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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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 Lynns 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?
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 Lynns 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?