March 25, 2009
Updated list of octuplet posts (3-24) - including video of this press conference and their appearances on The Early Show and Dr Phil.
Since some of you are still unclear as to the initial deal and the credentials of Angels in Waiting, and don't seem to have watched the video of this press conference, here is the text. Frankly, I find it despicable that some folks are questioning AIW's motives. Read this, and then see what you think as a fully informed bystander. Later today both sides of the story will be revealed. I don't know if they can make public the reason for the three complaints lodged against Nadya and filed with DCFS.
Text of the February 19th Press conference by Gloria Allred and Angel in Waiting’s (AIW) Linda West-Conforti and Jackie Peebles, discussing their offer to Nadya, which she initially rejected. However, when the hospital told her they were holding off sending the first octuplets home, she decided to accept AIW's offer - clearly not willingly. It's no surprise she fired them.
The video of the press conference and other posts concerning Gloria Allred and AIW in the link above.
GLORIA ALLRED, LAWYER REPRESENTING AIW
We are here today to urge Nadya Suleman to accept a proposal to provide for the medical and emotional needs of her 14 children once her octuplets are released from the hospital, which may occur in approximately 5 weeks.
While public debate has focused on other questions such as whether or not Ms. Suleman and her doctor should or should not have taken the risk of multiple births under her particular economic and emotional circumstances, and whether she has been candid about these circumstances, we are focused only on what will happen to the 14 children who are in existence and how they can and must be protected now that they are here.
Allred initially got involved because she made an independent complaint. Anyone can make file a report of possible child abuse or neglect without fear of prosecution - in an effort to catch abuse when the child is unable to voice it themselves. Of course, if it turns out to be malicious, the police can be involved. Also, if a healthcare worker has suspicions - like a daycare worker or ER nurse/physician - and does not report it, they can in some cases be held liable.
Allred quotes the initial interview of the grandmother, where she said in no uncertain terms that Nadya was not equipped to take care of the children and that she had been raising and providing for the children. She also said she had had enough. Follow link above for posts. Grandmother later retracted the statement.
ALLRED: Last Thursday (Feb.12 2009) I quietly filed a complaint with the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services and requested an investigation into whether or not Nadya’s 14 children might be endangered if left in her care and custody, and asked for removal from her care temporarily if after an investigation there was cause to believe that they are endangered. In my letter, I cited numerous concerns including, the fact that the octuplets may soon be released from the hospital, and that it was unclear where they will live, who will care for them or how they will be supported. Some of them may be special needs babies, since they were delivered prematurely and some of them are below normal weight.
In addition, I cited among other reasons for my concern the conclusion of the grandmother of these children, Angela Suleman, that “The truth is Nadya’s not capable of raising 14 children”, and “I’m really tired of taking care of the six children” and “She really has no idea what she’s doing to her children and me.”
Coincidentally, on the same day that I filed my complaint a charitable organization called “Angels in Waiting” founded by a pediatric nurse with 25 years experience in neo-natal intensive care sent an e-mail to Nadya offering services to her children, because of their concern about the health , welfare and safety of the octuplets and their siblings after the octuplets are released from the hospital.
Next - how Allred became directly involved. I don't think AIW had initially been aware of Allred's complaint after she filed it - investigations are supposed to be confidential - but I am not positive.
ALLRED: Last weekend, the organization contacted me for assistance because they received no response from Nadya. At that time, we decided to wait until today to see if Nadya would respond before making their proposal to provide greatly needed services to Nadya’s children public.
Since I have not received a response from Children’s Services (which has a policy of not disclosing if they are investigating) and since Angels in Waiting has received no response from Nadya or her representatives, we decided that we must make our concerns public and let Nadya know that there are angels in waiting for her little angels and that all she has to do is contact us so that we may share our concerns for the health, safety and welfare of her children and how we can help meet those critical needs.
The clock is ticking and we need to convey to her the magnitude of the needs of these premature infants and their siblings a.s.a.p.
Angels in Waiting, and myself as their legal support are concerned that Nadya does not appear to have a concrete plan for the future to meet the urgent and complicated needs of these medically fragile and premature infants.
Why AIW needed to get involved and not simply nannies, non-neonatal nurses or volunteers.
ALLRED: Time is of the essence.
This plan must be made now. It cannot be made at the last minute, because it does not just involve securing a piece of property in which to place the infants and other children. Further, securing a nanny is simply not sufficient to meet the needs of these children. These infants were born 2 ½ months premature, and some are drastically below normal weight. Based on documented research Angels in Waiting (AIW) in concerned that this means that they are at high risk of developmental delay.
Without adequate medical and developmental support by trained early interventionist experienced professionals in the field, AIW is concerned that these infants could suffer serious consequences which could have long lasting effects for their future as well as the future of their siblings. AIW is therefore proposing a plan for the well being of these children which Linda West Conforti who is an R.N. and the founder of AIW will explain in a few minutes.
The offer - including the stipulation that all of the donations would go toward the care of the children and absolutely nothing to Nadya or her family. Clearly something else Nadya was not pleased with.
ALLRED: Angels in Waiting is a wonderful organization and Linda as its founder has won an award from Kaiser for founding it. They have helped many at risk medically fragile infants in the past, and are offering to do so again.
If Nadya accepts their offer and if the public supports them through donations then her babies would receive the around the clock care they will need without having to rely on taxpayer funds.
Also all donations would be used to secure experienced and trained professionals who would provide much needed care, and not one cent would go to Nadya or anyone else in her family.
Another advantage of this plan is that all the children would be kept together, and Nadya will be able to live with her children, which will be important for their future emotional needs.
Why Nadya was suspicious from the start - as if her paranoia needs an external stimulus. AIW works with foster children.
ALLRED: If Nadya does not accept their proposal, the alternative in our opinion will most likely be that the children will be taken by DCFS, and placed in foster care in order to protect them and meet their special needs. That will mean that the enormous burden will be placed on the taxpayers and neither the public nor AIW, nor myself believes that that is an acceptable alternative, particularly because AIW offers a plan that is better for these children who are the focus of our concern.
Further, delays caused by the involvement of public agencies as they seek to meet the infant’s needs will not be beneficial to the children.
Instead, we offer a plan for these children where they can thrive in a supportive environment without the necessary intervention by the DCFS and removal to foster care, and without burdening the taxpayer.
We hope that Nadya will contact us about our proposal and the time to contact us is now. She cannot wait until the last minute to accept the plan. It will take weeks to put it into effect once she does accept.
These babies urgently need Angels in Waiting and the time for action to keep this family together to protect the best interests of these babies and accept this intervention is now!
LINDA WEST-CONFORTI, FOUNDER OF *ANGELS IN WAITING*
I am Linda West Conforti. I am a Registered Nurse with 25 years in neonatal intensive care and pediatric intensive care units. I’ve cared for thousands of medically fragile infants and children. In 2005, I established a foundation known as Angels in Waiting (AIW).
AIW is a non profit tax exempt 501(c)(3) public charity.
AIW is dedicated to recruiting qualified nurses to provide loving homes, nursing care, and other needed services for medically fragile preemies, infants, and children. To my knowledge, we are the only organization of its kind in California.
AIW understands the proper course of treatments needed to improve and strengthen the physical, emotional, cognitive and psychological outcomes of premature infants. We also understand that even when these babies are released from the hospital, they are not “out of the woods” for potential set backs and complications.
AIW will provide “wrap around services”, using a blend of professional programs for Nadya’s infants and their siblings. The services will include, but not limited to, nursing care, occupational therapy, physical therapy and early intervention educational specialists. We have seen first hand how the prospects for their future improve with more individualized care and attention in a nurturing and supportive home environment.We look forward to opening a dialogue with Nadya about the importance of providing appropriate care for her premature infants, whom we believe are at risk.
JACKIE PEEBLES
I am Jackie Peebles. I am the Early Intervention Specialist working with Angels in Waiting. I have been a credentialed teacher for 31 years, and Early Intervention Specialist for the past 19 years serving over 450 children. I hold a Master’s Degree in Special Education and have been an advocate for children with special needs for the past seven years.
In 2005, I started working with Angels in Waiting with their medically fragile infants.
My job is to provide the necessary brain, vision, cognitive, language, sensory and motor development for these children.
Recall that as recently as yesterday Nadya said her octuplets are not medically fragile - even though their potential deficits, unless catastrophic, cannot be known at this time - especially cognitive and neurological impairments. Half of her older children have neurological conditions along the autism spectrum, which was not enough for this woman to stop birthing. \
Her selfishness truly knows no bounds. What mother would do that to her other children? Intentionally taking time away from them. Anyone who has a child or worked with a child with autism and ADHS knows how much attention and energy they take.
PEEBLES: In a situation like this with 8 medically fragile premature infants, if a plan is not implemented it is unlikely that these little ones will get the individual attention that they need. Each of these infants will have their own challenges depending on the medical outcomes they are facing. Many of these possible delays are preventable if they are addressed from the beginning. Providing nurturing individual interactions will help build healthy brain structures that provide for a stronger learning foundation.
This is what is necessary for these 8 premature medically fragile infants. Angels in Waiting understands the fundamental building blocks necessary for the sound development of preemies and will implement the skills necessary to mitigate and or prevent developmental delays brought on by prematurity and negative bonding issues which could occur if there are too many inexperienced care givers.
It will be my goal to set up an individual development plan for all of these medically fragile infants who are at risk. Helping these babies come home to a good healthy start is my desire.
*******
So those of you who insist they are "frauds" and "just out for themselves" and "looking for money" you are dead wrong and, in my opinion, it is quite disgusting to suggest it. Today we can all judge for ourselves when the two sides of the story are revealed.
Allred/AIW press conference 1 pm PST and Dr Phil whenever it airs in your time zone.
Websites: Gloria Allred, Allred You Tube, Angels in Waiting & Dr Phil.
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