Dear Brothers, And Sisters In Christ, Please try this link instead, it may be easier for some of you to read, at least that is what some of the people on that other site thought.
Again, my apologies. The ALZ site has now blocked my link to the last link, but this one is still working. http://christianchat.com/prayer-requests/23895-just-simple-prayer-request-reposted.html
Dear Brother's and Sister's in Christ, It seem my Link to my Mom's Story, keeps getting blocked, so I will do my best to get the complete story posted here. "God's Blessing To All", Shelby
I am writing this letter today, to ask for your help. I am not asking you for your money, only for your assistance in getting the story of my Mother's plight, (Mrs. Arline English), to the powers that be. In fact, I am usually a very private person who does not talk about my problems, or the troubles life throws at me, but in this case, it is a final act of desperation that has forced me to invite you into my life, and ask you for your help.
When the Internet was developed, a study found that each one of us is only 6 degrees of separation away from the President, or any other powerful figure in the world, so I am putting this to the ultimate test, in the hope of finding some true justice for my Mother, her wishes for life, death, and her final day's on this Earth, and my "Job", of being the Son I was intended to be for her, in her final day's of life.
I ask only that you aid my Mother, and I, by getting the story below to your local news stations, newspapers, radio stations, and politicians. It does not matter what state you live in, or what city, it only matters that my Mother's plea for help, be heard by all. Our fore father's dedicated, and even gave up their lives, to see that "We The People", had the freedoms that my Mother, and I, (And Thousands Of Other Americans), are being denied everyday by a greedy, corrupt, and illegal court system in Florida, (And Many Other States Also). "We The People", have the power to correct all the wrongs in this Country today. Not only in the wrongs found in elected officials, but also in the wrongs done by our Courts.
"We The People", need only to unite, put aside our greed, and petty differences to set this country back on the path our fore father's, and our God, set for us so many years ago. So please, help me, to help my Mother, by sending this letter to everyone in this country who might be able to help undo the injustice perpetrated on my Mother by the courts in Florida.
Lastly, allow me to thank all of you who read this plea for help, no matter what action, or inaction, you ultimately decide to take.
Sincerely,
"Shelby" English
To Whom This May Concern,
I am writing you today, because I know from watching the News in the past that you have been able to help people in dire need.
Well, my Mother, and I are in desperate need of your help. (Along With Many Thousands Of Other Floridians Who Are Having Their Rights Violated, Their Property Seized, And Funds Illegally Appropriated By The State Of Florida, By The Means Of A Court System Which Provides No Proper Legal Procedures, Or Any Way For A Chance Of Appellate Intervention, As There Are No Transcripts, Or Recordings Of These Cases, Which Lead To Judicial Decisions Being Handed Down With No Regard For Justice, And No Chance Of Judicial, Or Prosecutorial Misconduct Being Examined, Or Critiqued By A Superior Court).
My story begins about ten years ago, when my Mother first began showing signs of what we were told by Doctors was Alzheimer's Disease. In January of 2001 I moved in with my Mother to begin caring for her. As the years passed, and her condition began to get worse, I found myself running into medical conflicts, I was not completely prepared for, and began doing a lot of Internet research into the medical field to aid me in coping with my Mom's condition.
I also discovered my Mother was becoming xenophobic when it came to dealing with other people, (Not That She Had Ever Been Overt In The Area Of Having Friends), but now she would not talk to other people who were important to her life. It seemed some days that I was the only person she trusted enough to talk to. About 2005 my Mother's condition made it necessary to have a Power Of Attorney, and Health Care Surrogate forms drawn up, to go along with her Last Will And Testament that we had done a few years before in 2002. We had the P.O.A., and Surrogate forms drawn up by a local Attorney, who was a member of my Church, and notarized in about October of 2005 at my Mother's Bank. (A Fact This Attorney Was Willing To Testify To In Court, But Was Denied The Right To).
The Documents were then placed in our Strong Box at home, in case we needed them later. Soon after that my Mom broke her hip, and we needed to present them for the Hospital, and Rehab Center, so they would know that I was my Mom's chosen Guardian, and had the right to deal with any of my Mom's medical, or business issues. Since these were the two primary Medical facilities in our area that ever needed to deal with my Mom's condition this critical information was documented in my Mother's charts. From that day forward we never had a need to dig out these forms again.
Herein may be a major part of my Mother's problem, and a partial reason for this letter to you, because these documents turned up missing from our Strong Box at home years later. (Possibly Due To Mom Constantly Going Into The Strong Box To Drag Out Papers, And Insurance Policies, To Remind Me Not To Forget To File Them After She Passed On).
I can only assumed they got misplaced, or mixed in with other papers, or possibly thrown out. (During The Course Of These Court Hearings, I Requested That These Documents Be Subpoenaed Several Times, But Was Always Ignored By The Court.
Several Months Later My Second Attorney Wrote A Letter To These Facilities Asking Them To Search My Mom's Files For Their Copy Of The Power Of Attorney, and Health Care Surrogate Forms Which Had Been Archived By These Facilities, But Since This Was Not A Court Ordered Action, All He Got In Return Was A Letter Saying They Couldn't Find Them.
As A Side Note, Even Though I Felt These Documents Were Important, Neither The Court, Nor Prosecutor Ever Asked For Them To Be Produced At Any Of The Many Hearings. Which Leads One To Assume The Court Never Felt They Were Relevant To The Judges Decision).
In all honestly, I always viewed most of my Mom's concerns about that day, as being far in the future, and perhaps never coming at all from this disease. My Internet research showed that new breakthroughs were coming almost every day, and we were also following proven strategies of physical, and mental exercises, plus taking medicines believed to aid against the progression of this disease.
So in retrospect, I felt Mom would live far longer then the projected time in those days. (Since I Felt These Document Would Be Essential To The Court, I Was Able To Get A Copy Of The P.O.A. From The Bank Where The Documents Were Notarized, As They Kept A Copy For Their Banking Records, And The Notary's Log Would Have Recorded, And Proved The Existence Of The Health Care Surrogate Form, And That Both Documents Were Done At The Same Time, Thereby Linking The Proof Of The Existence Of The Health Care Surrogate Form To The Attorney's Testimony, Not Withstanding My Mother's Will, Which Clearly Attests To My Mother's Wishes, Or The D.C.F. Agent Who Asked My Mother Point Blank Years Earlier, How She Was Being Treated By Me, And Exactly What Her Wishes Were For Her Future).
But I'll Get Back To This Part Of The Story Later). Over the years, my Mom has had several visits to the local Hospital, and Rehab Center, which has taught me a great deal about this sham we all refer to as "Health Care", in this country.
As a result of what I have personally observed, and found out by paying close attention, I can personally attest to the flaws in the health care system, and it's need to staff itself with warm bodies, instead of qualified individuals. Some of which are qualified, and overworked, and others who care nothing about the job they do, and only about the paycheck which comes to them weekly. Not to mention the Doctors who defraud the system, by copying patient names, and information, so they can bill the government, and patients for services they never provided.
So blatant have these acts been, that in my mind I feel sure most Hospitals are well aware of the practices, if not even taking a cut for themselves. In my Mother's case, I know for a fact that the system of care employed by Hospitals these day, is far more responsible for my Mother's rapid decline, then the help she was given by this broken system.
On the other hand, I can also tell you, that it is the majority of us, "We The People", who are also greatly responsible for the events which we allow to take place in these places of healing, simply because we turn a blind eye to the world around us, or refuse to ask vital questions of medical personal, and instead place blind trust in the medical staff. We would rather sit mute, then open up our mouth, and rail against those who do us harm, because of their lack of care, or their greed.
It is not my intention to go off on a tangent, but to guide you into the world I have seen for myself, so you can begin to get a better understanding by seeing it threw my eyes.
Over the years I found myself having to report Hospital Staff for a number of items which ranged from mild infractions, to outright criminal offenses, like stealing my Mom's Medication, and Jewelry, to not feeding her, (And Claiming My Mom Was Refusing To Eat, As Their Reason For Not Feeding Her), dropping, and bruising her when trying to move her, and even breaking her nose on one occasion.
To claim that my Mom has had quality health care over these past years, would be a lie of the first magnitude. In an effort to offset some of the problems my Mom has encountered in her visits to these Hospitals, and Rehab Centers, I would visit Mom each night to feed her that evening's meal, check her body for new bruises, and talk to her Doctors, and the staff about her Medicines, to make sure some proper level of care was being given to my Mom. (Needless To Say These Actions Did Not Make Me Very Popular With Most Hospital Workers, Administration Personal, Or Rehab Staff, But These Facilities Knew They Had To Deal With My Requests Concerning My Mother's Care Because Of The Health Care Surrogate Form In My Mother's File).
On one of my Mom's visits to the Hospital, The Doctor in Charge performed a scan of my Mother's legs, simply because I had requested that circulation cuffs be attached to her legs to prevent blood clots from forming. (The Scan Was Done As A Matter Of Course, Due To My Request, And Without My Knowledge). As a result of this scan, I was informed that evening that they had found blood clots in my Mother's legs, and that my Mother was going to undergo a procedure to remove them the next morning.
Even though I was shocked by this news, I requested the Doctor rerun the scan of my Mother's legs, to confirm their findings. Needless to say the Hospital did not wish to do their test again, but since it was the only way to get me to consent to their procedure, they did, and found to their surprise that there were no clots in her legs. As such, they made an assumption that the clots in her legs, had now moved on, becoming clots in her lungs, and informed me they needed to operate the next morning to remove them from my Mother's Lungs.
Again, I asked for proof before I would agreed to such a major operation. The Doctor became enraged that I even questioned him about his medical opinion, but after scanning my Mom's lungs, they found no trace of any blood clots in her lungs, or legs. As an explanation for this error, I was told by Hospital Staff that what they must have seen in the earlier scans, were probable just shadows.
(Pretty Scary To Think That My Mother Could Have Undergone A Major, And Risky Surgery, Due To Shadows Seen On An X-Ray By A Hospital Technician, And As A Side Note, I Found Out A Few Months After This Event That The Elderly Lady Who Lived Across The Street From Us Had The Exact Same Condition Diagnosed With Her, Only Her Daughter Never Questioned The Hospital's Claims, And As A Result Of Her Surgery, She Survived The Surgery Having Diminished Mental Capacity From Her Oxygen Deprived State While In Surgery).
In her case, I can not say for sure that her surgery was needed, or not, because I was not directly involved, but it did give me great cause to ponder the "What If's". (I Bring This To Your Attention, So You Can Get Some Idea Of The Care I Gave To My Mother During These Past 10 Years).
Sometime in 2007, because of a wonderful, and knowledgeable Physical Therapist who worked with my Mother after she returned home from one of her visits to the Hospital, and subsequent visits to the Rehab Center, we found out that what my Mother had actually been suffering from was not Alzheimer's at all, but a disease call P.S.P. (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy), which is a very rare disease similar to Lou Gehrig's disease in many ways, because it leaves the mind intact, as it robs the body of the ability to be controlled by the mind.
Studies I have read about on the Internet purport that the mind, and body connection can be maintained by consistent movement of the limbs, and muscles, which aids the connections from becoming severed, or in some cases reconnects, or re-teaches these connections to different parts of the brain, (Exercises My Mother, And I Did On A Daily Basis). The studies also believe that the brain re-teaches the lessons we learned during the past day, when we sleep, which reinforces these mind/body connections. Even though the belief held is that this process may be impaired in P.S.P. Patients. Still many of these P.S.P. Patients have been shown to have some long term gains, which can still be brought about simply by maintaining an exercise routine on a daily basis.
As time progressed Mom began to show signs of improvement from our daily workouts, in spite of the lack of care my Mother would get from each of her many return visits to Hospitals, and Rehab Centers. (Exercise At Hospitals, And Even Rehab Centers, Is Almost A Joke In Florida. In Most Hospitals It Consists Only Of Getting A Patient Out Of Bed, Walking Them To The Door In Their Room, Turning Them Around, And Returning Them To Their Bed. At Rehab Centers, It Is A Bit More Extensive, But Mostly A Lame Attempt To Give The Appearance Of An Exercise Routine. And I Might Add, Not Even These Things Are Presently Being Done For My Mother, Nor Have Been Done For Her, Since She Left For The Hospital In November Of 2009).
Sadly during one of my Mom's visits to the local Hospital, my Mother contracted C-diff, which is a highly virulent strain of Diarrhea. This Disease is mainly contracted by patients when they visit Hospitals these days, and once contracted, it can never be cured completely, and will just lie dormant in the body until something triggers the next episode, usually 3 to 6 months later. When these C-diff events occurred, I would usually deal with them in the same manner each time, by calling the Ambulance, and sending her to the hospital so they could clean her up, and give Mom the usual battery of drugs necessary to subdue the current episode
After returning home from her last episode of C-diff in August of 2009, Mom had lost 25 Pounds, (Mostly Due To The Fact Mom Was Getting Little More Then The One Meal I Fed Her Each Evening In The Hospital), and her general condition began to falter, health wise, as a result of the treatment she would get at the hands of the Hospital, Or Rehab Staff. Her body started to break down, and begin to develop skin tears very easy, which is also rather common in the elderly. (Mom was 88 Years Old on September 15 of 2009).
One evening while sitting on her potty chair at home, she twisted her body trying to have her bowel movement, and tore the skin on each cheek of her behind. Mind you this was not the first time this had happened, and I had become fairly well versed in treating these skin tears. Between the bath lady who came 3 times a week, and myself keeping the wounds cleaned and treated the rest of the time, we got one side healed up about 90%, and the other side about 60%,
(Due to Mom Having The Propensity Of Crossing Her Legs, And Adding Extra Pressure To The One Side Of Her Body, Whenever You Diverted Your Attention From Her, And I Might Add To Be Completely Honest, Mom Could Be A Very Stubborn Lady Sometimes).
Well, as bad luck would happen, in the beginning of November my Mom had another C-diff outbreak during the middle of the night, sometime between my last check of her at 2 A.M., and the next morning when the bath lady arrived, and woke me, about 11 A.M. When I went in to Mom's room to wake her, I found her lying in a pool of Feces, reaching half way up the side of her body, and extending from her shoulders to her kneecaps. The Bath Lady kindly offered to help me clean Mom up, but being humane, I decided against having this brand new bath lady, who was on her very first day of work as a bath lady, and was older then I am, from having to bathe Mom in this condition.
I called an Ambulance, and had them take her to the Hospital, where she could be treated again for her condition. (This Would Prove To Be A Mistake On My Part, And The Main Reason The Events Existing Today Began To Unfold). As I later found out the C-diff episode must have happened closer to 2 A.M. then 11 A.M., because the Bacteria had soaked in to Mom's wounds, and skin, greatly inflaming the entire area.
As is Hospital Policy, the E.R. Staff called Florida's Department Of Children, And Family, (D.C.F.), as they felt they may have been looking at a case of Elder Abuse, Or Neglect. This is where my Mom's life took a drastic turn for the worse. Within a matter of weeks, I was served with papers at 6 P.M. on a Friday Night, informing me that I had to be in court Monday afternoon at 2 P.M., which left me no time at all to find a Lawyer, even if I could have afforded one, leaving me to attempt to defend myself, and my Mother's position in court.
Having studied some law in college, I felt I might be able to hold my own ground, (Not That I Really Had Any Other Choice), and at the very least, I thought I could buy some time to find legal council. To my surprise, this entire hearing, was not held in a "Court Of Law", by any conventional standards, or procedures. In fact comparing it to a court, made everything I have ever learned, or been taught about the judicial system, nothing more then a perverse joke.
There was no transcript of the events, or even a recording, no rules of procedure were adhered to, nor was any solid evidence produced, and a doctor who had only looked at my Mother briefly, (But Knew Nothing Of Her Past History), was allowed to testify in court via a phone call, (Not That What She Said Was Of Any Real Importance).
The worst evidence given that day was brought forth by an Office Manager from the Nursing Home, who I had gotten into an argument with a couple of days before, when I visited my Mom at their Nursing Home, and found her covered with bruises, running almost the entire length of her left arm, which had happened while my Mom was in their care.
(This Lack Of Care Was Not The Only Crime This Nursing Home Was Guilty Of. As I Later Uncovered, They Had Also Contacted The Department Of The Treasury, And Changed My Mother's Social Security Payments To Their Bank Account At Wachovia Bank, And Just Last Month, About A Week After My Mother Had Contracted A Case Of Pneumonia, I Got A Call From The Nursing Home Informing Me That My Mother Was Dying From An Intestinal Obstruction, That Her Liver Had Shut Down, And The Feeding Tube Had Been Turned Off, Due To The Pain She Was Suffering From The Intestinal Obstruction. After Visiting 3 Times That Week, And Even Having A Priest Perform Last Rights On My Mom, It Became Clear To Me That My Mom's Blockage Was Only A Result Of The Constipation, Anybody Would Get From The Battery Of Anti-Biotics Used To Cure Her Pneumonia.
To Make A Long Story Short, After Begging A Nurse To Give My Mom A Laxative, The Blockage Disappeared. In All, My Mom Suffered, And Starved At The Hands, And Mercy Of This Nursing Home For More Then A Week, Because The Staff Could Not See The Obvious Facts Before Their Eyes).
In court this Manager from the Nursing Home, testified that my Mom was unable to move at all, was completely unresponsive, and basically nothing more then a vegetable, and because they did not wish to take the time needed to feed her, that she needed to have a feeding tube installed. (Something The Court Forced Me To Authorize For My Mom, Even Though I Knew My Mother's Fear Regarding This Procedure, Because Her Husband Had Died From Starvation At Another Hospital, After Being Fitted With A Feeding Tube). All of these statements testified to by this Manager were complete lies, and hearsay, but were statements which suited the court's position, and the actions it was preparing to take.
It didn't matter that this information was completely untrue, since the State refused to ever bring my Mother into court to face her accuser's, and I might add the Attorney appointed by the court to represent my Mom, was only there to agree with the State's position. Needless to say I was powerless to do anything about this, as the proof I provided the court was simply ignored. (Honestly, Calling This A Kangaroo Court Would Have Given It Far More Credit Then It Ever Deserved). Bottom line, this Court, and State Agency took my Mother away from me by means of judicial fraud, in a mock hearing that would have had to have been seen, to even be believed, with no regard for my rights, or my Mother's rights.
As the weeks progressed I continued to visit Mom at the Nursing Home, while hunting for an Attorney that would defend my Mother, and I in this case against the State Of Florida, and D.C.F. Because I believed it would be important, I began using my cell phone to take photos of the wounds and bruises that continued appearing on my Mother. (As A Side Note, And As Further Proof Of My Claims, These Photos Were Presented To The Court As Evidence In One Of The Hearings We Had Before The Judge, An Were Rejected By The Judge Because They Had Been Presented To The Court In Black, And White, Instead Of Color Photos).
This simple action of taking pictures alone brought even more trouble my way, as I was told by that Office Manager from the Nursing Home, who had testified in court about my Mom's condition earlier, that I was no longer allowed to visit my Mother, and that under their rules, no cameras, or recording devices were allowed in their facility.
When I asked her who's orders these rules were coming from, and she told me it was from the agent in charge of this case at D.C.F. (Ann Bryant). After I left, and contacted this Ann Bryant, to ask about these conditions placed upon my visits, because no one, not even the Judge, had ordered, or mentioned any restrictions being upon me while visiting my Mother. It took several days, and many phone calls, before this Ann Bryant called me back, but she did tell me on the phone that there were no restrictions on my visits with my Mother.
(However As A Side Note, As Time Went By This Ann Bryant Proved To Have Lied About Many Different Things. So She May Have Told This Manager At The Rehab Center I Was Not Allowed To Visit My Mom, Just To Add Benefit For Her Case, And Also Add To The Volativity Of The Events Taking Place). Not knowing that this may have been the case, I went back to visit my Mother on New Years Eve Day 2009, and was told by a nurse that if I didn't leave immediately, that she would be forced to call the Sheriff, to have me arrested. I informed her that if that was what she felt she had to do, that she was welcome to call them, as I was not doing anything wrong, and I intended to spend New Years Eve with my Mother.
About 15 Minutes into my visit, the Sheriff did arrive, and asked me to step outside so we could talk. The Staff at the Rehab Center rushed in, and quickly ran off with my Mom. (I Later Found Out They Were Hiding Her In A Little Used Dining Hall). The Sheriff informed me that before he arrested me for "Disturbing The Peace", he would like to hear my side of the story. After telling him what had taken place both in court, and about my last conversation with Ann Bryant, and that I was only here to spend New Years Eve with my Mother, and that no other events had taken place other then what I had told the nurse in the hallway, he excused himself, and walked over to talk to the Office Manager who had testified in court.
When he returned, he informed me that since the Manager could not produce any other person who had witnessed me "Disturbing The Peace", he was not going to arrest me. Then he leaned over closer to me, and told me in a quiet voice, that he would advise me to leave, and not return until I had a truly credible witness with me. That this witness must be someone of real character, because he was sure that this Manager would find someone employed here to back up her claim of "Disturbing The Peace" the next time, and then he would have no choice but to arrest me, and that would not look good in my Mom's case.
I agreed to leave only after being allowed to explain what was taking place to my Mom, as I did not want her to worry, or think I was being arrested, and wanted her to know I would be back to visit her as soon as I could get this resolved. (The Sheriff Agreed, And Escorted Me To Where The Nursing Home Was Hiding My Mother, And Then Escorted Me Out To My Car For My Own Personal Protection, After I Calmed My Mother Down, And Explained Why I Had To Leave, And Apologized For Not Spending New Years Eve With Her).
It took me more then a month before I could get back to visit Mom, as I had to concentrate on finding an Attorney, and wanted to get the Judge to issue some kind of protection order to guarantee my right to visit my Mom, or at the very least have my Mom moved to another Nursing Home were she might get better care, and I could visit freely with her. I started my search with the Legal Aid Service here in Hillsborough County, who informed me that an Elder Law case would be far to costly and time consuming for their Attorney's to take on. (Mind You This Is A Non-Profit Agency Whose Sole Purpose Is To Help The Needy, And Indigent).
However the lady I was talking to did try to help me, by telling me that I might want to raise the Issue that under Florida Law, my rights, and my Mom's rights, had been violated from the very first day I was served, because Florida Law requires the initial hearing must take place no sooner then 24 Hours after being served, and can not include Holidays, or Weekends. Mom's first hearing took place only 20 Hours after I was served. (6:00 P.M. Friday Evening To 2:00 P.M. Monday Afternoon, However Be That As It May, This Fact Has Been Ignored Completely By The Court Each Time The Statute Was Raised).
My next contact was the Hillsborough County Bar Association, who gave me a list of 3 Attorneys I could call, who all told me they don't do Elder Law cases for free. So I got 3 more names from the local Bar, who said the same thing, and 3 more names etcetera, until there were no more names to call.
My next call went to the national Alzheimer's Organization, who referred me to their local office, who gave me 3 more names I could call. After calling more Attorney's then I can even remember, I finally found a lady Attorney who agreed to join me in court, but only to the extent that she would petition the court for the ability to access my Mom's account for the needed funds to pay for her legal services. (And She Would Do Me This Favor For Only $500.00, Paid In Advance). Her main condition was that if the Judge granted her motion to the Court then she would handle my case, if not, she and I would part ways as she did not work for free. Since I had no other hope of getting help, I agreed to her terms.
Needless to say, as soon as the Judge said no, she dropped my Mom's Case in a New York Minute, leaving me to continue to defend my Mother, and myself as she just sat next to me saying nothing. So I addressed the Court as best I could, stating the events that led up to this point, and the reasons for my actions, in hopes that the Judge would understand, and show my Mother, and I, some understanding, and compassion.
Alas this joke of a court, and it's cast of actors, all agreed that the court had no need to order me the right to visit my Mom, since I already had the right to visit my Mom, with no restrictions, and more importantly, that no one in this court believed I was at fault for anything which happened to my Mother. (Yes, That's Right, All Parties Involved Had Deemed Me To Be, Not Guilty Of Neglect, Or Abuse Of My Mother).
I'm sure you will understand that I was extremely shocked to hear this, (Although Relieved), especially since the entire reason the D.C.F. was brought into this situation was to investigate the Hospital's claim that my Mom's condition might have been related to abuse, or neglect.
I then asked the Court that if this was the determination of all parties involved, why was I being prevented from bringing my Mom home to continue caring for her, and honor her wishes for her final days of life. To which I was told that the Court believed I was simply not capable of caring for my Mother. (Mind You The Court Had No Evidence, Or Facts To Present To The Court That I Could Not Care For My Mother, Except Maybe A Feeling That Men Can't Be Proper Caretaker's In The Eyes Of A Room Full Of Women, And Completely Ignoring The Fact I Have Already Spent The Past 9 + Years Of My Life Caring For My Mother).
Granted, I am not perfect, and I have made mistakes caring for my Mom over the past 9 Years. One happened just shy of a year before this event began, when after cleaning her up after she had a bowel movement in her bed, I left her lying on her side with pillows propping her up on her side at about a 45 degree angle, so the skin tear on her behind could get some air to it. When I left the room to clean myself up in the Kitchen Sink, she shifted her body weight, and rolled herself face down on the bed, so she could end her life by means of suffocation.
Even though I was only gone a couple of minutes, she had been successful, and upon my return I found her body was lifeless. In a state of total panic I rolled her on to her back. Even though her face, and lips were completely blue, I began, and continued to give her C.P.R., until I was able to bring her back to life. At the time I felt a tremendous amount of guilt for leaving her side to go to the Kitchen sink to clean up, when I could have just as easily used the bathroom sink in her room to clean up, but over time I had gotten into the habit of using the kitchen, because of the large double sinks that allowed me to scrub up easier.
In retrospect, and based on what has happened since, (Even Though This Is A Horrible Thought, And Against All I Have Ever Believed About The Sanctity Of Life), I now believe that Mom may have had the right idea, and I should have honored her choice that evening, instead of bringing her back to life.
As a young man I was told by my Grandfather that with age comes wisdom, and regrets, which are uniquely connected, because both are inevitable, and both will bring you their own versions of unforgettable happiness, and also grief. (No Matter What Course Of Action, Or Inaction I Take In Life, My Mind Will Never Allow Me To Forget The Path I Have Walked. My Only Saving Grace Is That Most Of My Choices Have Been For The Right Reasons). This was not my Mom's first attempt to take her own life, as she had also taken an overdose of Sleeping Pills many years earlier, shortly after she was first informed she had Alzheimer's, (Even Though This Diagnoses Was Later Proven To Be Wrong).
She did this on a Sunday Morning, while I was away at Church Services, but again as luck would have it I had come home right after Church, instead of first going shopping for the ingredients to prepare our Sunday Dinner, and found her still in bed, (Mom Was An Early Riser, And This Was Something Very Uncommon For Her In The Early Stages Of Her Condition), and when I questioned her as to why she was still in bed, her disjointed sentences told me all I needed to know. I immediately called the Paramedics, and had them rush her to the Hospital, where they kept her alive.
Ever since that day, my Mom has had to visit a Psychiatrist, but I always felt this was a good thing for my Mom, especially under the circumstances. In later years, I began to accompany my Mom into the Psychiatrist's Office, so I could translate for her as my Mother's speech began to slur. The first Attorney told me that she had intended to put my Mom's Psychiatrist on the witness stand, (To Testify To My Mother's Condition, And Competency), by means of the same "Phone Call Testimony Tactic" that the state had used, along with the Attorney who had written the Health Care Surrogate Form which I had him prepare back in 2005, but the court would not hear of it, and stated that this was a hearing, and not a trial, and that she, (The Judge), intended to leave the court, and go home in the next 15 Minutes, whether we were done or not.
(Just Another Example Of The Justice Found In Florida's Family Law Court Division, Also As A Side Note The Department Of Children, And Families Agency, Has Had A Long Standing, And Well Documented Tradition Of Injustice. Documented By Florida Newspapers, And Television Station Reports Over The Past 30 Years. Plagued By This Bad Reputation To Such A Degree They Changed Their Name From H.R.S. To The Department Of Children And Families About 12 Years Ago, To Shed Some Of The Bad Press They Had Acquired Over The Years).
At this point you might wonder why I would be having such a rough time finding a Lawyer, since you can't turn on your Radio, Television, or read a Newspaper in this country without spotting an Ad from some Attorney begging you to call him, and let him sue someone on your behalf for any kind of injury, or injustice. Perhaps if I lived in some other state, you might be right in this thinking, but in Florida, the law was changed several years back when it came to the amount of Liability Insurance Coverage required to be carried by Health Care Organizations. This change lowered the amount required to be carried by Health Organizations, and made it unworthy of the time, and effort needed for Attorney's to pursue Law Suits, (Not To Mention The Indirect Changes Brought About In The Medical Field As A Result Of These Law Suits).
After court that day, I found myself $500.00 poorer, and again desperately in need of an Attorney to handle my Mothers Case. So I picked up where I had left off with the local Office of the Alzheimer's Organization, and called them back for a few more references. One of the names they gave me this time around was an Attorney I had worked with many years earlier, when he was running for public office. My thinking was that since I had helped him with his political campaign years earlier, maybe he would help me now. Well, as it turned out he had retired, but claimed he would check around with some of the Attorney's he knew, to see if one would be willing to help.
A day later I got a call from an Attorney who was referred to me by the retired Attorney. I set an appointment, and went in to tell him about what had happened in my Mom's Case up to this point. His reaction appeared to be one of sheer shock, and dismay, even though his past experience in Family Law had been working as a Prosecutor on the Child Law side, instead of the Elder Law side of Family Court.
He confessed in our first meeting that he needed to talk to some other Attorney's who had more experience with the Elder Law side of the court, because his knowledge of Elder Law was very weak. (In My Mind I Felt That Even With His Knowledge Drawback, He Appeared To Display The One Quality No Other Attorney Had Shown Me Up To This Point). He seemed to be displaying what I call "Heart", and acted as if he were truly ashamed of the court's actions in this case.
He also seemed to act in a caring manner at each hearing we attended, until the date of our last hearing in July, when he just sat next to me, and said nothing, as the court rolled over my Mother, and her case like a stream roller. As of this point in time I do not know what caused him to change his mind about defending my Mother and I, or if he had been offered some form of a deal by the state, or even if his actions were truly sincere from the very beginning, but it was very clear to me that we had just been sold down the river on this day, just as Judas did to Jesus.
We spoke at length after the hearing, and I questioned him as to why he had not stood up for us, or explained to the court that my Minister had already submitted his application to the court, or why he had not raised any objections to the Judge when she ordered that a Professional Guardian be put in charge, as my Mother's Guardian, or even when she ordered that the Guardian was to be paid 5 Months back pay, (At A Rate Of $1,500.00 Per Month From My Mother's Estate), when she had done nothing to even earn a penny up to that point.
He sidestepped answering this question completely by changing the subject to my Minister being my Mom's Guardian. His answer to me was that he simply got the feeling that my Minister didn't wish to assume the duties of Guardian, and that the Minister's actions seemed to be telling him that the minister didn't want to hurt my feelings by turning me down.
Mind you, as of this point in time the Attorney had never spoken to my Minister, by phone, or in person prior to this time, and he had deduced all of this from his claim that he had left several messages for the Minister to call him, but had never heard back from him. (As A Side Note, My Minister, And Also The Church Secretary, Both Told Me That The Attorney Had Never Called, Or Left Any Messages On The Minister's Cell Phone, Or On The Answering Machine At The Church, And In Fact My Minister Had Left Several Messages For My Attorney To Call Him, And Was Surprised That The Attorney Had Not Called Him Back).
Since the date of our last hearing in July, my Attorney has not returned any of my calls, nor contacted my Minister, and with each week that passes, my Mother's condition grows weaker, because she does not get the needed care that would prolong her life, (Which Under The Circumstances May Be A Blessing), she simply lies in her bed, without so much as a T.V. to watch, or listen to, while awaiting death, and my weekly visits with my (Credible Witness), Minister. (I Might Also Add, I Can Only Visit My Mother Once A Week, Due To My Minister's Schedule, And The State's Refusal To Relocate My Mom To Another Rehab Center. Something That My First Attorney Was Promised Many Months Earlier By This Ann Bryant).
The Bottom Line Is That Neither My Mother, Nor I, Have Done Anything To Deserve The Treatment We Have Been Shown By The State Of Florida, And Even Worse, We Both Have, And Are Continuing To Be Unjustly Punished, Penalized, And Persecuted For Doing What All American Children Should Do For Their Parents). My Mother has been denied her right to live out her final days in the manner she chose to live them, and adding insult to injury, the State of Florida is stealing what few assets my Mother has, by it's illegal actions, flagrant rights violations, and also now currently including an attempt to have me removed from the home I have cared for, and lived in with my Mother during the past 10 years, (Not To Mention Been Left By My Mother's Last Will And Testament, And Guaranteed To Me Under Federal Laws), or pay the Guardian a monthly rent to live here equal to almost twice my monthly Social Security Check.
There are many more events I could have added to this letter, but I hope I have given you an idea of the battle I am fighting, and I can only pray you will add your voice to mine, to aid me in getting my Mother the justice she, (And All Floridians), rightfully deserve before she passes on from this world.
I also understand the full extent, and consequences of the battle, I am asking you to join me in fighting, and how drastically a positive outcome could effect the future lives of the working class citizens living in this country, but the right to a fair, and impartial hearing is a fundamental right of all Americans, and should never be usurped by any court system, in any state of this nation, for any reason.
Grievous judicial errors are evident in every aspect, and hearing of this case, and ethical amendments for this type of judicial misconduct must be demanded for all the citizens of this state, and country, because if not, our rights under the constitution this country was founded upon, are little more then words upon a sheet of paper, void of any genuine meaning.
Either way, I Thank You, for taking the time to hear my story.
Sincerely,
"Shelby" English
Update - 12-22-2010: I was contacted by the Night Nurse at the Nursing Home informing me that my Mom had a serious U.T.I., and that they needed my permission to insert a "Midline", which is an extremely long I.V Device used on older patients who run the risk of their veins collapsing with a standard I.V.
The Nursing Home's action was mainly a screw-up by the night nurse, as the Court took my Health Care Rights away, when they gave them to the Guardian, but I figured I had nothing to lose, and told her "No", then instructed her to send my Mom to the Hospital for treatment. Well, to make a long story short, it wasn't a cake walk, but they called me back a 4:00 A.M. and informed me that Mom was in transport to the Hospital. (That Was A Miracle In My Book).
The next day, I spent all day at the Hospital with her, and the Hospital's Day Nurse even documented the poor condition Mom arrived in from the Nursing Home, in Mom's Hospital Charts. We also found that the feeding tube the state forced me to install in her was leaking badly, and had not been replaced at the standard 6 Month mark as it should have been, but in an effort to forestall any replacement, the Nursing Home just kept cutting the tube shorter, and shorter to get a better connection. What was once more then a foot of feeding tube, was now only about 2 inches long.
Since she was in such bad shape, the Nurse contacted the Doctor, and set her up for surgical replacement of the feeding tube. When I arrived the 3rd night for my visit I was met by one of the Hospital Administrators, who asked me to step out of the room, and informed me that they had gotten instructions from the Guardian, that I was not allowed to have any contact at all with my Mom.
I told them to contact the Guardian back, and have her send them a copy of any Court Order stating that, as I had never been ordered by any Court, placing these kind of conditions on me. Five Minutes later the Hospital Administrator returned, and told me I could visit with my Mom as long as I wished, as the Guardian had decided it was okay this time. (Translation, She Had No Court Order To Enforce Her Wishes).
I guess the Guardian suspected that since my Mom was at the Hospital, I might try to get some more evidence against the Nursing Home, or get Mom's Psychiatrist To Evaluate her condition, as the Guardian pulled her out of the Hospital, and had her sent back to the Nursing Home, just 24 Hours after Mom got back from her Surgery. Truth be known, she was to late, her Psychiatrist had already seen her early that morning, and can now attest that my Mom is still mentally competent.
Which means if I can find an Honest Attorney, this fraud being perpetrated on my Mother by the State Of Florida can finally be brought to light, and justice achieved.
How's that for a light at the end of the tunnel? Only one miracle left for me to pray for now, is that the right person, in the right position of power, hears my story, and decides to help us.
It is not by knowledge that we achieve great things, but by the friends so dear which hold us up, and support us against the waves of adversity which threaten to knock us down.
Dear Sisters, and Brothers In Christ, My Mother passed away on April 8th, and I was told by the M.E., it was due to an "Accidental Overdose" by someone at the Nursing Home. I Truly Thank You All, For Your Prayers, Ciao Bella, Shelby
