Texas CPS Kidnaps Sick Infant

A mother’s first few months with her child are some of the most important. Bonding between a mother and child has been shown to have many benefits to infants, including communication, trust, and learning. Unfortunately in the case of Four-month-old Kathryn Blalock, she will not have that time with her mother. She is currently being held at UMC Children’s hospital in Lubbock, Texas against her mother’s will.

Kathryn was born with Pierre Robin Sequence, a rare condition that causes the jaw to be very small, along with a soft cleft palate. Kathryn’s head is also misshapen due to a skull plate abnormality named cranio-stenosis. Kathryn’s conditions after birth worsened after she began having seizures. Kathryn’s mother Lorie Blalock took her to multiple doctors trying to find answers. Kathryn was put on a seizure medication, but when one seizure caused her to stop breathing, Blalock drove her right back to the hospital.

Medical staff say they became concerned when after blood work, Kathryn was found to not have the full dosage of medication in her system. Blalock claims she was giving the correct dosage, and that Kathryn was losing more fluids than gaining, causing the medication in her body to appear low.

Once Blalock asked to remove Kathryn to seek a different treatment center, officials denied her request. Child Protective Services took custody from Blalock based on her ability and willingness to care for Kathryn. Blalock is fighting CPS claiming they did not have “just” cause to remove her child. This is not the first case of CPS taking custody away from parents over medical issues. A girl was taken by CPS, at Boston Children’s hospital, after her parents had a disagreement over her diagnosis. CPS also previously kidnapped a 17 year old boy from Lurie Children’s hospital in Chicago, for the same reason. Blalock is hoping to regain custody of her baby soon, and has started a facebook page named “Bring Baby Kathryn Home.” in an effort to support her family.