Thursday, June 4, 2009

Dakota

For those that live in Austin, then you already know this story, for those that don't live in Austin it has made national news on several big websites including: CNN and Foxnews.

Dakota's mom was arrested Sunday morning and re-arrested Tuesday morning for putting human feces in Dakota's IV lines and her feeding tube. When I found this out I was and still am shocked. Dakota's mom, Emily, admitted to doing this 5 times during Dakota's current hospitalization, which is going on 60+ days. Emily also said that she knew that what she was doing would only make Dakota sicker and could possibly kill her. She said that she did it because she wanted Dakota to stay in the hospital and Emily wanted to continue getting attention.

This is so hard for me to process because I know that I have written and asked people to pray for Dakota for almost a year now, but with this news it makes me think that most of, if not all of Dakota's hospitalizations have been caused in some part by her mother.
I considered her mother a close personal friend. Her daughter and I both have alot of the same medical issues. Her mother has visited me when I was in the hospital, and I have visited Dakota in the hospital several times. I have watched Dakota grow up these past 3 years, and to know that her mother tried to kill her is heartbreaking.

Please pray for this family. The older kids (ages 6&4) are staying with their grandparents. Dakota remains in the hospital. Emily is out on bail, but is not to see her kids indefinetly. If, when she has a trial, she is facing life in prison.
Emily is a strong Christian who, yes made a mistake, but her mistake is caused my a mental illness called: Münchausen syndrome by proxy

You can read the news story here: http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/06/04/0604waste.html

7 comments:

Lindsey said...

I saw this on the news, and just realized it was the Emily from the sweet, sweet family I used to know, and the blog I've read....

my gosh...

I don't even know what to say.

Let's lift Emily and Dakota up in prayer.

Anonymous said...

Poor Dakota..........Who knows what unnecessry problems she has had to endure.

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Emily, for helping me make the connection between the news story that I read several days ago to the sweet Dakota that you introduced me to, through her family's blog. You have been faithful to request prayer for this family in the past, and, as Lindsey suggests, let's continue to lift Emily, Dakota, and the entire family up in prayer. I am so very sad.

Cherrye said...

Thank you, Emily, for your faithful concern about Dakota through these many months. I will continue to lift up this precious young child in prayer.

AdelineandLila said...

I am very invested in this little girl. I have followed her daily as she was born small and early around the same time as my micropreemie twins. There are many of us who want to hear of Dakota's recovery. If you have any news on how she is doing, can you please let us know? Many of us are still praying for her but feel lost and confused after hearing of Emily's arrest. I am also praying for her older children as they are having to get used to a life without their mother. It is all too much for words.

Anonymous said...

Do you know how sweet Dakota is doing?

Unknown said...

Hi Emily. I just came back to your blog after a few months. I originally found Dakota's blog because of you and this news really stunned me. Dakota's mom Emily and I exchange information over the months about our kids because my son has CF and the lung issues are similar.

This is just so shocking!

If you have heard anything about how Dakota is doing, could you please let us know?