POSTED APPROX. SUMMER 2000 Report prepared by: Donna Meads-Barlow (the mother)
15 Dulwich Rd
Chatswood NSW 2067
Phone 02 94103333
Fax 02 94103444
Mobile 0418465245
Husband: Brian Meads-Barlow
Children:
Daniella 6yr. (Diabetic Type1), Diagnosed Oct 99
Joshua: 3yr.
Codey: 5mts (Born 28/2/00)
Story regards Codey Alexander Meads-Barlow
Friends,
We are parents of our 5 month old baby Codey who is in RNSH diagnosed with "Shaken Baby Syndrome" and desperately need help with Expert Witnesses for our case on 21 & 22nd August.
PLEASE read my daily diary attached and if you can help us at all, PLEASE phone me on 02 94103333. We know our baby has not been shaken and desperately need HELP to bring our family unit back together.
Kindest as always
Donna Meads-Barlow
—DIARY OF DONNA MEADS-BARLOW—
WEEKLY ROUTINE - Robyn Farrar (the nanny)
Mornings Robyn arrives, collects Joshua, Daniella and Codey and drops Daniella at LPS and then drops Joshua at UTS Kidz Campus (Mon, Tue, Wed). On Thu and Fri she drops Joshua at Masada College at St Ives. Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays —return with Codey between 0930 & 0945 Thursday & Fridays—return with Codey around 1000—1015
Daytime Bulk of Days at House looking after Codey, doing basic house duties. Makes the kids beds, Does the Shopping as required, pays some bills over the phone, does the washing & ironing downstairs and often has Codey downstairs with her when doing these duties.
Afternoons Mondays—Robyn leaves the house around 2.15pm, picks up Daniella from LPS at 3pm and takes Daniella to Ballet at Roseville PS. Ballet is from 3.30pm to 4.30pm. Then she goes to UTS, picks up Joshua and returns to Chatswood to prepare Baths & Dinner for the kids.
Tuesdays—Robyn leaves the house around 5-5.30pm top/up Daniella & Joshua together at UTS—Lindfield, returns to Chatswood to prepare Baths & Dinner for the kids.
Wednesdays—Robyn leaves the house around 5-5.30pm top/up Daniella & Joshua together at UTS—Lindfield, returns to Chatswood to prepare Dinner.
Thursdays—Robyn leaves the house around 2.30-2.45pm & goes to St Ives to pickup Joshua by 3.30pm. Returns to Chatswood around 4pm and then later picks up Daniella around 5.30pm departing the house., returns to Chatswood to prepare Baths & Dinner for the kids.
Fridays—Robyn leaves the house around 2-2.15pm & goes to St Ives to pickup Joshua by 2.45pm, back to LPS to pickup Daniella at 3pm and over to the handicapped school at Lindfield by 3.30pm for 30minute Pat Taylor Swim School for both Daniella & Joshua. They return to Chatswood around 4.30-4.45pm to prepare Baths & Dinner for the Kids.
Monday 28th February 2000 Mother—Donna Meads-Barlow went into the SAN at Wahroongha at 0730 for Induction and Epidural & Codey Alexander Meads-Barlow was born at 1211. Codey was put straight onto Karicare formulae and seemed to be doing well. Sunday 05th March milk came down so mother & Codey stayed in hospital till Monday 06th March when released.
Within the 1st few weeks Codey seemed to be crying and drinking lots but the formulae seemed to be not filling him. Constant contact by phone with Dr Neil Ginsberg (pediatrician), and after an appointment I think around Mid March Ginsberg changed his formulae to SMA & Codey settled.
Right up till early May, Codey was doing well and towards the end of April was sleeping through the night from about 9pm till 5 or 6am. Brian was in Vietnam that last week of April 2000, so I was excited to tell him I had Codey sleeping through the night.
08th May 2000 Codey was vaccinated with Infanrix.
Shortly after vaccination he became unsettled, crying day and night with arched back like he was in pain. We gave panadol Infant drops whenever we thought necessary. We thought perhaps he was windy and this was giving him the pain.
24th May 2000 Codey seemed to be getting worse and presented with like a cold and was really blocked up and having problems breathing. We took him to the GP who said give Dimetapp and panadol when necessary and he should be fine.
Over the next few weeks Codey’s health deteriorated and he seemed to be quite fluey with constant crying, arched back, red cheeks, problems breathing and a terrible constant cough. His chest coupled with his cough sounded like a bag of bones.
Tuesday 13th June 0830—1930
Robyn worked
0915—1100 Donna at Lindfield Public School Reading Classes then returned back to homeoffice (chatswood) to work
Codey seemed to be having problems with his breathing and still seemed fluey so Donna instructed Robyn to take Codey to see the family Doctor Dianna Staniforth.
Dr. Dianna diagnosed as Bronchilitis & to be sure arranged Codey to have a Chest Xray for which Robyn took Codey to have. Dianna recommended warmth and just make sure he keeps his fluids up. No medication prescribed. From time to time I heated Nappies up in the microwave for 30seconds to put on his tummy to settle him as this was something I was taught at the SAN and seemed to work to settle Codey down when he seemed in pain. I taught Robbie to do this too.
Wednesday 14th June 0830—1830
Robyn worked
Donna left house around 1230 for a 1pm Business meeting/Lunch with client Eddy Stanley from Medtel. Lunch was at Lane Cove. Donna did shopping for Daniella’s Birthday party at Lane Cove & returned Chatswood around 4.30pm
Thursday 15th June 0830—1900
Robyn worked
1000 Donna & Brian left Chatswood for a 1030 business Meeting at Norgine P/L at Pymble with Leslie Dellit & Tara Bailey. Meeting concluded around 1330h, which Donna returned to Chatswood to work
Friday 16th June 0830—1800
Robyn worked
Donna requested Robyn take Codey back to the GP—Dr. She saw Dr Anne Tonkin who diagnosed productive Cough and prescribed Amoxil pediatric drops.
Saturday 17th June
Donna took Daniella to Dance Rehearsal at Wahroongha around 12noon & returned around 2pm
Sunday 18th June—Robyn arrived around 11am and took care of Codey whilst Donna finished preparing for Daniella Birthday party. 2 Cars left C/wood about 11.00am to go to L/Cove Dingle Dell kindergarten to setup for Daniella’s Birthday party to start at 1pm to 4pm. Robyn took Codey in her Car to L/cove & looked after Codey most of this day till around 4pm when we all left.
Monday 19th June 0830—1830 Robyn worked
1000—Brian & Donna Business meeting in the formal lounge at Lane Cove. Robyn not coping with Codey who seemed quite distressed so Brian took him and spent till around 1045 with him settling him. Meeting concluded around 1300 Tuesday 20th June 0830 -1900 Robyn worked
1030—Donna left house for Dentist 1045 Appt at Roseville. Returned Chatswood around 12noon
Wednesday 21st June 0830—1900
Robyn worked
1300 (around) Codey no better so Donna asked Robyn to again take Codey to see the Dr. The antibiotics don’t seem to be working as Codey seems still quite chesty and runny nose with problems breathing. Dr Anne Tonkin saw Codey again and phoned me to saw that the "cry she heard in the surgery isn’t like a normal cry" and she felt it best we take Codey to see a pediatrician Urgently. She asked my permission to track down Ginsberg then called me back.
Dr Anne Tonkin advised that Ginsberg was at Baulkham Hills private hospital and she had arranged for Codey to go straight to have a chest examination and then take him straight up to Ginsbergs rooms at B/Hills Hospital.
Ginsberg examined Codey saying his chest wasn’t as bad as it sounded, but he thought his ears were quite bad and perhaps giving him the main trouble. Continue with the antibiotics and take Codey back to the GP for a checkover next Tuesday.
Thursday 22nd June 0830—1800
Robyn worked
Friday 23rd June 0830—0100 (24th June)—0930 Donna & Brian left Chatswood for a meeting at Paradises Ink at Surrey Hills with Craig Davies and Peter Bloomfield. Meeting concluded around 1430, at which time Brian & Donna returned back to Chatswood at around 1530H.
Saturday 24th June 1200—Donna took Daniella to Dance rehearsals. Returned home later that day. Brian stayed home with Joshua and Codey. 5pm Donna took Daniella & Joshua back to Wahroongha to the Ballet Concert. Brian & the Barlow Grandparents followed for the evening concert. Returned home around 9pm. Codey quite unsettled the whole day.
Sunday 25th June Donna’s birthday—Family (Barlow Grandparents & Brother Mark, sister-in-law Fiona) &Friends Craig, Debra, Melanie & Simon and families came over for lunch. All Day Codey was distressed and unsettled. Even when he went down to sleep, he didn’t go down for long. He seemed feverish and unwell generally. He still had a dreadful cough and every time anyone spoke loudly or coughed themselves, Codey jumped and cried.
Monday 26th June Codey quite unsettled all day. Normal Monday family routine. Around 6pm, Robyn came into my office with Codey in her arms saying "Donna, theres something wrong with Codey" I took him into my arms and he seemed stiff and heavy, then went limp. I was panicked and yelled "Quick ring triple 0, and get an ambulance and ask them what to do". Daniella and Joshua were at the Breakfast bar having their dinner. As instructed by the emergency person that Robyn had on the phone, I lied Codey on the couch, undressed him and applied cold washers on him. Codey was on fire, you could have cooked an egg on his forehead. His eyes were glassed and he seemed all-stiff and hardly breathing at all—I thought my baby was dying! Daniella kept going back to the bathroom to get cold cloths to apply on Codey., and I shook him yelling at him "Codey, Codey Codey" —desperate to revive him. During this time Robyn rang back to the ambulance I think twice asking where they were. Prior to the ambulance arriving my friend John O’Meara called in to wish me happy belated birthday. He was stroking Codeys head and trying to talk to him—we were desperate for him to become conscious, as he looked so strange. Finally the ambulance arrived, followed by paramedics. Immediately they diagnosed a febrile convulsion and applied oxygen and raced Brian, Codey and I to the hospital. Codey was pale and continued to be quite shocked and daised and was observed by the onduty Dr at the SAN hospital. The Dr discussed a Lumber puncture and said they would leave that to Ginsberg to decide if this needed to be done. They took blood samples from Codey and inserted a catheter. Ginsberg was contacted and later arrived around 10pm. I think Ginsberg said there was a high white blood cell count and this ruled out the requirement of a Lumbar puncture. He said it presented like a febrile convulsion, although this was unusual for a baby under the age of 6 months.
Codey was admitted to the SAN and put on an antibiotic drip for several days. Either my husband or I slept at the hospital each night. Robyn helped one day at the hospital so I could do a few hours work. In anycase, one of us were at the hospital 24 hours a day. During the time Codey was in hospital he continued to be unsettled and seemed like he was in pain. Ginsberg asked for an ENT specialist to come in to examine Codey to see if the ears may have been the cause for the seizure. I can’t remember the ENT specialist’s name (a south African Dr), but he said "absolutely not the ears being the cause". Each day Ginsberg called in to examine Codey, still with no specific conclusion of what happened to Codey. Ginsberg said that although it was unusual for a 4mth baby to have a febrile convulsion, it wasn’t impossible and still this is the most likely diagnosis.
Although it was suggested that we could take Codey home on the Thursday, I requested we leave him in hospital, so he is off the drip for "at least 24 hours" and doing well. I still didn’t feel confident to take Codey home till he was better.
On Friday 30th June we brought Codey home. Still on oral Antibiotics and still not 100% well and settled. Codey continued to be unsettled from time to time but seemed to get stronger by the day. At the time Codey went home, Ginsberg suggested that Codey had perhaps had an upper respiratory tract infection and during the next month when Codey was well, that we might run an EEG just to be sure there was no signs of epilepsy. The hospital advised to give Codey either Panadol or Painstop whenever we thought necessary.
Tuesday 27th June 0830—2230
Robyn worked (had several hours off during the day)
Wednesday 28th June 0830—2000
Robyn worked (had 6 hours off during the day)
Thursday 29th June 0830—1930 Robyn worked (spend from around 1300 till 1600 at the hospital with Codey whilst Brian went to N.Ryde & I to Chatswood to work). I picked up Joshua that day at St Ives and took him to the hospital and did a change over with Robyn.
Friday 30th June 0830—1900
Robyn worked
Around 1745H, one of my staff (Tara McNaney) picked me up at Chatswood to go to a Business Appointment & Dinner in the City. Both Brian & I were supposed to go to this Appointment, however we agreed it best for Brian to stay home with Codey as he had just come out from hospital.
Saturday 01st July & Sunday 02nd July Most of our weekend was spent around the house keeping Codey in so we could keep him warm and allow him to heal. Sunday afternoon we went with our friends Debra & Craig to the Great Northern hotel for lunch. Over the weekend Codey seemed still somewhat unsettled at times.
Monday 02nd July Our normal weekly routine continued with Robyn attending to the children. School was on holidays so Daniella went to Kidz Campus with Joshua.
1030 Donna & Brian left the house to go to Pymble for a Business presentation with MAN B & W Diesel. The meeting ended around 1330 at which stage Brian dropped me back at Chatswood and continued into the North Ryde office to work the remainder of the day.
Tuesday 03rd July Our normal weekly routine continued with Robyn attending to the children. School was on holidays so Daniella went to Kidz Campus with Joshua.
Around 1230 Qantas representative James Quinlan picked up Donna at Chatswood and went for a Business meeting and lunch at the Great Northern Hotel at Chatswood. James dropped Donna back at Chatswood at around 1430, and Robyn was out with Codey attending errands.
Robyn returned later and then did the weekly afternoon pickup routine.
Wednesday 04th July Our normal weekly routine continued with Robyn attending to the children. School was on holidays so Daniella went to Kidz Campus with Joshua.
Donna worked the day from Chatswood.
Thursday 06th July Our normal weekly routine continued with Robyn attending to the children. Daniella had a school type education day at Westmead Hospital for Diabetes Children aged 5-7 which I had booked her into so Robyn took Daniella to Westmead Hospital to be there by 9.30pm and picket her up around 3.30pm. During this week Daniella had been quite sick and her levels were all over the place. But today was such an important day for her to meet other children with Diabetes that we agreed that she was well enough to go and the fact that she would be at a hospital with Diabetes educators was safe enough.
Donna worked the day from Chatswood.
Friday 07th July Our normal weekly routine continued with Robyn attending to the children. School was on holidays so Daniella went to Kidz Campus with Joshua.
Donna worked the day from Chatswood. Sometime during this week Robyn & I discussed Codey having his 4month shots, but agreed to wait till he had completely finished his antibiotics and seemed well.
Saturday 08th July Most of our day was spent around the house keeping Codey in so we could keep him warm and allow him to heal.
Sunday 09th July Around Midday my parents (Grandparents Barlow) picked up Daniella and took her on holidays up to they place at Port Stephens. I think we had a late lunch/early dinner up at our friends Debra & Craig Davies in View Street Chatswood and took Joshua and Codey.
Codey seemed to be getting stronger and had finished his antibiotics by now. There were times that he still seemed unsettled which we gave either panadol or painstop.
Monday 10th July Our normal weekly routine continued with Robyn attending to Joshua & Codey.
1000—Donna left Chatswood to go to Pymble to attend a business meeting again at MAN B & W Diesel. Codey was rather unsettled when I left, but Robyn knew I was running late for the meeting and said, "You go, he will be right". I returned to Chatswood from that meeting around 1245. I continued to work from Chatswood for the rest of the day & I think maybe it was this day that around 6pm Codey was screaming uncontrollably and I was on the phone to my Accountant that I went up the hall and took Codey from Robby’s arms and said I will deal with him. I settled him whilst on the phone to my Accountant Ray Loney.
I think Robyn left that night around 6.30pm
Tuesday 11th July Our normal weekly routine continued with Robyn attending to Joshua & Codey.
1015H—Donna left Chatswood for a meeting at Pymble—Solvay Pharmaceuticals with Shirleigh Thorensen. At my time of departure, I remember Codey was again unsettled; yet Robyn said you go. I met Tara McNaney from our N/Ryde office at the meeting and the meeting concluded around 1245H. I returned to Chatswood to work for the rest of the day.
Codey was sleeping when I returned and when he woke seemed in good spirits. Around 1430 Robyn & I agreed that perhaps we should arrange for Codey to now have his 4month shots and she would go to Dr Dianna Staniforth for that and then go straight to Kidz Campus to pickup Joshua for the Day.
Wednesday 12th July —Our normal weekly routine continued with Robyn attending to Joshua & Codey. 0930H—Donna & Brian left Chatswood for a meeting at North Sydney - Australian Business with Walter Roso & Michelle Obrien. At our time of departure, I remember Codey was again unsettled, yet Robyn said you go. Meeting Concluded around 1130H when we returned to Chatswood and found a note on the counter saying something like "Gone to Westmead Hospital to pickup Daniella’s Jacket, and get Codey some sleep"
I made a comment to Brian something like "Poor Robbie, Codey doesn’t give her a very good time". Brian went into N/Ryde office and Donna continued to work the afternoon at Chatswood.
Around 1530H some business colleagues arrived Linda Brettel & Brett Jowett from Sanford International Travel at Chatswood. On arriving, Robyn was in the Foyer with Codey in her arms and Linda made a comment to Codey like " you give your mummy a big scare" and went onto explain the previous episode to Brett. Robyn had made us coffee and then left with Codey to pickup Joshua from Kidz Campus early as my sister-in-law Fiona was coming to pickup Joshua around 4pm so he could go on his first holiday away from home. Robyn had packed Joshua a bag ready to go.
I was in my meeting with Linda & Brett when Fiona arrived. I introduced Fiona & her family and Joshua to Linda & Brett on their way out the door at around 1630H.
I have later asked Fiona how Codey was when she arrived and she commented that she thought that Codey looked distant and daised, but when she looked again at him, he didn’t have a runny nose or anything, so she just thought he was particularly quiet.
When I came out of my meeting around 1700H, I farewelled my colleagues and came into the family room where Robyn was sitting on the couch with Codey. She commented she thought he didn’t seem right and did I think he had a fever? I felt his forehead and said I thought it was warm but not on fire, but to be sure I said lets go the soft drug and give him panadol.
Codey seemed unsettled, yet Robyn rocked him to sleep and put him down. She was in the kitchen when Codey cried again and she again patted him to sleep. Not long after Codey let out a scream and Robyn went to the bedroom to find Codey again fitting. She picked him up and raced into my office yelling, "Donna he’s doing it again". I took him from Robyn’s arms and said call Triple 0 and get an ambulance urgently. I lied him on the couch and again began to immediately undress him and asked Robyn to get cold washers. I swapped with her and went straight to get Codey’s Blue book dialed Ginsbergs number and left a message for him to call me back Urgently. I went back to Codey and Robyn rang Brian and said again "Codey is really sick and is having another seizure and to come quick, we have an ambulance on the way".
Ginsberg rang back and I described what was happening to Codey. He asked if I had a thermometer, and I said I can’t read the bloody thing. He asked what I had done and I explained I undressed him and was applying cold washers, he said no need for anymore washers, turn him on his side and get the paramedics to take his temperature soon as they arrive—which I did. The ambulance and Brian I think arrived around the same time. The paramedics took Codeys temperature and I think they told me it was 33.5 so he was quite cool.
I requested we go to the SAN as that was where Codey’s pediatrician was and they said its peak hour we should go to RNSH. I agreed and on the way to the hospital the pediatrician did an ECG on Codey. Codey was blowing little bubbles and eyes open but noone seemed there. He was really pale but didn’t seem as hot as he was in the first seizure. The intensive care unit paramedic in the ambulance said clearly to me "he didn’t think this was a febrile convulsion, and we must not leave the hospital till they had run all the tests on him to find out what was causing this".
Robyn followed us to the hospital and was there when we arrived. She apparently said to my husband "what took you so long", as she got there before us.
On arrival they took us into the resuscitation room and began tests and checking Codey over. We described all the above and they asked us questions about family history etc and I remember Robyn jumping in and saying "and the 6 year old is a diabetic". The registrar who was on duty was a woman named Sonia.
I told her that Codey was immunized yesterday and she didn’t seem to pay any attention—she was more concerned with his state and taking blood tests etc. I think she immediately put him on an antibiotic intravenous drip but said she didn’t necessarily think he had a virus.
Neither my husband nor myself had any money on us so I asked Robyn to lend me $20, which she did. I think around 10pm my husband and Robyn left the hospital and Robyn dropped Brian home. They had advised by this stage that Codey was being admitted. They kept him in casualty till around midnight waiting to get a urine sample and eventually got one in a bag. After this they said they were taking us down to Children’s ward.
A security person arrived and took Codey, myself and a nurse down to the Children’s ward in a Car with the drip as it was freezing outside. We arrived and Codey seemed settled and I knew the nurse on duty from my previous weeks that we spend at RNSH when Daniella was diagnosed with Diabetes.
The nurse suggested that I looked like I should try to get some sleep and walked me down to the annex to sleep the night.
Thursday 13th July Around 6am the nursing staff called me and asked me to come as Codey was unsettled. I threw on my pants and a cardigan and raced up to the ward and settled him straight away with a bottle.
I had advised Robyn not to come in on the Thursday, as we knew that Codey would be in hospital at least that day for all the necessary tests. Daniella was still with my parents at Port Stephens and Joshua was with my Brother and Sister-in-law at Dural.
Robyn arrived at the hospital around 0815 and my husband arrived not long after. We asked Robyn to stay with Codey whilst we did a few things and I said we wouldn’t be long. I remember Robyn commenting something like" OK I’m timing you", which we thought was strange.
Codey was booked in for a Brain Ultrasound, & Opthamoligist examination, followed by an EEG, ECG. It was the Opthamologist that spent the most time with Codey putting 3 lots of drops in his eyes to completely dilate them. After examination the Opthamologist asked us had Codey ever been shaken? We said No, what do you mean "Shaken"? He said "Shaken"! We were hurried to the next appointment, which was for an EEG & ECG—this appointment was across the hall at the hospital. The Opthamologist was in the hall and Brian went back again to him and quizzed him—saying that he bumped Codeys head when putting him into the 4-wheel drive and Codey cried and it was quite a bump. The Opthamologist replied "no not a bump, a shake". Brian then went onto say that the kids often jump on him in his rocker, and again the Opthamologist replied "No not a rock, I mean a shake". We asked each other would Robyn ever shake Codey, and agreed that Robbie gets stressed at times with Codey but we never in a million years would think Robbie would ever harm Codey. Robyn has been with our family for over 2.5 years and she loves our kids like her own family.
We knew the results were coming back that evening and we were eager to get them and see everything is all right with our little Codey. The person who did the ultrasound on the Brain had advised us at the time that she saw nothing unusual and the Brain looked perfectly normal and undamaged—that much we knew which was fabulous.
Around 6pm that night Dr Hugh Allen and his registrar Jane called us into the office and told us they believed Codey had been "Shaken". Brian and I were totally horrified and questioned their findings suggesting how sure could they be and were they 100% correct. They asked us questions about Robyn (our nanny) and we agreed that at times Codey didn’t give her a very good time but we never ever imagined in our wildest dreams that she would ever willingly harm him. We were asking a lot of questions, and at the time, Hugh got on the phone and before we knew it he was on the phone reporting this to the "emergency child abuse line". He put the phone onto my husband who also spoke to the woman, at which stage my husband broke down crying and handed the phone to me to try and answer the questions. We were both so devastated and couldn’t believe what they were telling us. I cant remember the name of the woman we spoke to but she advised us we had to give our 100% vow that Robyn would not be near our children under any circumstances.
My father was dropping our daughter Daniella back that evening from holidays and was waiting home for us. We came home feeling shell-shocked and unbelieving of what was happening, still not understanding what they were telling us.
Later that evening around 2230H, the woman from the emergency child abuse line called us and we went over and over their diagnosis saying we couldn’t believe that this could be true. She again reaffirmed that we had to keep Robyn away from our family under any circumstance. She advised that someone from Docs would be in touch with us tomorrow morning and would want to speak with us. She advised that they would probably meet us at the hospital.
Brian and I discussed Robyn being an employee and we couldn’t just sack her and at this stage she knew nothing of their findings.
Neither my husband nor I got any sleep that night.
Friday 14th July—We had Daniella with us that day and went back to the hospital and some time that morning met up again with Dr Hugh Allen, again questioning him saying "are you sure you are right", we need to be 100% sure as this is going to pull our family apart. Our 2 children Daniella and Joshua love Robyn so much and she is so wonderful with them that we just don’t want them to make any mistakes. We asked if they were sure they had covered all possibilities and they kept shaking their head saying, "Codey is a shakenbaby". They also said, they were sorry that this was the diagnosis and were sympathetic but they were 100% sure!
They advised that Codey had been booked in for Xray on every bone in his body that day and a MRI for which they would put him under a general anaseptic next Tuesday. In the opinion of Dr Allen his diagnosis was conclusive.
Around 1100H, Emma the Social worker at the hospital came to talk with me and I was in total devastation. She advised that Docs would come to talk to us around 1200H. I sat with Emma outside and cried in disbelief saying they would want to be sure as I still cant believe that Robyn would ever do anything like this to our baby.
Around 1200H my husband Brian arrived at the hospital as he had to go to our N/Ryde office this morning to pay our staff. Shortly after Emma advised us that the Docs people were here and wanted to have a chat with us. We were taken up to the 1st floor of the hospital to a room up the end. When Emma opened the door we were quite shocked to see 6 people seated around a boardroom table.
Brian and I sat down and they immediately gave us a paper that said that Codey had been placed in the hands of the Director General or the state and that they were claiming him for 72 hours. They introduced themselves Melanie Henry and Linda Nillson from Docs, Angela & Cheryl Hall from Police and Child Protection person from RNS (who we don’t remember her name) plus Social worker Emma. They explained that they made up JIT and this was called Joint Investigation Team of Police and Docs from Chatswood Office and that they wanted to split my husband and I up and get a statement. They never said anything about lawyers or anything that raised concern to us so we didn ‘t think anything other than to be totally co-operative and give them everything we could. We just simply wanted our baby home.
Emma left and said she would look after our daughter who was downstairs. They split Brian and I up and took Brian to another room with Melanie Henry from Docs and Angela the Police officer.
I remained in the room (which was freezing), and was interviewed by Cheryl Hall (Police), and Linda Nillson. The process was ridiculously slow as I had to wait for Cheryl to type everything I was saying, I suggested they should After several hours, Linda was tapping her watch and ran out of the room on 2 occasions to take phone calls. At around 4.30pm they were really tapping their watches saying that they were only touching the surface and needed to resume this on Monday. Linda went to get Brian, Angela and Melanie and they all came back into the room saying that we resume the meeting again on Monday 17th July at their office at Chatswood.
At sometime around 2pm in the afternoon my girlfriend Debra Davies came to the hospital to see us and was told that Codey had to go for a full X-ray of every bone in his body and the nursing staff asked Debra if she wanted to go with Codey for which she said yes and went with my daughter Daniella and was with Codey whilst they x-rayed him. She advised it was very traumatic for Codey and perhaps it was best that Brian and I were not there.
Our friend Craig Davies arrived at the hospital around 6pm to pickup Daniella as we were waiting for an Opthamologist Dr Lawless to come in and examine Codey.
The nurses put dilating drops in Codeys eyes and Brian and I waited till around 1915H when Dr Lawless finally arrived. When he examined Codey we asked how old he through the hemorrhages were to which he responded—I would suggest several hours. I replied, "how could that be, when Codey was brought in on Wednesday night", he responded "well perhaps 2 to 3 days". Brian and I were a little dumbfounded by his immediate reanalysis learning that Codey had been in hospital since Wednesday. Dr Lawless advised that he could see no damage to the nerves and that was good news and eventually left.
Saturday 15th July On the recommendation of Dr Hugh Allen we attended the scheduled Diabetes Education for Parents workshop at Western Suburbs University at South Penrith which ran from 0830 till 1700 and went directly to RNSH to see Codey then returning to our friends Debra and Craig’s late that night to pickup Daniella. Today was Brian’s birthday for which we didn’t celebrate as a family as we would have normally.
Sunday 16th July—We spent all of our day at the Hospital with Codey and took Daniella.
Monday 17th July We dropped our daughter off at Kidz Campus for the day. They were going Ice-Skating and we phoned them back to give instructions for Daniella’s diet, as she needed to have some carbs in her before she got on the ice. We had also forgotten to enclose Daniella’s BSL monitor so advised them to please keep a close watch on her and gave them both our mobile numbers.
0930H -We then went to the Docs office at Chatswood and Brian was interviewed by Vivien (Police officer head of the Dept) and Melanie Henry (Docs) and I was interviewed in another room by Cheryl (Police). Around 1630H they asked for me to come into the room with Brian and explained that they were sympathetic to our situation. We asked has Robyn been interviewed yet and they said they were interviewing us and No she had not been interviewed". Vivien—the police officer in charge said that "we had been unusually most co-operative and that in her experience she knew clearly that we were innocent—but that of course had to be off the record". Melanie advised that there was a call from my mother that she had to return to discuss if they would come to be interviewed. I phoned my mother who seemed rather off-put by the whole senario and ended up having an argument with her. I think that this together with Daniella’s diabetes was just too much stress for my parents within a space of 9 months.
Melanie brought a proposed Court order to the table and went through it with us suggesting this is what they intended to file on Wednesday at court - which we didn’t seem to understand what was going on. She suggested don’t worry I will arrange to interview your parents and things will take care of themselves and we will get Codey home to you ASAP.
Vivien and Melanie conversed agreeing that their best approach was to turn up on Robyn’s doorstep to interview Robyn by surprise. To take her by surprise was the best option to make sure they got a true report.
We left around 1650H and I went directly to the hospital and Brian went to pickup our children at UTS and take them home, as we have still to manage our daughters diabetes diet and keep her stable. We also have to make sure that Daniella does not become stressed or pick up on any stress as this will affect her BSL levels and can be detrimental to her health.
I returned home from the hospital around 2130H. Phoned my mother who said dad had been in touch with Melanie Henry at Docs and she said she was too busy to see dad prior to Thursday. Dad asked if it could be Tuesday and said he could be there by 3pm and Melanie said "sorry not enough time for the interview at 3pm and Wednesday she would be in court so it had to be Thursday" We were under the understanding that Codey could be released from hospital to come home and they would interview my parents immediately for which it became obvious they were buying time.
Again Brian and I had no sleep all night worrying about our baby.
Tuesday 18th July 0730—I phoned my father and said I was concerned that they didn’t seem supportive and my father reacted in an angry way saying "why were they so much under the limelight". I advised and requested my father keep his nose out if he couldn’t address the situation in a stable manner. I think that this together with Daniella’s diabetes was just too much stress for my parents within a space of 9 months.
0800—I then phoned my girlfriend Debra who agreed they (herself and Craig) would do all possible to help to bring Codey home.
0830H —I dropped Daniella at School and spoke with her teacher Bev Middlebrook advising what was going on in our lives and to please watch Daniella and her levels as we are concerned she pick up on our stress. I returned back to Chatswood to make phone calls
0930H—I phoned Docs asking Vivien when they intended to interview Robyn. They said soon as possible and they were hoping to go that afternoon. I then asked to speak with Melanie and advised that my mum and dad were not an option and to please interview Debra and Craig Davies our closest friends and pursue the UTS option. I gave her their phone details.
1100—Debra Davies phoned Docs and spoke to Melanie Henry to arrange an interview. She advised they would need to put aside 4 hours. Debra availed herself for later that morning for which Melanie advised that they were unavailable. Debra then availed themselves for that afternoon, again they were unavailable. Debra advised she would make herself free for Wednesday for which they said they were too busy and would be in court. In the end they advised that they could not see Debra till after they had been to court and at the earliest it would happen at 1000H on Thursday 20th July. Still we were under the understanding that they were interviewing Debra and Craig for a short-term thing for only a few days for which Debra and Craig agreed to move into our place.
1105—I spoke with a colleague and Lawyer Karin Bergseng offering the problem we were faced with. Karin offered to track down the best person she thought that would specialise in Family law and have them call me to advise on the best procedure.
Several times that day either my husband or myself phoned JIT to enquire if they had been to interview Robyn and what was happening. At various times I was reminded that "we were not the only case they had and they were working as fast as they could". They would get around to interviewing Robyn at a time convenient to them.
1300—We both accompanied Codey to the main MRI area where I held him whilst they put the gas on him to send him under and we were told to go away for 45 minutes whilst they did the MRI under a General anaseptic. I cried, not believing this was happening to our poor little baby feeling sad for him to have to go through all this.
1500—approximate time I spoke with Grace Basaglia from Tress Cocks and Maddox who advised she could help and suggested we needed to urgently get a barrister involved right from the start. She advised the best person for the job is Trish Hanna and would be in touch later that day to perhaps conference. I advised that I we were waiting on the results from the MRI and would be able to conference thereafter.
1600H—Robyn phoned my husband to ask how Codey was and what was happening and if we wanted her to work tomorrow. She also offered that her sister (Jamie Farrar—Police officer), was in Manly hospital and broke down crying suggesting that Jamie had potentially a broken back. Brian sympathised with her and reminded her that the Dr.’s suggested that she not be round the children for the entire week as a direct result of her Gastro problem. Both Brian and I were sick to think that we were being told we had a shaken baby and knowing full well it wasn’t Brian or myself there was only one other that it could be and that was Robyn. Brian moved to conclude the conversation ASAP reaffirming that Robyn was not required to work till at least next Monday.
I spoke again at the end of the Day with Docs Linda Nillson and asked if the Police had interviewed Robyn, she said that she thought they had been to her home at 4pm but noone was home.
We couldn’t believe that the Police hadn’t tracked Robyn down yet and Brian spoke later again to Vivian (police) and offered the information of Robyn calling and that her sister Jamie was in Manly hospital and Vivien (police in charge) advised that they would try to track Robyn down perhaps at Manly Hospital—later that night.
1700—We spoke again with Grace advising we were still waiting on the results from the MRI. We agreed again to conference later that night and I faxed everything I had through to Grace for review and discussion with Trish Hanna.
1745—Dr Hugh Allen met with Brian and I individually advising that the results from the MRI were good and no damage, however he suggested that there was evidence of previous hemorrhaging and fluid around the brain, which would suggest there were more than one incidents. In any case he advised that Codey would be the Archaeologist that we had intended him to be and he would be just fine.
Brian left the hospital to pickup Daniella and Joshua from Craig and Debra’s place and take them home to feed them. I returned home from the hospital much later that night as I was waiting on Dr James Smith to come an examine Codey.
Around 1900 Dr James Smith arrived at RNSH to examine Codey. James spent quite a bit of time with Codey and explained that without all the other medical reports that he couldn’t say for sure that Codey was a shakenbaby. He explained that there are many parts of the jigsaw and all these pieces needed to be considered and brought to light. James confirmed he would write his report prior to departing the hospital that night. I gave Codey a bottle and settled him prior to my leaving.
Wednesday 19th July 0800—Telephone conference with Trish Hanna and Grace Basaglio. Agreed to meet us at the courts at 1000H. Dropped Daniella at School and Josh at UTS and proceeded to Campsie to the courthouse.
1000H—Arrived at the Campsie Children’s Courthouse and met with Grace & Trish for which they showed us into a Conference room. I was distraught and unknowing of what was happening. We were called into court and Brian and I sat at the first row of seats with Grace. Trish sat at the bench with a lawyer for Codey and Linda Nillson sat with a lawyer for Docs. They requested the child be released in supervision into the home and the magistrate flipped and said that carers needed to be found and the court was adjourned till next Wednesday. The magistrate also ordered Neurological reports as well as the MRI and other reports to be presented in court next Wednesday. I broke down into tears and couldn’t believe that Codey was perhaps staying in hospital for another few days. Melanie Henry from Docs said "its alright Donna, we will go to the court soon as we get an admission from Robyn and I will arrange for Codey to be released the very next day". In anycase they advised they were interviewing Craig & Debra (our friends) tomorrow and everything would work out. Trish Hanna (our barrister) conversed with them asking what their intentions were with Codey and the conversation seemingly went no-where.
Afterwards, we drove down to Campsie shopping centre with Trish & Grace and tried to through some options around. We had to find a carer that would be approved by Docs ASAP to get Codey out of hospital. We explored nanny options, parents, friends, and a live-in nanny. I went away with a long list of people to follow-up and phone and they did the same.
1530—Vivien/Angela called from Police and said Robyn denied all allegations—add, they didn’t find any unusual behavior during their interview with her. Also said our Key and health card had been left with them and that Robyn doesn’t want her job and that she wants her pay. She also added, any discussions from us must take place with her father. Police advised Docs would now plan to interview Robyn.
1535—Brian took me to see Dr Dianna Staniforth as I felt like I was falling apart. I explained to Dianna what was going on in our lives and the pressure we were under and Dianna sympathised and was horrified at the situation. I question Dianna about Codeys medical record and was told that 13/6 Codey saw Dianna who diagnosed Bronchilitis and had his chest x-rayed. 16/6 Dr Anne Tonkin attended to Codey and diagnosed a productive Cough and Bronchilitis and prescribed Amoxil. 21/6 Anne Tonkin attended Codey again and we confirmed it was that day that Anne phoned me and said "this cry that I hear, theres just something not right and I want to track down your pediatrician to examine him immediately" and 11/7 Codey was given his 4month shots Trepasil. Dianna didn’t have the notes for Trepasil but gave us some notes for Inframix, which we gave to our lawyers next time we met.
1600—Brian and I went directly to the hospital to spend as much time as possible with Codey before picking up Daniella and Joshua.
1800—Received a phone call from a Greer Phillips that was tracked down by a girlfriend of mine. Greer was interested in the nanny position so I explained the entire story to her and asked her if she was interested. Her mother is the deputy mayor for Baulkham Hills shire and she said she was very interested but thought she should discuss this with her mother. She confirmed her qualifications was a Certificate in Childcare/Infant and she had 5 months to run out her Certificate in Community services which would qualify her to be a director of a Childcare Centre. Greer expressed a lot of interest in helping us out and she agreed she would come for an interview at around 1830H the following night to discuss a plan of how we could work things.
Thursday 20th July 0830—I took Daniella to school LPS and Brian took Joshua to St Ives Masada. Our friend Tomiko Omeara offered to pick Josh up that day and take him home to her place for Brian to pick up on his way home at the end of the day.
0930—I phoned Melanie Henry asking if they had interviewed Robyn yet and was told that we were not the only case they have and they would get to her at a time convenient to them. I enquired about UTS and what was happening and received no answers. She advised Linda would be in touch.
1000—Linda Nillson and Melanie Henry interviewed our friends Debra & Craig Davies. Meeting concluded around 1300H (Report attached)
1100—I phoned Debra Tai at UTS 95145157 to ask if Docs had been in touch with her and where were they at with Docs as noone at Docs seemed to be helpful enough to answer any of our questions or offer any direction of where they were at with possible day-care for Codey. Debra advised "it was up to the Department to make the decision and authorise the exemption to go over the law and provide funding for an additional staff member. She also offered that in principle the department agreed to over the number but the stumbling block lied in the department offering funding for Codey. Debra also said that she would agree to even 5 hours a day of funding to assist. She advised me that if she hears anything further she would be in touch with me"
After this we went to the hospital to be with Codey as long as possible knowing we would have to meet with our lawyers that afternoon sometime. Later that day we caught up again with Dr Hugh Allen and asked more questions about his diagnosis for which he seemed tunnel visioned and in an off-handed way sympathetic. He recommended that we should be pushing docs to interview my Brother and sister-in-law to take Codey at worst case senario. He also questioned again if Robyn had given a statement and I confirmed that this happened yesterday and she denied all allegations. I asked Hugh Allen why the Departments had not received all the medical reports they had asked for and he advised his report was enough and they needed nothing further. I explained that the Judge clearly requested more reports and he said that the department had not asked for any further reports. I also advised that we had lawyers and they need a copy of the reports for which he said that shouldn’t be a problem.
1400—met with Trish Hanna and Grace Basaglio and Trish kept saying there must be something else, there must be another medical reason for all this happening. Grace advised that Dr Hugh Allen was not being cooperative at all and that the hospital refused to release any reports till we couriered $36 which she confirmed had been done. Grace had her colleagues tracking down all these medical records but RNSH were being somewhat uncooperative. Trish and Grace gave me a big checklist of tracking down care options and we confirmed we would speak again tomorrow. Meeting concluded around 1730H at which time we went straight to pickup Joshua at Tomiko’s and onto pickup Daniella at Debra and Craig’s and go straight home to feed and bath the kids.
1630H—Linda Nillson from Docs finally returned my call and I asked her what was happening with UTS for which she said she didn’t know. She said they were waiting on medical reports and I asked what medical records are you waiting on. She said she didn’t know—I said, how could you not know what records you are waiting on when you tell me you are waiting on them. I asked what was happening with Debra & Craig and she advised the interview went well and there were other checks that needed to be run on them and said this was only a preliminary interview and a follow-up interview would be required at sometime. I expressed how exasperated that things seemed to be going at a snails pace and again she reminded me that we are not their only case! I asked had Docs interviewed Robyn yet, and she said No. Linda advised they were hoping to do the interview tomorrow morning with Robyn but didn’t know what time and would call me after the interview.
1900—Interviewed Greer who still seemed keen. She had lots of questions for which we answered them all. Debra Davies spoke also with Greer and gave her experience with Docs and the type of questions that she might be asked as a possible potential supervisory live-in nanny/carer. I asked Greer to think carefully about this and phone me in the morning.
Friday 21st July 0830—We dropped off the kids at schools LPS and Masada St Ives.
0900 Brian went to JIT to pickup the Key and Medicare Card. Following is Brian’s statement: Karen greeted me and opened the door. Karen introduced herself and I said that we had in fact already met, and that Karen was the person who was studying welfare. Karen agreed. I then told Karen I had come to pickup our medicare card and Key that Robyn (the nanny) had left. Melanie waved to me (behind her back). Melanie was on the phone. Angela (police officer), also spotted me and met me at the door and said she was going to call me re a "Greer" that has called her enquiring about the Meads-Barlow case and she commented she "thought it was odd". And we agreed Greer could have been anyone. I offered that we had interviewed Greer the night that she called JIT, and that I didn’t think it was particularly odd in light of what Donna had already told her (Greer). I also suggested the nanny had, in principle, accepted the position. I then asked Angela if Docs had been to see Robyn. Angela said that she knew it was scheduled, however didn’t know if they had indeed met with her. Angela added something like "it’s a Docs think" and she didn’t know, nor could she answer for them. Melanie and Linda (Docs) then entered the reception area and asked (in a seemingly serious manner), something like "is everything OK?". I then asked them of the status with meeting Robyn. They said "No, not as yet, and that they are working very hard to get there and said it would be imminent". They also added that there are more officers working on this case than any other case there". During the course of the conversation, Melanie asked why I was there, and I told her that I had come to pick up the cards/key - Angela confirmed. I said I appreciated their efforts and I’m sure they are working hard as they can, however I added, t looks a whole lot different from a parents point of view, and that it is difficult to cope with. All 3 officers concluded with kind words and I departed. During initial conversations there with Angela, she was called behind a closed door to take what she described as a phone call.
0930 Donna phoned JIT asking for either Melanie Henry or Linda Nillson, to be told by Karen (who took the call) that they were both unavailable. I explained again to Karen that at all costs that Mark & Fiona need to be interviewed as if the UTS option wasn’t to come through that Codey absolutely must go to my brother and sister-in-laws place. I added that I thought it was their responsibility to make sure that Codey didn’t go to just any forster home and he needed to be with family in a worst case senario. I offered Mark and Fionas phone number and requested that she have Melanie or Linda arrange to meet with them and do all the necessary checks. Karen agreed and confirmed that she would pass on the number and have Melanie or Linda phone me back ASAP.
0940—I embarked on day care options that would satisfy Docs if UTS doesn’t come through. I phoned the following but received no help whatso ever, but the last person I spoke to, Donna Thornton from Gumnut cottage at Macquarie Uni advised me that "its up to the dept & they take their orders from the Dept. She advised that all centres can go over if approved by the Department. In the end it’s up to the Dept".
Centres contacted are following:-
Willoughby Family Care 97777836 North Ryde Family Care 98583222—Christian Community Dianna Kurringai Family Care 94240834—Sandy Dept. Community Services—Suzie Thomas 94820800 Father Steve at the Catholic Church at Chatswood 94121042 CSIRO Care 94905527 Julie Cressy Rd Care 98071726 Henley Care 98797694 Magic Kids 98048036 Mia Mia 98508036 0-5 Early Childcare 98871974 Oz Education 2001 98085288 Greenwich care 94381162 Meadowbank care 98082692 Carlingford care 98726155 Bambinis Chatswood 99581684 Chatswood Long Day Care 94173333 Devonshire St Centre 94115436 Kookaburra 94194325 Gumnut Cottage 98507740
After this I was totally exhausted and went to the hospital to see my baby.
1100H —Donna phoned JIT and asked again for Melanie or Linda to be told they were busy interviewing. I left a message for them to call me urgently
1200H—Donna phoned JIT and asked again for Melanie or Linda to be told they were busy interviewing. I left another message for them to call me urgently and added that I had already left 3 messages.
1330H—Donna phoned JIT and Melanie answered the phone and said she couldn’ t speak with me as she was interviewing. Melanie added that Linda would be in touch. I requested she return my call Urgently. 1500H
—Donna phoned JIT and asked Karen if she knew if they had interviewed Robyn as yet, she said she didn’t know and that she had left the message for Melanie and Linda and would have them return my call.
1655H—Donna phoned JIT, no answer.
Saturday 23rd July 0830 Left message for Neil Ginsberg who returned my call. Discussed Viera Scheibner paper with him who agreed it was a possibility.
Contacted Scheibner explained the situation who asked me to fax through all the documentation I had inclusive of medical records, police statements etc and she agreed this is most definitely indicative of her findings.
Sunday 24th July 0900 phoned Scheibner back who had read the case and agreed without a doubt it is indicative of her findings and whilst Docs may move to have Codey fostered out, he is subject to a 6 Mth immunisation and may even die in the future. She agreed we need to work fast. She said she had left messages for Ginsberg to phone her and the timing needed to be right to get Ginsberg in the right frame of mind for support. She advised if this was in a court in the US it would have been thrown out but in Australia the Govt. continues to insist that all children be immunised. She also advised that perhaps Daniella’s diabetes is a direct reaction to Vaccine Damage and advised me to contact Pauline Rose—Homeopath on 02 94362992 to arrange for all my children to be treated for Vaccine Damage. She will be in touch.
0930 tracked down Dr James Smith who is in Adelaide on conference. Left message with wife to have him phone me urgently on return.
0945 phoned Peter MCCrohon who suggested that I get a medical history on other 2 children as Scheibner suggested that perhaps Daniella’s Diabetes is a direct link to Vaccine Damage. I gave Peter Graces number and Peter agreed he would call in his own resources of Neurologists and Opthamoligists but would talk to Grace 1st.
1500 Phoned my girlfriend Soraya Harding 98808304 explained situation. Soraya advised her 7 year old (Dominique) had the same type of reaction when she had the 2-month shots. Stopped breathing etc. Soraya went this afternoon to her doctor and obtained the medical records from The children’s Hospital Camperdown diagnosing "Hypotonic/hypopusine episode post pertussis vaccination" and treatment "not for any pertussis next vaccination". They diagnosed Dominique’s condition as a direct link to the "Whooping Cough Vaccine" Soraya has delivered these documents to me and authorises us to use them however we wish.
1700 Phoned Jenny Herz (Aventis Pasteur—Vaccine Specialist & Client), in Indonesia—explained the situation Jenny will call back with assistance of who can help us.
1900 Phoned Dr James Smith back again at home and explained the situation and my findings of Viera Scheibner. James said he is happy to keep an open mind but in his opinion there was intense damage. He asked me to fax through the paper and findings of Viera Scheibner together with the Medical diary from our GP Dianna Staniforth and Ginsbergs report and findings of Codey’s 1st admittance to hospital. He advised he would consider the situation and would be in touch tomorrow morning. I faxed the paper with Codey GP Diary and Ginsberg’s findings from the 1st diagnosed febrile Convulsion to 99773775. James Smith mobile number is 0414 549314. He confirmed to me that Tress Cocks and Maddox had been in touch to try and obtain his medical report on Codey.
2000 Jenny Herz phoned back and recommended the following. Report adverse reaction to Drug Company 03 92134444—Smith Klien & Beecham (Inframix). Also phone New Children’s Hospital NCR (National Centre for Research) - 98455555 and report adverse reaction—speak to a Doctor. Jenny arrives in Sydney from Bali tomorrow morning and will make contact with a colleague that she hopes will be able to assist. She will be in contact with us. Jenny Herz can be contacted on 0414 237326
Monday 24th July 0900—sent a fax to Poly Clinic at Port Stephens on 02 49840710 Phone 0249 841344 Attn: Valerie arranging all and any medical records relation to my daughter Daniella to be released this morning to my parents Maureen & Brian Barlow (Phone 0249 846840).
0915—Phone Dr Dianna Staniforth and requested all medical records for Daniella and Joshua be released by fax to me on 02 94103444.
1000—Received a call from friend Louise Williams (Phone 0407 061209), who advised her best friend in the world is Carol Cook (Phone 93844999), who works for the Community Services Commissioner which is the Federal Body and has due restriction over Docs. Carol apparently is the person who overrides any decision Docs make. Louise is going to keep trying to contact Carol today and confidentially discuss the situation with her and have Carol phone us later today with any advice or assistance she can offer.
1000—Spoke to Dianna Staniforth (GP), who advised that the 1st vaccine that Codey had was Inframix (by Smith Klien & Beecham), and the 2nd vaccine was Tripacel from CSL (distributed by Aventis Pasteur or Rhone Poulenc). Dianna faxed all medical records for both Joshua and Daniella.
1115—Louise Williams called back and advised that it is quite difficult for Docs to get a ruling against us as the burden is on Docs in terms of a legal position to prove that we are unfit parents. We are assumed to be fit parents and Docs have to prove that we are not. Where the Community Service Commission comes in is they review the process by which the Department acts. We need to find a hole in the process as we have counter evidence. I.e. have they considered every diagnosis and we have evidence of this being potentially an incorrect diagnosis. She advised that Carol can’t talk to us directly, as she could stuff things up if she got the case. She would put us onto Rebecca Piper who is an intake officer who will discuss with us what the Community Services Commission can do and how we can appeal through them—this would all depend on where it is legally. Rebecca should be in touch with us today to advise what to do and how they can help. Rebecca can be contacted on 93844999.
Louise Williams is a Journo for the Sydney Morning Herald, she advises we need to do everything legally at the moment but this should go to the media eventually and she knows the right person to put us onto who is familiar with Community Services etc.
1230—Emma social worker from RNS phoned to see how we were. I advised her that JIT have not returned any of my calls and I left over 6 messages for them on Friday—various messages with Melanie Henry and for Linda Nillson and again reaffirmed that I had spoken to Karen at JIT at 0915H last Friday advising that at all costs Codey MUST not go to Forster care and Docs must call my Brother and Sister in law—Mark & Fiona Barlow on 96512122 and must make time to interview them urgently. I told Emma that I don’t for a moment believe that Codey has been shaken and I believe their diagnosis is incorrect. I advised her that it had cost me about $10,000 so far just to get my baby back. I said I was really annoyed that the Doctors had not considered all the probable causes of Codeys condition. I clearly advised Emma that my lawyers were handling this and I did not authorise her to disclose any of our conversation. Emma advised me she was phoning Melanie from Docs to see why they were not returning any of my calls. I offered her again my brother and sister-in-laws phone number and she advised she would speak with Melanie and have her call Mark and Fiona to ensure that something was in place prior to Wednesday. Emma advised me that the reason that the hospital was making it so hard for us to get our hands on any medical records was because Codey was in "temporary hands of the state" and he was their property so even though I am his mother—technically I am not entitled to these records.
1245—Documents arrived through on fax from CSL and it turns out Tripacel is a Rhone Poulenc/Aventis product. I faxed all the information received to Viera Scheibner.
1300—I contacted Noelene Davis (Jenny Herz secretary) and explained it is in fact Tripacel and she advises that she will have Jenny return my call. 1340—Rebecca Piper (Community Services Commission), called and Brian took the call. Rebecca advised Brian what she does and said I believe you are having problems with Docs the department. Brian advised that we had left 6 messages last Friday and they are not returning our calls. Brian mentioned that it goes to call on Wednesday and she advised if the court hands down a ruling then theres nothing she can do to help—everything would need to be done prior to Wed. Brian advised that he has just taken a message off his mobile from Linda and he was going to return her call now. Brian explained that we are trying to work with the system but the system is too slow and we don’t seem to be getting anywhere. They keep on telling us that we are not the only case they have and they are working as fast as they can. In our opinion, their not returning our calls or taking note of our request for Fiona & Mark to be interviewed is not working in the best interests of our son. Rebecca advised to write our problems down and perhaps call her back and she could intervene to ensure that Docs the department is doing what they should be doing.
1345—Linda Nillson phoned Donna. Said she wanted to meet with us to discuss their interview with Robyn and with Debra and Craig and where they were at with Codey’s care. I asked her why she or Melanie were not replying any of our calls and she went quiet. She said they are very busy and were too busy to talk with us on Friday. She advised they were interviewing all day Friday. I said, whilst you go home at 4 or 5 O clock, our baby is still lying in hospital and I had put in numerous calls last Friday—one being at around 0930 to Karen requesting they interview Mark & Fiona. She said she wanted to meet to discuss the outcome of the interview with Debra and Craig. I asked what was happening with UTS. She said she didn’t know that was Melanie’s area. I said, well do you know if Melanie has arranged something? Again she replied No I have no idea. I said, well what do you want to discuss if you don’t know what you have in place or arranged? She said, we want to talk to you and Brian together about the whole process and that she didn’t have the time or inclination to discuss this with me over the phone. I asked, when will Melanie be back and when can she advise us at least where they are at with UTS, she said Melanie was at lunch and she expected her back around 2pm. I said, what are you doing about interviewing my brother & sister in law -Mark and Fiona. She said we would discuss that when we meet and that Melanie had advised about 11am tomorrow would be a good time. I said, and at 11am tomorrow you will have enough time to interview Mark and Fiona and do all the necessary checks on them?.She said, well she didn’t think that would be possible, as they were too busy. I said, it is in the interests of our son and all I was concerned about was my child and his welfare and I believed that they would also be working with us in the best interests of Codey. She went quiet and seemed exasperated with me. I said that I knew that they asked Craig and Debra if they would take Codey to live with them and I was annoyed that they had never suggested to us they were going to ask this. I also knew that Craig and Debra suggested to them that this would not be possible for Codey to live with them. I added, in these circumstances that it is in Codey’s interests that they should be interviewing Mark and Fiona, as he must go to family at worst case senario. It was not 1347 and I asked her to please find out from Melanie what the outcome with UTS was and to please phone me back immediately to at least advise me where they were with that. I reconfirmed that Melanie would be back in around 13 minutes and that I would wait for the call. I also again pointed out that I had waited over 3 days for her to return my calls from Friday and I didn’t think they were acting in our interests at all. She said that although she expected Melanie back she was a very busy person and she would see if Melanie could call me. She then suggested that I couldn’t make the time to meet with them and I reaffirmed that I did not say this at all, I simply said I wanted to know the outcome of UTS and their intentions and we would arrange the meeting when they call back. I added, that I would make myself available but they also had a duty to let me know their intentions and I was extremely concerned that it is now almost 2pm on Monday and what are they planning on recommending to the courts on Wednesday-for which she did not reply. Linda closed with saying again Melanie was a busy person and reminding me that I am not their only case and she would get Melanie to call me. I said, "I will wait for her call", and we hung up!
1430—Linda phoned back and advised that she had a verbal ok for Codey to go to UTS but nothing in writing as yet. I asked her how she saw Debra and Craig fitting into the UTS routine and she said she would discuss this with Brian and I tomorrow. I said I needed to know their intentions and that if this wasn’t suitable that I needed to push for them to interview Mark & Fiona. She said, "was I not prepared to come in tomorrow", I said, that I never said that I would not be there and to "please not put words into my mouth that I had never said". I reminded her my question was clearly "how did she expect Debra and Craig to fit into the routine", and added it was my right to know their intentions. She said she would discuss this tomorrow - she also added that it was not my right to push them to interview anyone else and that they will have the final decision on where they place Codey either with Debra or Craig or with anyone they decided. I asked again, "Linda, how do you see Debra and Craig fitting in with Codeys routine", she said she was not prepared to discuss this over the phone and she would not discuss this prior to 11am tomorrow—she added in a nasty manner, that "it would be really helpful if Brian could avail himself to be there too". Totally exasperated, I said "thankyou so much for you help—I will see you at 11" and hung up.
1455—Rebecca Piper Community Services Commission called back and I explained our issues of the lack of co-operation with Docs. She recommended that they could make a referral under section 17a,Local resolution, which means that the Commission refers the matter back to Community Services Centre (to Linda or Melanie) to undertake to resolve our complaint that they meet with us to resolve timely processes acceptable to both ourselves and their department etc—which I suggested that we were doing anyway. Rebecca said they don’t have the powers to tell the department what to do. We agreed that Rebecca could be of no assistance at this stage.
1500—Jenny Herz advised she had spoken to Professor Margaret Burgess Ph 98450520—Immunisation specialist at New Children’s Hospital. Margaret advised 1. Issue on how strong is their evidence of Shaken Baby. 2. She recommended we go through the correct channels of requesting Dr Dianna Staniforth (GP) Phone 94189670 to approach Dr Paul Tait who is the Child Protection Pediatrician Expert at New Children’s Hospital Phone 98450000 to review the reports. She also advised that it would be helpful to have a Pediatric Neurologist who would be the best person to assess what other things can cause the seizures.
1530—Phoned Dr Dianna Staniforth explained request to approach Dr Paul Tait. Dianna has left a message for Tait to return her call. She will be back in touch when he hopefully returns Dianna’s call.
1535—Brian returned mobile message call to Linda Nillson’s call to JIT (Docs) I opened conversation by saying "I am returning your call, and acknowledged that she had already spoken to Donna" Linda said "yes—but thanked me for calling anyway. She went on to explain about Tuesdays 11am meeting and to suggest that they want to tell us of what is going to be presented in court". I added "like a sneak preview" Linda said "yes". Linda then said "they want to discuss the options" I said, "It sounds like you have already made up your mind about where Codey is going on Wednesday". Linda said "there were options and they’d like to make an agreement" I said "if we don ‘t agree?…you do it anyway?" Linda said something like "yes, but we would like to meet with you first and discuss this" The discussion ended with talk about our decision and our availability. During the discussion I told Linda—"I was at the hospital".
1555—Phoned Immunise Australia Program on 93919000 and was put through to North Sydney Public Health. Explained the whole situation and schedule of Inframix and Tripacel immunization. Cath Cannings Immunisation coordinator for Northern Sydney Public Health said it certainly was in line with an adverse reaction to immunisations and recommended to speak with Dr Margaret Burgess who specialises in immunization at the New Children’s Hospital. She might review the case or recommend someone to review the case. She also recommended to get a 2nd opinion from another Dr or contact Adverse Events Clinic at the New Children’s hospital 98453418 (held only on Friday Mornings). Find a specialist who can help us speak with someone who specializes in adverse events following immunisation.
1605—Called 98453418 requesting to talk with a specialist Adverse Events Clinic—Mary Ellen Burn Immunization Nurse at New Children’s Hospital. She will talk to the Doctors who specialise in immunization and call me back. She advised that my story is definitely in line with an adverse effect. She said we would need to bring Codey in to see a Dr there to discuss further immunisation. I explained the seriousness of the situation with Codey in the hands of the Director General.
1640—Mary Ellen phoned back said they cant help and we should go back to Dr Hugh Allen to review in light of our findings and to point out that he has not explored the immunization schedule and adverse reactions. Alternatively, we need another pediatrician i.e. Ginsberg to go over the files and write a contrary independent report.
1730—CSL Medical Affairs Liz Scott 1800 642865 (MEL), Reported incident and side effects and complete medical history of vaccines and side effects from both Inframix (which isn’t their product), and then bringing him home from hospital on 30th June and finishing the Antibiotics around 7th July then taking him to be immunised on 11th July with their product Tripacel and there after presenting with a seizure on the 12th. Liz will gather all the references she can from their library and will be speaking to Manager Peter Hobbs who she will speak to tonight. She will be looking for any data on retinal hemorrhaging and neurological side effects that are not in the publicly released data. Liz will call back either tonight or tomorrow morning.
1730—Grace phoned Brian and advised she is going into conference and will phone us later tonight. She advised that she had spoken to Ginsberg who said that he should be seen to be directly involved with the investigation as he was Codeys personal pediatrician but he was happy work with whatever pediatrician we brought into the case.
1800—Viera phoned me to advise that she had just come of the phone to Ginsberg who finally returned her call. She said she let Ginsberg have his say and she talked about Immunological Insults and the published 48 hour reactions and most are "delayed reactions" which are not published however she has documented in medical reports. Finally Ginsberg agreed that he would endorse the 2nd Seizure as a direct link and eventually kind of suggested that he may be prepared to work with her and asked her to document everything and fax him the reports and he would review it and perhaps work with us. Viera asked me to find out if Codey had Hepatitis B. Viera advised she would work all night to complete her report and fax it to myself 94103444 and Ginsberg Fax 94899521 and we would talk in the morning. Viera requested I fax through the medical history on my other 2 children for her to analyse. I thanked Viera for everything she is doing and how appreciative we are of her dedication and help. I told Viera I would fax her this ongoing update as well for her reference.
1805—I called Lane Cove Medical Practice and spoke to Eric Roussel who advised No he had Heb B.
1810—I phoned Viera back to advise that Codey did not have Hepatitis B.
1900—Spoke to Grace about where we were at, at the moment. I discussed the interview that Debra and Craig had with Docs and explained that I had a report of that interview that I would fax. Which I did at 1911H to 92217483. Grace agreed it best for us to go with legal representation to this meeting tomorrow morning and to defer to 1130H. I agreed that I would phone in the morning saying we were running late and would be there at 1130H. I advised all the above events of today drawing particular attention to Viera perhaps talking Ginsberg around to assisting and reassessing. We agreed we would talk in the morning and meet out the front of the Docs place (Gas place) at 1130H.
Tuesday 25th July 1000—Phoned Smith Kline Beecham (Aust) P/L 1800251905 spoke to Medical Dept—Theresa McGarry and reported Codey having Inframix on 08th May and around 48 hours after becoming unsettled and constant fevers. Advised given Infant panadol but deteriorated to cough and nasal on 24th May and continued to go downhill till 13th June when we took him back again to the Dr to be diagnosed with Bronchilitis. Dr advised best to still not give any antibiotics and on 16th June his condition was no better. 16th June we took him back to Lane cove General Practice this time observed by Dr Anne Tonkin who arranged a Chest X-ray and prescribed Amoxil pediatric 100ml drops. On 21st June we took him back again as he was really a very sick baby and Dr Anne Tonkin said the cry that she hears in her surgery—something is just not right and she wanted him to see a pediatrician straight away. Dr Anne Tonkin tracked down Ginsberg (pediatrician) at Baulkham Hills Hospital and I took him there to 1st have a chest x-ray and then to be attended by Ginsberg. Ginsberg said his cough was very bad but his chest didn’t sound as bad on the inside as out and perhaps it was his ears giving him most of the trouble. Ginsberg suggested Codey continue the Antibiotics and go back next Tuesday to be examined by the GP. On the following Monday 26th June Co dey had a seizure. I advised Theresa at SKB that Codey is well however they have discovered retinal Hemorrhaging and she confirmed that a baby could suffer retinal Hemorrhaging from constant coughing and convulsions and that our pediatrician should have explained this to us. She advised that she is filing the report and it will go to the adverse reaction board in Canberra and a copy will go to our GP for signature and acknowledgment on my report.
1130—Fax finally came through from Viera Schiebner (54pg), which I took with me to meet Grace out the front of Docs. We were worried sick about Docs intentions with Codey. I cleared my messages on my mobile from the day prior and found a message from Debra Tait at UTS who confirmed good news that Docs had approved the funding for Codey and UTS were accepting him. My concern was how did Docs see Debra and Craig fitting into Codeys routine. I requested Debra do me a report on her discussions with Docs and discovered that Docs had approached Debra and Craig asking them to take Codey into their home as Forster parents indefinitely, taking him Mon-Fri to UTS for Day care—which was different to the suggested Debra and/or Craig coming to our home to supervise that docs had originally suggested. We met Grace out the front of the Docs office at 1135 at Chatswood and Grace suggested because I was so distraught that she does most of the talking. I was really angry with docs when they pushed us into a corner suggesting that they had been in touch with Debra and Craig that morning to ask them to take Codey home to live with them and Debra said No…and the reason she said not was that I explained to her on the weekend at worst case senario if Codey couldn ‘t come home that Brian and I thought it was best for Codey to go to Mark and Fionas (my brothers) now realising that this was bigger than Docs originally suggested. Despite my million calls to Docs over the past few days, docs either didn’t return my calls or wouldn’t answer me as to how they saw Craig and Debra fitting into Codeys routine. It appears they had said to Craig & Debra that they were not to discuss with Brian or I their suggested discussions of Debra & Craig taking Codey home to their place! What made me angry was being pushed into a corner saying that it was their intentions that Codey go to live with Debra and Craig and now they had said no, then Codey was going to Forster Care to someone we wouldn’t know. This was my BABY and we haven’t done anything to deserve this nightmare other than be loving and good parents and now some department just comes along and takes our baby off us! I requested with Docs I have privacy whilst I phoned Debra pleading with her to PLEASE TAKE CODEY…for which after several calls back to her she agreed that she and Craig would take him. We left Docs around 1315H agreed that he would go to UTS during the day and Debra & Craig’s nights and weekends.
1400—Brian and I drove to Wahroongha to Neil Ginsbergs rooms who had agreed to look at Viera Scheibners report and comment. Neil saw us and thankfully gave us about 40 minutes of time. He said that we really needed Expert witnesses in our case and made some suggestions as follows from New Children’s Hospital at Westmead.
1730—CSL Medical Affairs Peter Hobbs 1800 642865 (MEL), Reported incident and side effects and complete medical history of vaccines and side effects - he put me through to Evelyn Niedermayr. She asked re history and took a full report from the time of Inframix right up to Tripacel with all medication and medical history along the way. She confirmed she was writing a full report to be signed off by Dr Dianna Staniforth and would copy me in on all further correspondence.
Wednesday 26th July
Normal routing is to drop Daniella at LPS and Joshua at UTS each Mon-Wed Morn and Brian and I have continued our normal weekly routine with Daniella and Josh.
1000—I phoned Grace to advise we were thick in traffic at Strathfield and would be at Campsie ASAP. She advised to please get there as soon as possible. I had with me an affidavit from Craig Davies taking full care and responsibility for Codey for Trish and Grace to present to the courts that day.
We were Number 10 on the list and Grace had us moved to number 4. Around 1040H I received a call from my brother on my mobile and he asked where was what was happening and I. I explained I was at Campsie Courthouse and how horrible this was as there were really horrible drongo looking people here for which I felt somewhat demoralized. I asked Mark where he was and he said come out the front I am here to support you. With that I went out the front (where the 2 docs people were) and ran into my brothers arms crying and saying "thankyou so very very much for coming". Not long after I introduced Mark to Trish and Grace and subsequently to Melanie and Linda from Docs asking them again to please interview my brother and his wife and reminding them I had been requesting this for a week now". They agreed to interview Mark and Fiona prior to the end of this week. Melanie (Docs) advised Brian, Mark and I that she and Linda had interviewed Robyn over one and a half days at the end of last week. The magistrate seemed in a better mood today and Trish contested on Medical grounds. At one stage there was talk about Robyn (the nanny) being exonerated but Linda Nillson jumped in and said, "no this wasn’t the case". The magistrate asked docs to present their expert Dr witnesses who they offered Dr Hugh Allen, Dr Lawless (who they advised hasn’t yet written a report on Codey, but just arrived back today from Miami, and would arrange a written report to be filed in the next week). We broke for about 45 minutes and Mark, Brian and I stepped out the front. Then Melanie and Linda came looking for our Lawyers and said they had arrange for Dr Allen, Lawless and Smith to be there on 21st & 22nd August and we would now have to go back into court to confirm this. The magistrate called us back in and confirmed a hearing for 21 & 22 august and the Docs lawyer requested she advise a time span as the Doctors were busy people and needed to arrange surgery times etc. Trish Hanna (our barrister), clarified if Robyn (the nanny) was exonerated for which they confirmed No and Trish asked this to be recorded. She also confirmed liberal access for Brian, myself and our 2 other children for which the magistrate agreed and Trish again asked for this to be on the record. The Docs lawyer suggested something to the tune that Robyn (the nanny) had been interviewed but the interview needed to be typed and this would not happen till the end of this week. He made a strange comment to the tune of "the nanny’s report will speak for itself". The magistrate advised that Docs had until 02nd August to file all their reports and we had until 16th and on 18th they would file for readiness. We then left thereafter with the hearing being set for 21 & 22nd August. Linda and Melanie agreed they would make the necessary arrangements with Craig and Debra and would most probably arrange release of Codey on Thursday 27th July. Trish asked Linda and Melanie if they were calling on Robyn (the nanny) to court and they said "no you are contesting on medical grounds and that she would not be required". Trish advised she would supena Robyn Farrar if necessary for which they suggested initially she couldn’t do that and she argued she could. A lawyer approached us out the front and said she might be representing (? Codey), and gave Grace a business card and said she would be in touch.
1630—Linda went to Craig and Debras home and they signed the JIT confirmation to care for Codey under the direction of the DG. We met up with Craig and Debra later than night and they gave us a copy and we went over all the schedule and how Brian and I could help Debra and Craig still maintaining their lifestyle as normal as possible and include Codey.
Thursday 27th July 1040—Emailed Maureen Hickman from AVN to see if she can help.
1100—http://www.pnc.com.au/~cafmr/online/vaccine/mr-jan28.html—AVN stands for "Australian Vaccination Network"
I spoke with Meryl Dorey Phone 02 66872600 of the AVN stands for Australian Vaccination Network, explained the case and she agrees that this is without a doubt Vaccine Related. A couple of things—she said 1. Present Viera’s report as supporting evidence but 2. "Dont" have Viera testify as it might harm our case She gave me the following contacts who have been used as "Expert Witnesses" recently for SBS cases won by parents based on "Vaccine related" injury. She advised to speak straight away with Dr Robyn Cosford—at Northern Beaches Care at Mona Vale Ph 99799444 who apparently has a huge network of specialists that she is working with. She confirmed that Robyn would probably help us to find an expert Pediatric Neurologist that we will need! She also said contact: Dr Mark Donohoe 99681087 or 0411 193215 at Mosman and Dr Archie Kalakerinos 02 67608166 who is in Tamworth. Additionally Gizelle Cooke at Gordon 94181388 a well recognised and active Naturopath/GP who has had experience in this area and apparently is very credible. Lastly, she advised to contact TODAY Mr. Allan Corbett MLC NSW Upperhouse on 92302122 & 92303064. He must be contacted today as he is not in chamber on Fri, Sat or Sun. I phoned all these people and left urgent crisis messages for them to call me back. I think it was Meryl and a number of people here after that suggested that "SBS is the flavor of the month at the moment and they are quick to jump it"
1130—Emailed above to Grace Basaglia/Trish Hanna
1135—Rang all of the above people and left messages for them to return my call.
1200—Allan Corbett returned my call. Advised once its in the hands of Docs he cant help, but wished us luck and after this is over and hopefully we will win, then he may be able to help. He recommended we make contact down the track with the Community Services Commission so they see Docs take steps to make sure this nightmare doesn’t happen to someone else. He also advised for any further Vaccinations Codey should be admitted to the New Children’s Hospital for constant Monitor after vaccination.
1300—Received a call from Linda at docs saying Codey wasn’t going to be released today as they checked the circumference on his head and it had grown from 44cm at admission to 44.8cm in 2 weeks and this was unusual so they decided they were going to run a CT Scan. I asked why hadn’t they run a CT Scan anyway and she said if she were a medico she would be much better at her job and couldn’t answer that. She also said that it should be the hospitals responsibility to have phoned me and she was sorry for that. I said I was packing Codeys things and I would phone the hospital and find out what’s going on.
1315—I phoned the hospital who advised he was being done at 4pm and to be there around 3pm if I wanted to go down with him. The nurse explained to me that they were concerned about the heamotomas getting bigger and just wanted to check to be sure. I advised I would be there at 3pm.
1320—Dr Archie Kalakerinos phoned me and said he vowed to his wife that he wouldn’t work on another of these cases again—but still please tell him my story. I started at the beginning when Codey was born and went through the whole history of his life. Archie said he would consider if he would assist us over the weekend and for me to call him on Monday night at 7pm and he would let me know then.
I explained he was an induced baby and was originally unsettled when put straight on Karicare and then after about 2 weeks was changed over to SMA and became a happy and settled baby. Towards the end of April my husband went to Vietnam and at that stage I had Codey in a good routine and sleeping through the night. On the 08th May he was 1st vaccined with Infanrix (SKB), and shortly after became unsettled, fevers and arched back constantly for which I thought perhaps he was having problems passing wind. I explained Codey became like fluey towards the end of May with constant runny nose and by 13th June he was really quite ill with what appeared like the flu with a terrible cough and very chesty. I took him to the GP on the 13th June and she diagnosed Bronchilitis and said just continue to give panadol and Dimetapp infant drops. We then took him back to the GP on 16th June and they did a Chest x-ray and prescribed Amoxil 100mg Pediatric Drops 3 timesa day 1/2-ml doses. On 21st June he was still deteriorating rapidly and the Antibiotic didn’t seem to be touching the sides so we (my nanny) took him back again. The GP rang me and said "this baby’s cry that I hear in my surgery, something just isn’t right and I want him to see a pediatrician urgently today" …possible pneumonia?—She asked, could I track down Ginsberg, your pediatrician. Dr Tonkin called me back and said Ginsberg was at Baulkham Hills hospital and he would see him immediately, but 1st go to the xray and Ginsberg would arrange for Codey’s chest to be x-rayed first and then go straight to Ginsberg—which I did. Ginsberg said, "although he sounded terrible and rattly like a bag of bones, that he didn’t necessarily think it was his chest that was giving him he trouble, perhaps it was his ears that seemed quite inflamed. Ginsberg advised to continue the Amoxil antibiotic and take Codey back next Tuesday to the GP to have her examine him. Over the weekend Codey seemed to still be really unsettled still very arched back and constant crying and fever. On Monday 26th June, my nanny was changing Codey and he went all stiff and she couldn’t get Codeys leg into his jumpsuit. Codey’s eyes rolled back into his head and looked glazed and he was stiff and shaking. She (the nanny), picked him up quickly and ran into my office with him yelling "something’s wrong with Codey". I took him into my arms and he was stiff and then went all limp and seemed as though he was hardly breathing. I thought my baby was dying and I yelled "Quick Call triple 0 and ask them what to do" URGENT! Robby (the nanny) called Triple 0 asked for an ambulance urgent and they told her to undress Codey and apply wet cloths on him and keep him awake for which I lied him down on the couch following instructions and shaking his arms and torso yelling Codey Codey Codey. I was panicked. I think Robby rang the ambulance back twice asking where were they. I also phoned my husband and said "quick you have to come, I have an ambulance on the way, Codey is REALLY SICK" My daughter Daniella, was going back to the bathroom getting cold washers for me to apply on Codey. My friend John Omeara arrived to wish me a happy belated birthday and was with Codey and I whilst I continued with the cold washers and shook him to keep him awake and revive him. The ambulance arrived and followed by paramedics and Brian arrived. I asked if we could go to the SAN as that was where Codeys pediatrician was. The ambulance men diagnosed a febrile convulsion and took us to the SAN emergency. A registrar attended to us and explained they would be doing blood tests and pending on those as to whether they would do a lumber punch and Ginsberg would be in later and decide that. During this time they did blood tests on Codey and put a drip on him, for which Brian and I waited outside as I couldn’t stand how much they were hurting my baby and he was screaming. He was still very pale and shocked. Ginsberg came I think around 2130 and said that there was a high white blood cell count and this indicated a virus and would rule out a lumber punch. We were taken up to the children’s ward I think around 11pm and our friend John Omeara came to pick up Brian (his wife was at home with my other 2 children, and Robyn left around 7pm and went to her usual bowling on a Monday night). I stayed that night with Codey and he was quite unsettled all night, crying and the nurses gave him panadol. Over the course of the next few days either my husband or I stayed at the hospital 24 hours a day with Codey. One day Robyn sat in for a few hours so Brian and I could get some work done. They took him off the drip on Thursday at which stage he was still quite unwell so I requested he stay in hospital for another day to at least be off the drip for 24 hours and on oral antibiotics before I took him home. Ginsberg arranged a ENT specialist to come into examine Codey and he took wax out of his ears and said that although one was still quite inflamed, he didn’t think at all that the seizure was caused by his ears. During the time at the hospital they also did a Chest and abdomen xray which apparently showed clear. We brought Codey home on Friday 30th June with oral antibiotics (I think amoxacyllan), and he continued on these till I think around 7th or 8th July—still quite unsettled and feverish, for which the hospital told us to give Panadol and Painstop alternatively. Codey was still arched back at times and unsettled with fever from time to time. During that week Robyn (the nanny) and I discussed Codey having his 4mth shots and decided to wait a few more days till he was off the antibiotics and seeming better. On Tuesday 11th, I think around 2pm Robby took Codey to our GP for his 4mth shots for which they gave Trepacil. That night Codey was quite unsettled.
On Wednesday 12th July—Brian left Chatswood for a meeting at North Sydney—Australian Business with Walter Roso & Michelle Obrien. At our time of departure, I remember Codey was again unsettled; yet Robyn said you go. Meeting Concluded around 1130H when we returned to Chatswood and found a note on the counter saying something like "Gone to Westmead Hospital to pickup Daniellas Jacket, and get Codey some sleep"
I made a comment to Brian something like "Poor Robbie, Codey doesn’t give her a very good time". Brian went into N/Ryde office and Donna continued to work the afternoon at Chatswood.
Around 1530H some business colleagues arrived Linda Brettel & Brett Jowett from Sanford International Travel at Chatswood. On arriving, Robyn was in the Foyer with Codey in her arms and Linda made a comment to Codey like " you give your mummy a big scare" and went onto explain the previous episode to Brett. Robyn had made us coffee and then left with Codey to pickup Joshua from Kidz Campus early as my sister-in-law Fiona was coming to pickup Joshua around 4pm so he could go on his first holiday away from home. Robyn had packed Joshua a bag ready to go.
I was in my meeting with Linda & Brett when Fiona arrived. I introduced Fiona & her family and Joshua to Linda & Brett on their way out the door at around 1630H.
I have later asked Fiona how Codey was when she arrived and she commented that she thought that Codey looked distant and daised, but when she looked again at him, he didn’t have a runny nose or anything, so she just thought he was particularly quiet.
When I came out of my meeting around 1700H, I farewelled my colleagues and came into the family room where Robyn was sitting on the couch with Codey. She commented she thought he didn’t seem right and did I think he had a fever? I felt his forehead and said I thought it was warm but not on fire, but to be sure I said lets go the soft drug and give him panadol.
Codey seemed unsettled, yet Robyn rocked him to sleep and put him down. She was in the kitchen when Codey cried again and she again patted him to sleep. Not long after Codey let out a scream and Robyn went to the bedroom to find Codey again fitting. She picked him up and raced into my office yelling, "Donna he’s doing it again". I took him from Robby’s arms and said call Triple 0 and get an ambulance urgently. I lied him on the couch and again began to immediately undress him and asked Robyn to get cold washers. I swapped with her and went straight to get Codey’s Blue book dialed Ginsbergs number and left a message for him to call me back Urgently. I went back to Codey and Robyn rang Brian and said again "Codey is really sick and is having another seizure and to come quick, we have an ambulance on the way".
Ginsberg rang back and I described what was happening to Codey. He asked if I had a thermometer, and I said I can’t read the bloody thing. He asked what I had done and I explained I undressed him and was applying cold washers, he said no need for anymore washers, turn him on his side and get the paramedics to take his temperature soon as they arrive—which I did. The ambulance and Brian I think arrived around the same time. The paramedics took Codeys temperature and I think they told me it was 33.5 so he was quite cool.
I requested we go to the SAN as that was where Codey’s pediatrician was and they said its peak hour we should go to RNSH. I agreed and on the way to the hospital the pediatrician did an ECG on Codey. Codey was blowing little bubbles and eyes open but noone seemed there. He was really pale but didn’t seem as hot as he was in the first seizure. The intensive care unit paramedic in the ambulance said clearly to me "he didn’t think this was a febrile convulsion, and we must not leave the hospital till they had run all the tests on him to find out what was causing this".
Robyn followed us to the hospital and was there when we arrived. She apparently said to my husband "what took you so long", as she got there before us.
On arrival they took us into the resuscitation room and began tests and checking Codey over. We described all the above and they asked us questions about family history etc and I remember Robyn jumping in and saying "and the 6 year old is a diabetic". The registrar who was on duty was a woman named Sonia.
I told her that Codey was immunized yesterday and she didn’t seem to pay any attention—she was more concerned with his state and taking blood tests etc. I think she immediately put him on an antibiotic intravenous drip but said she didn’t necessarily think he had a virus.
Neither my husband nor myself had any money on us so I asked Robyn to lend me $20, which she did. I think around 10pm my husband and Robyn left the hospital and Robyn dropped Brian home. They had advised by this stage that Codey was being admitted. They kept him in casualty till around midnight waiting to get a urine sample and eventually got one in a bag. After this they said they were taking us down to Children’s ward.
A security person arrived and took Codey, a nurse and myself down to the Children’s ward in a Car with the drip as it was freezing outside. We arrived and Codey seemed settled and I knew the nurse on duty from my previous weeks that we spend at RNSH when Daniella was diagnosed with Diabetes.
The nurse suggested that I looked like I should try to get some sleep and walked me down to the annex to sleep the night.
Thursday 13th July—Around 6am the nursing staff called me and asked me to come as Codey was unsettled. I threw on my pants and a cardigan and raced up to the ward and settled him straight away with a bottle.
I had advised Robyn not to come in on the Thursday, as we knew that Codey would be in hospital at least that day for all the necessary tests. Daniella was still with my parents at Port Stephens and Joshua was with my Brother and Sister-in-law at Dural.
Robyn arrived at the hospital around 0815 and my husband arrived not long after. We asked Robyn to stay with Codey whilst we did a few things and I said we wouldn’t be long. I remember Robyn commenting something like" OK I’m timing you", which we thought was strange.
Codey was booked in for a Brain Ultrasound, & Opthamoligist examination, followed by an EEG, ECG. It was the Opthamologist that spent the most time with Codey putting 3 lots of drops in his eyes to completely dilate them. After examination the Opthamologist asked us had Codey ever been shaken? We said No, what do you mean "Shaken"? He said "Shaken"! We were hurried to the next appointment, which was for an EEG & ECG—this appointment was across the hall at the hospital. The Opthamologist was in the hall and Brian went back again to him and quizzed him—saying that he bumped Codeys head when putting him into the 4-wheel drive and Codey cried and it was quite a bump. The Opthamologist replied "no not a bump, a shake". Brian then went onto say that the kids often jump on him in his rocker, and again the Opthamologist replied "No I mean a shake". We asked each other would Robyn ever shake Codey, and agreed that Robbie gets stressed at times with Codey but we never in a million years would think Robbie would ever harm Codey. Robyn has been with our family for over 2.5 years and she loves our kids like her own family.
We knew the results were coming back that evening and we were eager to get them and see everything is all right with our little Codey. The person who did the ultrasound on the Brain had advised us at the time that she saw nothing unusual and the Brain looked perfectly normal and undamaged—that much we knew which was fabulous.
Around 6pm that night Dr Hugh Allen and his registrar Jane called us into the office and told us they believed Codey had been "Shaken". Brian and I were totally horrified and questioned their findings suggesting how sure could they be and were they 100% correct. They asked us question about Robyn (our nanny) and we agreed that at times Codey didn’t give her a very good time but we never ever imagined in our wildest dreams that she would ever willingly harm him. We were asking a lot of questions, and at the time, Hugh got on the phone and before we knew it he was reporting this to the "emergency child abuse line". He put the phone onto my husband who also spoke to the woman, at which stage my husband broke down crying and handed the phone to me to try and answer the questions. We were both so devastated and couldn’t believe what they were telling us. I cant remember the name of the woman we spoke to but she advised us we had to give our 100% vow that Robyn would not be near our children under any circumstances.
My father was dropping our daughter Daniella back that evening from holidays and was waiting home for us. We came home feeling shell-shocked and unbelieving of what was happening, still not understanding what they were telling us.
Later that evening around 2230H, the woman from the emergency child abuse line called us and we went over and over their diagnosis saying we couldn’t believe that this could be true. She again reaffirmed that we had to keep Robyn away from our family under any circumstance. She advised that someone from Docs would be in touch with us tomorrow morning and would want to speak with us. She advised that they would probably meet us at the hospital.
Brian and I discussed Robyn being an employee and we couldn’t just sack her and at this stage she knew nothing of their findings.
Neither my husband nor I got any sleep that night. Refer Friday 14th July for diary after this.
1400—Allan Corbett MCL NSW Upperhouse phone back and recommended I speak with Geoff Ruttledge Ph 92303098. He explained Geoff was with the Democrats office and previous to that with Docs and would expect our call to advise perhaps how he might help with the Docs issue. Allan also rang back again recommending Dr Antony Underwood at Pymble Grove Medical Centre at Gordon on Ph 94181388. Underwood apparently did a lecture for him in the NSW upperhouse recently on Vaccines and the options etc. He suggested Dr Antony Underwood might be a good Expert Witness Pediatrician who is sympathetic to Vaccine Damage. He also explained I would need a referral to make an appointment.
1445—I left Chatswood to go to the hospital to Codey. I sat with granny, Dawn outside in the sun and felt it was important I speak with her and explain why I am not at the hospital all the time and that we had contested on medical grounds and explained how I spend every awake moment of my days trying to find Dr.’s and people to help me as I am still sure that my baby was not skaken! Dawn (the volunteer granny) told me that this Dr Archie Kalakerinos was very famous and it would be wonderful if he could help me. Dawn then left for the day and I stayed with Codey.
1450—Nurses Michelle and Peta came into give Codey Medasalin, half up his nose and the rest orally. The explained it would take around 15mins and Codey would go to sleep and would be asleep for around 2 hours. At first Codey seemed a little drowsy and the warden came and I walked with Michelle (nurse) and the warden to the Xray CT Scan dept.
I had Codeys notes in my hand and on the way through the tunnel to the main building I was reading his notes. I knew that in them somewhere was a report that I had asked Dr James Smith to write immediately after he had seen Codey on the evening of Tuesday 18th. I found the written report with diagrams on yellow Consultation sheets and saw that Smith had diagnosed Tersor Syndrome? I was thinking quickly to myself how can I get my hands on a copy of this report, as it isn’t the same as the report that was typed and presented at the courts on last Wednesday. Thinking as quick as I could and my heart racing I decided to quickly rip the notes from the folder. The nurse Michelle turned around and said "I will take those" for which she did and I thought Oh my god I’m going to get caught but she turned so quickly that these notes fell into my hands and I folded them quickly and put them into my bag. I was petrified of being caught.
We continued to the CT Scan and by the time we got their Codey was Hypo! Apparently 99% of children go to sleep within 15 mins and sleep for hours but not my baby he had the opposite reaction and went Hypo. I tried to give him a bottle but he wouldn’t drink. I got quite annoyed with the Registrar Pediatrician asking, "why wasn’t a CT Scan done in the 1st place?" and "Why wasn’t Codeys circumference of his head checked on a daily basis?" If they were "so sure he was a SBS baby then, it was their duty to check him on a daily basis". She advised that the last time they checked this was a week ago and it was about 44.2cm. I was quite angry with her and in the end we agreed that Codey wasn’t going to settle down enough for a CT Scan and we had to return to the ward and perhaps reschedule tomorrow under a general anaseptic. She advised she would have to take instructions from Dr Hugh Allen on this! We returned to the ward for which I stayed with Codey a short while and had to return home to help my husband with Dinner and Daniella’s insulin as my children were getting very agitated with my not being there each night when they arrived home.
I arrived home around 6pm. I phoned Dr Archie Kalakerinos and told him I had a report from Smith and he said pack everything up and copy it and send it to him and he will talk with me on Monday night. He also advised that "at birth babies are clinically well and yet on a cat scan they have hemorrhages and get re-bleeding. A lot of infants at birth have retinal haemmorages and it takes time to clear and the time varies. He said, they don’t know the nature of these retinal heammorages at birth—yet are laying the law in these situations calling it SBS"
2030—I called Viera Scheibner and spoke to Dr Peter Lansky who lives with Viera and had a long chat. He recommended Dr Peter Baritosi in Adelaide may be of assistance on 08 2589103 and to get a hold of a video by Bronwyn Hancock on Ph 02 91446625 who had a list of Doctors on it that may be of assistance as Expert witnesses. He advised he would have Viera return my call.
2120—Phoned RNS hospital to see how Codey is. I asked for Michelle who walked up to the CT X-ray place with us today and she said he was unsettled earlier but is fine and sleeping well now. I apologised to Michelle for getting cranky with them this afternoon (or at the Registrar), and she said she understood and was sorry for what I was going through. She said she is not a Doctor but also thought it strange they hadn’t checked the circumference of Codey’s head on a daily basis. She reaffirmed that most children who have the Medasalin would go to sleep within 15 minutes and she couldn’t explain Codeys reaction to the drug… I asked her if she could tell me the last time Codey’s head circumference had in fact been checked—she went through the notes and advised that it was last Wednesday 19th June and it was 44.2cm. She also told me she remembered when she was on night duty last that there was a "night duty query as to the diagnosis of Codey"….I remembered that was the night that Dr Lawless came in and diagnosed the retinal hemorrhages as "several hours hold" and when I said "how could that be as Codey was admitted on Wednesday, I remembered he changed his diagnosis to "perhaps, about 2 to 3 days old". Michelle (nurse) explained that Codeys head had grown much faster than normal to 44.8cm and they wanted to do the CT Scan to check in the heamotomas were getting bigger. She suggested that Codey would hopefully go down about 10am and I asked her to ring me in the morning to confirm exactly what time he was going so I could make sure I was there to go with him.
2130—Received return phone call from Dr Robyn Cosford Ph 99799444 who agreed that this certainly sounds like Vaccine Damage and when Codey was arched back and unsettled in May he may well have been Convulsing all the time. She advised to make an Urgent Telephone Conference with her offices and she would do all possible to help.
2230—Viera returned my call and said she would research Tersor Syndrome and come back to me.
Friday 28th July 0900—I phoned the hospital and asked again for Michelle (nurse looking after Codey), to be told she thought that Dr Hugh Allen was trying to arrange an urgent CT Scan & hopefully that would be a 10am. I asked her to ring me back to confirm exactly what time and said that every 5minutes counted at the moment. She said she would call back.
0930—Dr Hugh Allen called back saying "Hi Donna, how are you?" I thought Yeah I just great…what did he expect me to say! He said, "hey listen I’m sorry about that yesterday, I checked the circumference of Codeys head last Friday and it was 44.2 or 44.3cm" and yesterday it had grown quicker than normal". I said, "what date was last Friday?", he said" oh, I don’t know lets see…21st and then went onto say that they had scheduled Codey for a CT next Tuesday but under the circumstances thought it best to do it yesterday" I knew he was lying to me, as I had Michelle check the notes yesterday for me and the last time it was checked was in fact 19th July! He said Codey was going down around 1030H and if I were there around 1015 that would be good so I could sign the papers for his General Anaseptic. I said I would be there!
1015H—I arrived at the hospital and waited till almost 1100H till they came to take him down to have the CT Scan. The nurse put Codeys notes on the bed and left the room for about 40seconds so I quickly took the Dr James Smith report from my bag and slipped the notes back into the folder….I think someone up above must be looking over me at the moment! I was allowed to go with him into the room whilst they put him to sleep, and then asked to leave and wait till they came to get me to advise he was in recovery. I asked the nurse (Donna), if she would please arrange for a bottle for Codey for when he wakes up as he will be very hungry. She went to get the bottle and about 40mins later one of the people from the CT room (Susanne) came to get me and take me to recovery and then asked me to wait in the outpatients emergency area of the hospital for Steve (the anathesis that was with Codey) who would come and get me when he woke.
1215H—A girl came to get me and took me to Steve and Codey in the recovery room and Codey had just woken and I cuddled him and gave him a bottle. Steve commented he wok much better this time from the anaseptic…I agreed and said we have the bottle and that makes the difference! I asked Steve about the Medasalin that he had yesterday and he went through the notes and said "WOW, Codey had 3.5mg and that would put him under", he added that he "thought it was strange that Codey had a adverse reaction to the Medasalin". He showed me the MRI report and I said I would like to get a copy of that and he said that we can arrange that through our GP…that is the normal practice".
1250—Steve walked with Codey and I and a warden down to the Children’s ward and I gave Codey more of his bottle on arrival and put him in his rocker to play. I left him with Dawn (granny), and said I would be back around 1530H.
1255—I spoke with the Registrar who showed me the MRI x-rays and showed me where they thought the bleeds were. I asked her for a copy of that and the MRI report and she said she didn’t think it would be a problem and would check with Hugh Allen. I said "thankyou, I will be back around 1530H".
1315—I went to Chatswood to get a present for Dawn (Granny), and formulae, nappies, baby food etc for Codey to go to Debra’s later. I also phoned Debra who said that she was concerned and needed to be 100% assured that Codey was well cause she was worried if he had another seizure or died that she would be up for manslaughter charges and she didn’t want that responsibility. I calmed her saying Codey was well and we could check again with the Doctor that afternoon if it made her feel better—she said Yes please! I said I would meet her there at the hospital at 4pm, and she could take my car with the capsule and I would drive her car home. We agreed that was the best thing to do!
1320—I rang John OMeara asking if Tomiko could pick up Daniella and Joshua this afternoon from School and he called me back saying yes its all under control. I said thankyou and I would pick them up from their place at Willoughby on my way home around 5pm. I called both LPS and Masada to advise Tomiko would be picking them up.
1330—Took a phone message off my mobile from Dr Peter Lansky who lives with Viera who says he has a contact opthamologist who might be able to help.
1440—I phoned the hospital asking for Michelle to see if the CT Scan results were back yet and she said, they had just had changeover and would need to have the registrar Pediatrician talk to me but from what she could see they all looked good! I asked her if she knew if Codey was being released this afternoon and she advised me she thought so but would call me back.
1430—Received a reply email from Maureen Hickman AVN and forwarded it to Grace.
1445—I phoned Brian at the office to say I wasn’t sure if Codey was being released today yet and would call him back the minute I hear.
1500—I phoned Michelle (nurse) back at RNS and asked what was happening. She said she thought it was all go for Codey to go home and Emma (social worker) was just arranging it and she would call me back soon, as she knew what was happening.
1520—Debra Davies phoned me and said she had spoken to both the hospital and docs and decided she wouldn’t and couldn’t take Codey. She said Linda at Docs said they would interview Fiona and Mark on Monday.
1530—I phoned Fiona (my sister-in-law), almost beside myself. She said she would take Codey no matter what and give her the phone number of Docs - Linda 94957099 and she would phone them immediately and arrange the interview to get Codey out of hospital. She said she would call me back.
1540—Spoke to Grace (lawyer), and she was asking my instructions to phone Peter McCrohon to sort this out with him re Debra & Craig. I said, "too late, Debra has already spoken to Docs and the hospital and said No". She said, she would call Docs herself and call me back.
1545—Phoned Dr Antony Underwood (Pediatrician), and spoke to him, explained the medical history and what had happened to date and he said that "Codey certainly sounded like he had a adverse reaction to the vaccine & how do you think I can help?". I said we need Expert witnesses for court on 21 & 22nd August and that I had been in contact with Viera Scheibner who had written a 54-page report on Codey and his medical history linking the hemorrhages and MRI results directly to Vaccine. He said that he thought that perhaps Robyn Cosford would be the better person, but if my lawyers wanted to call him to discuss if he could assist then that would be fine.
1600—Emma (Social worker) from RNS phoned and said she was "so sorry about all this and had Debra and Craig called me to advise why they wouldn’t take Codey?" I said "Yes Debra said she had legal advice and that if Codey had another seizure or was to die she would be up for manslaughter and she wasn’ t prepared to take that responsibility". Emma said she thought this was ridiculous and I said "for over a week now I have been pushing Docs to interview Mark & Fiona, and still they haven’t". She said she would call Linda at Docs to request they interview Mark & Fiona URGENTLY and suggested we phone Docs too to make the same request. She said "that there was no problem for Codey to remain in hospital, but it was Docs call as to what happened to Codey".
1615—My bother Mark phoned asking what’s happening? I told him about Debra & Craig and he couldn’t believe it. He said I told you Donna right from the start we will take Codey. I said, thankyou and that I had given Docs number to Fiona whom was calling them and he said "tell them to come over tonight and interview us at home and kill 2 birds at once in seeing the home and the interview". He added, "we need to get Codey out of that Hospital".
1620—Brian arrived home. Said Debra called him and he is distraught and beside himself.
1630—I phoned my sister-in-law Fiona back who told me Linda had stepped out and would call her back. I said ask for Melanie Henry and call them every 5 minutes till she gets a hold of them. She agreed this is now Urgent and would let me know how she goes.
1635—Called Grace back and spoke to Maggie and she said Grace was on the phone with one call waiting and would have her call me back.
1645—Brian called Linda Nillson at Docs who advised she couldn’t understand why they all of a sudden decided to do this CT Scan. She advised that she had spoken with my brother Mark Barlow and was arranging to interview Mark & Fiona on Monday morning. Brian said to Linda "is something wrong with Codey, is he sick, because if he is sick then we should consider moving him to New children’s Hospital where they had all the equipment". Linda agreed and said, "that’s what any father would request of their child". Brian asked this question because it appears that Docs had indicated to Debra that Codey was sick and she would be liable if something happened to Codey and this is why Debra became scared stiff that she would be liable if something happened to him and he had another seizure. Linda reconfirmed they were interviewing Mark and Fiona on Monday.
1710—Mark Barlow phoned back and said he had spoken to Linda Nillson at Docs who agreed that they would interview Mark & Fiona next Monday and would call him back to reconfirm. Mark then said that not long after he hung up from Linda that Melanie Henry from Docs called Fiona saying the first availability they had for an interview was next Thursday. Mark tried immediately to phone Docs back but they had gone for the day. Mark agreed to phone them first thing Monday and apply pressure for
1730—Brian picked up Daniella and Joshua at Tomikos and brought them home to test, Insulin Daniella and feed them.
1800—Packed up copies of Codey’s GP reports together with Ginsbergs reports, My complete diary to date (some parts of this updated version missing), the Trepasil details, both written and typed reports from Dr James Smith, and Viera Scheibners report + email copy of Maureen Hickman details and sent the lot off to Dr Archie Kalakerinos RMB 2182A Bournes Lane; Tamworth_NSW 2340. Bag was collected around 1830H and overnight Ansettpac to arrive Monday morning. I am due to phone Archie on Monday night at 7pm for which he is considering over the weekend and discussing with his wife if he will help us. My gosh I hope he will help…please please please!!
1840—Craig arrived sorry for what had happened today. He said "Docs made Debra scared stiff and told her they were not going to release Codey today anyway…" which is certainly not what they told us. Up till 1520H as I understood that Codey was being released at 1600H today. He indicated he needed to talk with Debra to find where she was coming from and I said the damage is done now and its too late for you guys to do anything. I explained Codey is still in hospital and now docs are saying that they cant interview Mark & Fiona till next Thursday for which Brian said "well that makes sense as they have till next Wednesday to file their reports and expert witnesses" and if they don’t make themselves available till Thursday then it would appear they are buying time because we have contested on medical grounds". Craig then left and said he was really really sorry for not helping us in our time of need but Docs certainly were suggesting that Codey was still "sick" and Debra & Craig would be liable if anything happened to him.
1930—Grace phoned me and I went over the rest of the days events. She said she phoned Docs and left messages but they never phoned her back. I explained that I felt I had gone as far as possible and now it was time that they took over and arranged the expert witnesses and take advantage of whilst Codey was in hospital to call all the medical tests we might need on Codey for our case. She said Gizelle was a good friend of hers and she would make contact with her and she was trying to contact Jane Antony at Westmead. Grace said she would need an affidavit from Brian and I and I offered this report to be my affidavit. She said she would call me on Monday Morning.
Oct.—Nov. 2000
The court adjourned again at the end of 31st October because the Departments barristers claimed they couldn’t cross-examine our Expert Witness (Dr Mark Donohoe) who brought light to the massive discrepancies in the hospital records. They then adjourned till 7th November and cross-examined our Dr Donohoe. Recalled the Paediatrician from the hospital and then at the end of the day—the magistrate called for "written submissions"….I thought I was going to have a breakdown when they adjourned AGAIN!
So from there—the Barrister for the Dept and the Lawyer for Codey had till Wed 15th and we were given till Mon 20th to file. Then of cause they get right of reply till Fri 24th and from there the magistrate advised she would take 7 days to decide if this is case for establishment or NOT? We filed our submissions last week—a 90 odd page document. The dept filed prior to that a hypothesising submission of some 16 pages and the lawyer for Codey did the same hypotheses of some 6 pages! They had right of reply till last Friday—but today is Monday and still nothing has been filed!
What we discovered in the hospital records in brief was : "Ambulance called around 1800H and Codey had a very low temp of around 33.5, pale, mottled. On arrival at hospital still temp low with the same presentation". Hospital notes Immunisation yesterday, Vaccination PVO (Post Vaccine Origin).
*They did a babinski (plantars test) and the results on admission were neurologically normal * They then took blood at 19:24H * They didn’t weigh him and put ?10Kg on the Triage sheets (in fact he was between 7kg and 7.5kg) * 19:30H They then gave him an estimated 33% overdose of ceftriaxone (penicillin) * Subsequently His temp rose to over 38 his BP rose from 108 to 148 * Following morning in comes the paediatrician and does the babinski test-Results Abnormal * paediatrician CEASES Ceftriaxone * paediatrician orders following tests - EEG—Normal - ECG—Abnormal - Cranial Ultrasound—Normal - Opthamology test—18 hours after admission—Results Bi lateral Retinal Haemorrhage * NO further blood coag or extensive coag Tests were ever performed after the overdose * NO liver tests ever done in the month he was in hospital * NO tests for E-Coli or Deficiency of Vit K * 2 days later in comes another opthamologist & WE ASKED: "how old do you think these Retinal Haemorrhages are?" Answer: "I would think Several hours"…WE SAY "how could that be when Codey has been here for over 2 days?" Answer "Oh well perhaps 2 to 3 days"
* 3 days later they order a Skeletal survey = results Normal No evidence of NAI * 6 days later (or 7 after admission) they run an MRI. * again they DIDN’T WEIGH HIM ?10Kg and give him a GA based on that weight—another overdose! * Results of the MRI show Subdural hemm * Paediatrician says that night there is evidence of "old and new haemorrhage" which indicates "the injury has occurred on more than one occasion" * That same day we ordered another opthamologist who came in saying "I cant say that Codeys retinal haemorrhages are SBS. There are retinal Haemorrhages that are indicative of SBS ie Parthognomic signs, retinoschisis & pappilodema, but Codey doesn’t have these" FYI—this guy LIED on the stand! Additionally, at the time, he suggested Retcam photography—but for some reason they never ordered this test or photography? * Few days later—We contest the Department on Medical Grounds * Immediately following our contesting the paediatrician wants to run an URGENT CT * paediatrician say’s reason for running Urgent CT was because Codeys Head Circumference grew too quickly * This time they weigh him 8.03kg (we are now 16 days after admission) * They give Codey a local Anaesthetic (Modozolan) and Codey doesn’t go to sleep like he should, but has an adverse reaction to the drug and they cant run the CT * Following day—They run the CT under GA—results Haemorrhages resolved Hospital notes "? Error Head circumference measurement" * Next thing that happens is Codey is sent to Forster care where we cannot get any medical tests run on him for over 3 weeks * paediatrician amends his report the following day saying there is only one sub dural haemorrhage and claims he "misunderstood the MRI doctors" Sheri, the question is "when did these Bi-lateral Retinal haemorrhages and subsequent Sub Dural" happen…? There are without a doubt a LOT OF DISCREPANCIES and I wonder if the paediatrician knew all along he had blundered? Anyhow, like I said, we now WAIT and just prey that the magistrate has the balls to rule for Justice! It’s very condensed, but I am sure you understand what we have discovered is a tremendous pressure on innocent people that are treated like criminals when in fact the only criminality here seems to lie in department and the hospital! Keep praying Sheri….only a few days to go. We need all the prayers we can get!
Wed, 6 Dec 2000
The magistrate handed down her findings last Friday and ruled in favour of the Department "Case established—Codey is a shaken baby". Where to from here? Well, she has ordered Brian and I to be psychologically assessed for Risk. The department put forward a psychologist as did our Barrister—both of which are supposedly "independent". I have since spoken with both and of course have discovered that the psychologist put forward by the department is in fact an ex-DoCs worker of 13 years! Yeah Independent indeed!! So they were supposed to come back to us by Monday last to let us know if they accept the credentials of the Independent Phycologist put forward by our barrister…but we still wait their decision…I feel as though they will do everything in their power to disqualify her… The ultimate objective "if we pass the assessment" is to bring Codey home prior to Xmas. So we just sit and wait out their delay tactics now… Please keep praying—surely justice has to prevail somewhere along the way…
Wed, 7 Feb 2001 (written by Brian):
In short, the "State" is prepared to return Codey to us. There are certain undertakings attached however Donna and I aren’t shy about the very normal lifestyle we live.
The media became involved and the "Dept" seemingly backed-down; although we are still intent on continueing our own investigations.
An Ophthalmologist (expert witness in our case—for the State) has agreed to investigate retinal bleeding in association with vaccination. (ie. test before and after - randomly) Suddenly, he revealed that his own child had an adverse reaction to vaccination.
Anyway, our case has taken a number of side-steps. Much more has come to light.
Very unfortunately, with new evidence that’s come to light recently; we believe our son has been harmed. Funnily enough, it would seem he was harmed because of his illness/es that were attributed from being vaccinated, and his very adverse reactions and inconsolable crying.
The "Nanny", evidently has since made an attempt on her life. Something the Dept. has "played down".
Either way, Donna and I are very certain that an adverse reaction has been the basis of behaviour between baby and carer at the time.
We are not resting on this theory alone, but will continue to research.
The State has attributed only one seizure as caused by "heavy-handedness" …the minds boggles as to why he seized the other time. Pediatritions have agreed it could have been vaccine related.