I don't and never will understand the way she did it!!

SyraKelly said:

If she brought her to the state b/c it had the best health care-then why didn't she drop her off at a hospital?

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It appears (according to an article I posted) they went into the bar to use the bathroom. At some point, while the mother was in there the police arrived and then the mother saw the opportunity to take off. Desperate people do desperate things. I hope this case becomes a case study or catalyst to empower those who advocate for funding, services and support for those with mental health and developmental delays. Most people, who repeatedly ask for help and are denied, eventually do very drastic things. In fact, even the police stated she was not harmed or endangered in anyway. So maybe the answer lies in what happened at the bar while they used the restroom. If mom was in the bathroom and Lynn wandered out and someone called the police...it doesn't seem like she "dropped her off". Maybe mom saw that as her divine sign and left out the back door. So...we need more information before we trash the mother.

The real issue is the fact that this woman repeatedly asked for help from the state and was denied over and over. The mother no longer had guardianship for Lynn as Lynn was an adult and usually they assign a state appointment advocate/guardian. In that situation, the mother was caring for Lynn, but had no rights to do anything on her behalf without approval, including things that would help the mother better care for her. Those situations are really difficult. Technically, the mother would need a signed consent from the guardian to even take Lynn to the dentist or doctor. If she looked for help or placement and the guardian thought Lynn should stay with the family, the mother could not legally initiate a search. Once 18, even someone with Lynn’s profound disabilities, people have a right to direct their own care and it can get very difficult for the caregiver if they have no say. Also at 18 or 19 they "graduate from high school" so the family lost 8 hours a day of caregiving help. That is a huge loss of support services. She asked for help…over and over and over. We can sit here and feel better about how we would never do what she did and play into the sensational media hype or we can feel very uncomfortable that we live in a country where a woman, who was denied help over and over by her state, felt the only thing left she could do was to walk away from a profoundly delayed child who she has cared for day in and day out for 19 years. What is happening in our country to make someone this desperate? And what can we do to help others in similar situations?

LucyOso said:

It appears (according to an article I posted) they went into the bar to use the bathroom. At some point, while the mother was in there the police arrived and then the mother saw the opportunity to take off mother. Desperate people do desperate things. I hope this case becomes a case study or catalyst to empower those who advocate for funding, services and support for those with mental health and developmental delays. Most people, who repeatedly ask for help and are denied, eventually do very drastic things.

The real issue is the fact that this woman repeatedly asked for help from the state and was denied over and over. The mother no longer had guardianship for Lynn as Lynn was an adult and usually they assign a state appointment advocate/guardian. In that situation, the mother was caring for Lynn, but had no rights to do anything on her behalf without approval, including things that would help the mother better care for her. Those situations are really difficult. Technically, the mother would need a signed consent from the guardian to even take Lynn to the dentist or doctor. If she looked for help or placement and the guardian thought Lynn should stay with the family, the mother could not legally initiate a search. Once 18, even someone with Lynn’s profound disabilities, people have a right to direct their own care and it can get very difficult for the caregiver if they have no say. She asked for help…over and over and over. We can sit here and feel better about how we would never do what she did and play into the sensational media hype or we can feel very uncomfortable that we live in a country where a woman, who was denied help over and over by her state, felt the only thing left she could do was to walk away from a profoundly delayed child who she has cared for day in and day out for 19 years. What is happening in our country to make someone this desperate? And what can we do to help others in similar situations?

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I understand all this-I really do-I have a mentally challenge sister-my other sister has been an advocate for the mentally challenged people for over 25 yrs-she has been very outspoken on the fund cutting across the country-
Like I said earlier-she could have dropped her off in a safe place & not a bar!

LucyOso said:

It appears (according to an article I posted) they went into the bar to use the bathroom. At some point, while the mother was in there the police arrived and then the mother saw the opportunity to take off mother. Desperate people do desperate things. I hope this case becomes a case study or catalyst to empower those who advocate for funding, services and support for those with mental health and developmental delays. Most people, who repeatedly ask for help and are denied, eventually do very drastic things.

The real issue is the fact that this woman repeatedly asked for help from the state and was denied over and over. The mother no longer had guardianship for Lynn as Lynn was an adult and usually they assign a state appointment advocate/guardian. In that situation, the mother was caring for Lynn, but had no rights to do anything on her behalf without approval, including things that would help the mother better care for her. Those situations are really difficult. Technically, the mother would need a signed consent from the guardian to even take Lynn to the dentist or doctor. If she looked for help or placement and the guardian thought Lynn should stay with the family, the mother could not legally initiate a search. Once 18, even someone with Lynn’s profound disabilities, people have a right to direct their own care and it can get very difficult for the caregiver if they have no say. She asked for help…over and over and over. We can sit here and feel better about how we would never do what she did and play into the sensational media hype or we can feel very uncomfortable that we live in a country where a woman, who was denied help over and over by her state, felt the only thing left she could do was to walk away from a profoundly delayed child who she has cared for day in and day out for 19 years. What is happening in our country to make someone this desperate? And what can we do to help others in similar situations?

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Wow - I hope this lands on Governor Patrick Quinn's desk and I hope it makes him think about all the cuts they are doing and makes them change things to things the affect PEOPLE don't get the cuts. I feel for the mother and hope things do work out. Lynn is safe and I hope things go well for her. And the rest of the family.

Right now, I don't know how happy I am about living in IL. I am (mostly) a lifelong resident. But, I just read the book Mary, Me: In Search of a Lost Lifetime by Rick Baker which is about an unidentified woman who was in the custody of the State of IL for 50 years without them learning her id, and she went through hell, she had amnesia and put her in various state asylums until they closed the one she was in and she went to a nursing home till she died. She was from Iowa. And reported missing there and all. Very sad book, but I recommend it. Out of print /(from 1989) and expensive to buy, but, libraries seem to have it. At least in IL. LOL I got it in three days with a holiday.

According to the article linked upthread the mother stated she thought it was a restaurant, not a bar. She knew there were people around. She kept her daughter in view until someone safe reached out to offer help.

As for the state cutting so much funding. Getting a little OT here, but while I was searching for info on state funding cuts for the disabled, I happened to run across an article with regards to cutting funding for DCFS. In this particular area, maybe Cook or Chicago? ( I did not pay close attention to which area of IL), a cut in DCFS funding will make 35,000 children in foster care no longer able to qualify. Those in foster care will go from 50,000 to 15,000 according to this particular article.

IOW, there are 35,000 children out there which the state deemed needed to be in the care of someone other than their parents, who suddenly are deemed 'safe' or no longer in need of being in foster care because the state changed the funding. Now that is some very scary stuff.

IIRC, most of these cuts went into effect July 1 of this year, and I am honestly afraid this is just the beginning.

I hope that this mother is at some point in the future given the opportunity to share her side of this story. There is obviously much to be learned from this situation.

Eva Cameron says that Lynn refused to use the bathroom at one establishment. I also observed the general body language displayed by Lynn and her caregivers in the video footage. I get the distinct impression that Lynn has very much the attitude of a typical teenager wanting her independence but completely lacking the cognitive capacity to do so in a safe and socially appropriate manner. Lynn is quite tall, perhaps much more so than her mother. Depending on Lynn's particular set of behaviours, she may have presented a significant threat to her mother's safety and that of others living in the home. Eva had another child to care for and if something (ie. being injured) happened to prevent her from providing that care, her other child would be at risk.

Despite what MSM initially reported, Eva Cameron did NOT open the door of her vehicle and shove Lynn curbside in front of a seedy strip joint. Lynn went in to use a restaurant bathroom independently when another patron became concerned and subsequently notified police. Police arrived quickly, all while the mother watched from a safe, discreet distance. She seized the opportunity, likely breathed a sigh of relief (one she had probably been holding for 19 years) and drove away.