Temecia and Rodney Jackson: Texas couple demands newborn back after wrongfully being taken by CPS over jaundice concerns
DALLAS, TEXAS: A Texas couple is demanding their two-week-old daughter back after child protective services removed the infant as the parents refused to have her treated at a hospital for jaundice. Temecia and Rodney Jackson said the paperwork used to remove the child from their home in Desoto, Texas, was incorrect where the baby's mother was named as another woman who has a criminal record while Rodney Jackson is referred to as the child's "alleged father."
Mila Jackson was born on March 21 weighing six pounds and nine ounces. A midwife helped with a successful home birth of the little girl. Three days later, the Jacksons took her to a pediatrician for a routine appointment at a local hospital. Dr Anand Bhatt, who was working with a nurse at the time, said that Mila was healthy and discharged her. The parents soon became worried that their child had jaundice and took her to the hospital on March 27. "While at the pediatrician we were told the levels are high and they will test blood, and follow up," Temecia told The Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "They followed up and said we need to admit baby into the hospital for light therapy immediately."
READ MORE
Sadistic family slapped with 50 child abuse charges as cops make horrifying discovery in their home
'It is necessary for the department to intervene'
The parents refused to admit their baby to the hospital and said that they would treat their baby on their own with the help of their midwife. However, Dr Bhatt was persistent that the newborn's levels of bilirubin were dangerous, stating that Mila needed hospital care. On March 28, social services arrived and took Mila away from the Jacksons' home. The action was taken on the letter written by Dr Bhatt who said that the baby risked brain damage due to the dangerously high levels of bilirubin.
The doctor added that the case was reported after "trying 10 attempts to appeal to the family through phone calls, text messages and leaving voicemails," but they did not respond. "Their distrust for medical care and guidance has led them to make a decision for the baby to refuse a simple treatment that can prevent brain damage. I authorized the support of CPS to help get this baby the care that was medically necessary and needed," he wrote in the letter. The CPS agreed, writing: "Due to the parents being unwilling to discuss the danger and potential consequences of this condition, it is necessary for the department to intervene."
Paperwork has listed Mila's mother as another woman who has a criminal history
Upon reading the paperwork, the Jacksons found out that the mother was listed not as Temecia Jackson but as another woman who has a criminal history of neglect while Rodney is described as the "alleged father." "Instantly, I felt like they had stolen my baby as I had had a home birth, and they were trying to say my baby belonged to this other woman," she said on Thursday, April 6, at a news conference held at the Afiya Center in Dallas. "We've been treated like criminals - and that's far from the truth. This is a nightmare I wouldn't wish on anyone," her husband added. The Jacksons, who have since visited their baby in the hospital, are expected in court on April 20. "We are demanding that Mila be returned home today. Today, because yesterday was too late," said Cheryl Edinbyrd, the couple's midwife, as per the DailyMail.