Michael stares blankly at the inquisitor, giving nothing away. He breathes in slowly, then says,
"I haven't."
Inquisitor: But you have. If not for you, he could have his son back by now.
M: The baby is where he needs to be. My feelings for my son have nothing to do with it.
I: Why do you feel that the baby should be with you instead of his parents?
M: The medical evidence was conclusive. The injury was caused by trauma. Most likely from being violently shaken, then thrown -- probably onto a bed.
I: But the doctor said he couldn't say what caused the trauma. Or even if it was trauma.
M: That was his initial response. He said he could not make a diagnosis without all the data and without conducting his own tests. When he had all the results, he said it was definitely trauma.
I: Isn't it true that he's just saying what the state wants him to say? That he won't go against the other doctors?
M: No.
I: Isn't it true that Dr. C told you personally that it wasn't abuse?
M: That's true.
I: How do you reconcile that with your present stand?
M: Dr. C saw him in PICU on Sunday -- the day after he was initially diagnosed as a suspected SBS victim. He was basing his opinion on the fact that there was no bruising around his ribcage or retinal hemorrages. He said there was no other signs of abuse. That was before the results of all the tests were in.
I: You were, at one time, a staunch supporter of your son and his wife. What happened?
M: I supported their stand as long as there was a chance that the bleeding wasn't caused by an injury or by abuse. When there was no medical evidence of a rare blood disease or anything like that, I had no choice but to accept the truth.
I: The truth? According to whom? The State? The caseworker?
M: The truth according to what Dr. M told me. His diagnosis is based upon the battery of tests the baby was put through at his request. I questioned him about the other theories being voiced by family members. His answer for each one was an unequivocal "no". I purported to him that some of us would not rest until a doctor was found to support the non-abuse theories. He said we would have a very difficult time finding that in the neurological community. He said that he tested for everything he knew of and the findings remained the same. The baby is a victim of Shaken Baby Syndrome.
I: Would you be so quick to believe it if were your son who was the suspect?
M: Yes.
Christin
Question: Why have you turned your back on your son?
Christin's eyes fill with tears. "How can you say that? I love my son. I would never turn my back on him. You just don't understand."
I: But you have. If not for you, your son would have his baby back by now.
C: I'm only doing what I agreed to do. I am a woman of my word. I signed an agreement when the state placed the baby with me and I have to abide by it.
I: What did the state ask you to do?
C: I agreed to see that the baby's needs were met and to protect him.
I: Protect him? From his own parents?
C: Someone hurt him. I don't know who. I only know it wasn't me.
I: Did you speak with Dr. C?
C: Yes. He was very nice and tried to put us at ease.
I: What did he tell you?
C: He said that DHS was just doing their job. He said nothing would come of it because the baby showed no other signs of abuse. No blood in the eyes and no bruising on his ribcage. He said this would be over before we knew it.
I: But now you say someone hurt the baby. What happened to change your mind?
C: I kept waiting on somebody to come and say it was all a mistake. That it was some rare disorder or something. I kept waiting, but it never came. Instead they said it was Shaken Baby Syndrome. I still didn't want to believe it, but I had no choice. There are still times when I don't believe it.
I: Why don't you relinquish your hold on the baby? Why not let him go home?
C: [My daughter-in-law] has a newborn baby to take care of now. How's she going to care for both of them? She's not even taken the new baby home yet. She's still living with her parents. There's no way she could take care of both of them.
I: Other people have done it. People do it all the time.
C: Not her.
I: Where do you think the baby should live?
C; He should live where he will be loved, where he will be safe, where he can grow and develop without fear. I don't know why people have made me the bad guy in this. I'm only doing what I have to do for the baby. Why can't everybody just get along? Why did this have to happen to me?
Paragon
Question: Why have you turned your back on your son?
P: When I threw my name into the ring to be considered for relative placement, I did it so that David and Jill could see their baby every day, to bond with him. I had no idea they would turn against me like this. I'm doing the best I can, trying to take care of their baby for them, and they show no appreciation. All they do is criticize.
I: You didn't answer my question.
P: What question? I've told you, I'm doing the best I can. Do you think I enjoy watching every move they make with their son? Do you think I like not being able to take Josh to their house and go home? I would much prefer being the grandmother. If David hadn't been in rebellion in the first place, he would never have gotten involved with Jill. You know, she wasn't even divorced when they started seeing each other. And he brought her to my house with some tear-jerker story about her being thrown out of her house and not having anywhere to go, knowing I'd never turn her away. Well...once she was in, she was there to stay, brother. She wasn't going anywhere. The next thing I knew, they had run off to the Smokies and got married, then they told me they were having twins. I tell you, since she came along, our family has gone through things we could have never even imagined. She is the weak link. She is the bad egg. She is a liar and the truth is not in her. I've had to disengage from my son because he's listening to her lies and those of her family. He's bought into their fantasy world and until he comes to his sense, it won't do a bit of good to try to talk to him.
I: You were at one time a staunch supporter of your son and his wife. What happened?
P: I told the caseworker that if I knew Josh was abused, I would not be a part of a cover-up. I will not defend the guilty. Well, since I talked with Dr. M, face-to-face, and got his opinion about Josh's condition, I have to accept the fact that he was abused. Therefore, someone is lying and I will not be a party to that. If, however, it can be proven that all these doctors have missed something -- that Josh actually does have some rare disease or just some freak thing happened and he wasn't shaken -- no one will be happier than me. It would thrill my heart for David to have his family back together and for everything to be wonderful and normal again. To see them walk through the church doors as a family and to be able to beam down from the choir loft like a proud granma; what more could I ask for? I just don't see it happening.
Corrie
Question: Why have you turned your back on your son?
Corrie sits loosely in the chair, not looking at the inquisitor. She has nothing to say. She hands him a piece of paper with one word on it:
"ELI"
Eli
Question: Why have you turned your back on your son?
Eli crosses his muscular arms in disgust. "I don't have a son and I don't know what you're talking about."
I: You are not Josh's grandmother?
Eli glares at the inquisitor, a chilling gray iceburg. "Do I look like somebody's grandmother?" He stands to his feet pointedly. Eli is 6'9 and weighs over 350 pounds. He most certainly does not look like a grandmother.
I: Who is Josh's grandmother?
E: You don't know?
I: Where is she?
E: She doesn't want to talk to you. That's why I'm here.
I: Who are you?
E: That's none of your business. Let's just say you're being way too nosy and if you don't shut up, I'll turn Maggie loose on you.
I: Who's Maggie?
Maggie
Question: Why have you turned your back on your son?
Maggie gives the inquisitor a blank stare, then snaps his neck like a chicken's.