Expert: Joyce A. Anthony - 5/9/2010

Question
I am the GrandMother of a Child taken by DHS a year ago,...

I have been going down for the last year trying to get Him out,..
My Daughter in law has done everything they asked and yet there taking Him away from Her,.. the meds they keep changing Her too make Her grogy, and at Her visits they end up reporting Her as not aware enough,.. doesnt know the date, over talkitive to workers watching the visits,..  till I spent 8 days around Her while i was last there I too did not know what was going on,..

 I believe after seeing all the pictures My Son and Her took of My grandSon as He grew (the first year)  I saw a happy,.. very clean as were His surounding, thriving baby!!,.. yet they report Her at every turn as drugged up, not aware enough,.. they keep changing Her meds which of course as You know take time to not only work but to settle down in Her system,..the worker has decided ( from the begining) or seems like She is fighting even the Family to put Him up for adoption,.. BELIEVE Me I am not allowing this to happen but still,..My Son and His wife LOVE this Child and are willing to even give Him to the Family,.. this is a heart wrenching thing t do to these two,.. and too our Familys

  yes Lawyers.. but were about wiped out of money fighting this,
this reason they swooped in and took Him...is because She talked to Her physcoligest and told Him She needed to stop drinking because "She " thought She has drank to many times lately,.. She went out,. came hoome let the babysitter go home,.. and went to bed(the baby was asleep)  the Physiatist asked did You pass out?   She misunderstood the word and said yes but meant She went to bed and to sleep,.. many say pass out as go to sleep as they were tired,.. He reported Her and they came right in and took Him,...       I wonder how many parents with out any condiction come home after going out and let the babysiter go home?,....

not once has the child been hurt, abused,.. never hurt ever!!
and here we are,.. I am packing for yet another trip to V.A for a 6 month stay as they have now decided if I dont visit Him more they will adopt Him out tot he foster family,.. this is soooo soo dam heart breaking to Me,.. I have gotten the fostercare Lisence as they require,.. indelth Home studys,.. recomendations to place Him with Me,.. permission from the parents,...and yet being stone walled,... any help! would be god sent please,..

Answer
Michelle:

I truly understand your frustration and concern, but I do not understand what your question for me is?  Some suggestions I have:

Have your daughter-in-law see a new psychiatrist, discuss switching medication to Lamictal (which doesn't increase tiredness) and have this psychiatrist give a written statement to the authorities holding your grandson.  Next, since the original complaint involved drinking, have your daughter in law start attending AA meetings.  I know she most likely is not an alcoholic, but attending the meetings will give her a chance to show she is serious about getting him back.

Next, have her and your son look around and see if they qualify for free legal service.  Depending on their income, they may.  Lastly, have you considered asking about getting custody of him?  That may be an option.

                                               Joyce A. Anthony