Strollerderby : oregon

Women Switched at Birth Find Out 56 Years Later

Brett Singer — Tue, 12 May 2009 18:00:00 GMT

In the Rolodex of Potential Parental Nightmares, having your baby switched with someone else's at the hospital is definitely in the top 10.

Now imagine that happening, but you don't find out until 56 years later.

From Fox News:

On a spring day in 1953, two baby girls were born at Pioneer Memorial Hospital in eastern Oregon. They grew up happily, got married, had kids of their own and became grandparents. Then last summer their lives were turned upside down.
Kay Rene Reed Qualls found out that she and DeeAnn Angell Shafer were switched at birth.

I mean, what the hell? Amazing story of course. But would you even want to know? Fox News says that "a woman who knew both their mothers called Qualls' brother with her suspicion" that the switch had occurred. So they went out and got a DNA test, and yep, the yenta was right.

After the test, Ms. Qualls said "I cried...I wanted to be a Reed — my life wasn't my life."

But it is your life, isn't it? I've never been in this situation before, but it comes up a lot on television. For example, on "Gossip Girl" (stay with me here, and spoiler alert for anyone who hasn't seen the show and is planning to watch it on DVD) Rufus finds out that his ex-and-now-current lover had a baby that she gave up for adoption. It was his. So he becomes obsessed with finding the kid, insisting that the child needs to know "his true father." They eventually find the family that adopted him, and they lie to Rufus and tell him that the kid was killed in an accident. Why? Because they don't want this "fancy New York couple" to take their son away from them. WHY? Because they lost their biological son in an accident, the same one they told Rufus killed his biological child, whom they adopted and can't bear to lose. (It's a good show, I'm not describing it well. Trust me.)

I know the situations aren't the same, but it's the same general idea. Does it matter what's in your blood? The people who raised you are your parents, right? Or does it matter? I'm not passing judgment. (Unless you tell me "Gossip Girl" sucks and I'm too old to be watching it. OK, I'm a little too old for the show. But it doesn't suck.) This is one of those situations I've never been in so I don't know how I'd feel if I were.

Would you want to know your "real" family? Would it effect how you felt about the one you grew up with?

Source: Fox News

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Could This Five Year Old Be The Next Rachael Ray?

Brett Singer — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:00:00 GMT

First we had the nine year old who wrote a book. Now there's the five year old with his own cooking show.

Yes, it's on public access TV in Portland, Oregon. But it really is a cooking show. And he really cooks. Really.

According to The Oregonian, little Julian Kreusser makes up the recipes himself, and has been experimenting with food since he was just three years old. He even wrote the show's theme song on the piano. His dad, Ben Kreusser, works at the community TV station that airs the show; he runs the camera. Mom Kristen McKee directs. And two and a half year old sister Eva is in charge of lighting – "mostly turning them on and off."

If Julian were an automaton of Shirley Temple-like precision, it might be as nauseating as one of his lesser recipes ("Yummy Yummy Citrus Boys", the juice of clementines mixed with ginger bread). But Julian is pretty raw and unafraid to ask mom what something is. He even admits that Yummy Yummy Citrus Boys are "kind of yucky", although he liked them at first. So he gets points for honesty.

Here's a clip from the show, where Julian makes Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread:

There's another twist to the story – Julian is "unschooled", which The Oregonian says is describes as "a brand of home schooling that has the kids direct their learning. If Julian wants to learn how trees grow, he does. If he wants to learn which ingredients make the best cake, he does." Of course "learning how trees grow" wouldn't have the same quick payoff that cooking does, so I think Julian made the right choice.

And then there are the comments. Ah, the comments.

"Leo1234" is less than thrilled with the article, Julian, and his budding television career: " This kid is being pushed by his parents; I hope he survives his impending ego trips and posing for video cameras. Any kid with this kind of pushing can be a 'video chef.' GIVE US A BREAK!" A comment by " theromanump" must have been deleted but apparently he said something that caused "cjhutch" to write "I hope that you either do not have kids, or are at least more openminded than you appear… The kid can probably cook better than you can." "Leo1234" comes back with a response that starts out more measured ("A child often lacks the strength to hold heavier pots or dishes. A 'supervised' child - what does that mean in the TV studio's contract? Who sues who over injuries?") and then enters la-la land again ("Portland is getting stupid/er. You folks want a cute puppy under the Christmas tree, but don't want to think about ramifications.") He also seems not to be a fan of unschooling although it's not clear that he understands the term. (To be fair, I hadn't heard of it until I read this article.)

Apparently there are other unschoolers, at least in the Portland area; a couple of them chime in and defend Julian and his parents, who themselves weigh in on various matters. (Interestingly, the site where I originally found this story (Fox Dallas-Fort Worth) omits the unschooling angle.)

Whew! Come on, people! I'd be happy if I could just get my kid to EAT zucchini, much less cook it on a television show.

Source: oregonlive.com
Image: myfoxdfw.com

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Cases Test Faith-Healing Exemption

Amy Kuras — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:31:00 GMT

As a parent, you would – or should – do anything you can to protect your child. When that responsibility become at odds with your religion, though, tragedy can follow.

Most states have exceptions in their child neglect and abuse statutes for parents who practice faith healing – that is, the practice of shunning medical care in favor of praying for healing. Oregon, however, has restricted that exemption, one of the only states to do so. Two recent child deaths are testing that restriction.

In one case, parents ignored their 15-year-old son’s urinary tract blockage, which eventually led to heart failure. Another family did not see a doctor for their 15-month-old’s bacterial pneumonia and blood infection. The girl died from these treatable conditions.

And before you point fingers at these parents for being benighted fools –and I am not arguing that they aren’t, believe me – I don’t believe this falls too far from that New-Agey “heal your body with the power of positive thoughts” crap.

Of course, this kind of stuff can stop short of death. The story quotes a college professor named Beth Young who had hip dysplasia, which her parents prayed over out never took her to a doctor to treat. She finally was diagnosed in her 20s, when nothing could be done.

And this quote from her sums up the sadness of the prayer and positivism viewpoint: "I can remember times when I would pray and pray and pray, and I would think that maybe I'm healed now, and then I would go check, and I'd go walk in front of a mirror or something, and then I would discover, no I'm not."

Yep, this poor kid thought she didn’t get healed because she didn’t pray hard enough, or God chose not to hear her. That’s a terrible lesson for anyone.

Baby Dropping: It's Not Just For Celebrities

Kate Tuttle — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:30:00 GMT

Move over, Britney and Jacko: it seems that normal people drop their babies, too. A fair number, in fact, and often in hospitals. Now a national healthcare provider wants to investigate falls involving babies, to see what can be done to prevent them. According to an article in the Portland Oregonian, folks in the Providence hospital chain in that state reported some 20 baby falls annually, but it's suspected that the number is under-reported due to embarrassment by the adults involved. In the vast majority of cases, the baby is just fine.

The article goes on to report that a study in the journal Pediatrics projected national baby-falling numbers in the 600-700 range annually, and went on to report on the specifics of the 14 accidents reported in a hospitals in Utah (all the babies were fine, though one did sustain a skull fracture):

Number of babies delivered unexpectedly, directly onto the floor: 2

Number of babies droped by delivery-room doctor: 2

Number of babies launched from hospital bassinets when hitting a bump in the floor: 2

The remaining eight falls were from the arms of a sleeping parent, typically the mother. Naturally, the hospital chain is looking into structural or policy changes that can lessen the number of baby falls, whether by providing better parent education on the need to return a child to the bassinet before they nod off themselves, or by implementing changes in bed and room design to make such (inevitable, exhausted parent) lapses less potentially harmful.

In the meantime, for those moms and dads who have accidentally let junior hit the floor: welcome to parenthood! It may be the first time you inadvertently do something dumb (but ultimately harmless) to your kid, but it certainly won't be the last.

Related (but seriously, way worse): Baby Dies During Game of Airplane

Parents Send Kids on Fake Fundraising Expeditions

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:45:00 GMT

In these financially trying times, you may be wondering how you’re going to keep paying for your kids’ piano lessons and soccer uniforms. But did you ever consider that your kids should be making money for you?

If not, you’re one step behind an Oregon couple who is accused of sending their kids on fake fundraising expeditions. For more than a year, Carly and Laramie Torres allegedly made their kids go door to door, soliciting funds to send the oldest daughter to volleyball camp. They collected about $2,000 in all, none of which was used for camp.

Instead, the dough went to monster truck rallies and weekend movies—documentaries and family-friendly flicks, I’m sure.

Photo: AOL

Nine Months After the Storm, A Baby Boom

Amy Kuras — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:02:00 GMT

I’ve always wondered why people’s birthdays seem to cluster together. For example, in my family and friends there are, no lie, five birthdays between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve (ranging from my 95-year-old grandmother to my three-year old daughter), and I also know tons of September birthday people.

So I giggled when I read this: hospitals along the Oregon coast experienced a bit of a baby boom this month – nine months after December storms ripped along the coast, causing power outages and shutting people in for days. One hospital in Astoria normally has 25 to 30 births in a month, but they were scheduled for 50 in September.

Apparently Pacific Northwesterners know how to make good use of a winter storm. Some of the new moms said theirs were more "holiday babies" -- an idea which explains all the Virgos I know running around. It does not, however, at all explain the December-ish babies I know. Having one myself, I can guarantee there’s nothing too awesome happening here in cold climates in March – maybe St Patrick’s Day partying? Spring fever?

"Pregnant Man" Beattie Loves the Limelight

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:50:00 GMT

I am becoming increasingly convinced that Thomas Beattie (better known as the “pregnant man”) is a bit of a publicity whore. This isn’t necessarily a problem, so long as the publicity he seeks does more good than harm for the transgender community—and for his daughter, born on June 29.

In the latest Beattie media frenzy, September Films, a London firm, has beat out four other production companies in winning the rights to make a documentary telling Beattie’s story. The hourlong film will air on Channel 4, with rights to the film licensed globally. The Discovery Channel is currently seeking exclusive U.S. rights.

With his Oprah appearance, his memoir-in-progress (including tales of participating in beauty pageants in his youth), and now this film, Beattie seems keen on maintaining a large spot in the limelight. This is certainly not unusual in these days of reality TV and "It Happened to Me" bestsellers, but it becomes a bit more complicated when there is a child involved. I just hope the widespread publicity of Beattie’s unusual situation helps establish more tolerance for transgender folks and their children, not more hatred.

Photo: livenews.com

Another Child Dies Due to Faith Healing

Cole Gamble — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:00:00 GMT

In a story reminiscent of the Wisconsin girl who died of diabetes while her parents prayed, a boy from a faith-healing family in Oregon died of a highly treatable urinary tract blockage on Tuesday. This is the second child of the Followers of Christ church to die since March. According to Oregon law, however, the 16-year-old boy’s parent may not be responsible for neglect.

Oregon state law allows minors 14 and older to be responsible for their own medical decisions. The family in this case is claiming the boy made the conscious choice to eschew regular medicine and turn to prayer. The prayer failed when the blockage caused urea to poison the organs in his system, eventually leading to heart failure.

In March the boy’s niece, a 15-month-old, died at home of bronchial pneumonia and a blood infection. Her parents have pleaded not guilty to manslaughter charges.

These are not the first incidents of child deaths within the Followers of Christ church. After earlier deaths involving children of Followers of Christ believers, a 1999 Oregon law struck down religious shields for parents who treat their children solely with prayer.

Trans Community Worries About “Pregnant Man” Bad Press

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Tue, 06 May 2008 03:02:00 GMT

When Oprah gets involved, people get famous. And in the case of transgender man Thomas Beattie, the results of this fame are, so far, neither fortune nor glory. Since Beattie first wrote about his unorthodox decision to stop taking testosterone and become pregnant because his wife is unable to carry a child, the media has (unsurprisingly) had a field day with what quickly became dubbed the “pregnant man” story. The Oprah Winfrey Show, the BBC, Good Morning America, and People are only a few of the mainstream outlets to cover Beattie's pregnancy.

According to an update from The Advocate—the LGBT magazine that broke Beattie’s story—not everyone in the transgender community is pleased with Beattie’s decision to go public. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to Beattie, who said that he contacted several transgender organizations before writing a first-person account of his decision to carry a child in The Advocate. Half of the organizations never responded, and most of the others urged him to stay out of the limelight, worrying that publicity would only harm the Beattie family and the transgender community at large.

Specifically, many trans activists worry that Beattie’s unusual story will cause an already less than tolerant public to label all transgender people “freaks” and “disgusting,” two terms that flooded the blogosphere in the wake of Beattie’s story. (The comments on my first article about Beattie’s pregnancy are a case in point.) Even more concerning are fears that this media frenzy could be used to fuel legislation curbing transgender rights, just as many states passed anti-gay marriage legislation after the Massachusetts supreme court upheld gays’ right to marry.

On the other hand, some LGBT activists applaud Beattie’s decision to stretch the limits of the public’s tolerance. As Beattie wrote in the Advocate—and Oprah quoted to a supportive studio audience—“[O]ur situation ultimately will ask everyone to embrace the gamut of human possibility and to define for themselves what is normal.”

While I am supportive of Beattie’s optimism that his story will open the public’s eyes to the many forms a healthy, loving family can take, I fear that this shift in perspective is unlikely to happen fast enough to shield his child from discrimination throughout his or her youth. With many bloggers expressing not only disgust but violent hatred for Beattie and his unborn child, I’m afraid we’ve got a long way to go.

Photo: ABC News

English Teacher Told to Keep Her Gun at Home

Karen Murphy — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 12:27:00 GMT

An Oregon high school English teacher lost her bid to carry a gun to school in a state circuit court decision last week. Shirley Katz was prohibited to carry the gun, for which she has a concealed-weapons permit, by the school district despite her assertion that she needs the gun to potentially defend against her ex-husband.

Uh, I'm all for people being able to do more or less as they please without there being a ton of rules and laws and all, but guns in schools? Where there are kids? No. Just no.

And yes, I sympathize about the ex-husband. I know something about abuse and if that's the situation Shirley Katz faces, it's horrible. It sucks. And for Shirley, it's probably terribly frightening and disempowering. But no. No guns in school.

And what about the thought of being able to defend against potential school shootists? Well, unless Shirley Katz can be everywhere at once, one gun in the hands of a scared ex-wife probably won't be of much help in the very low odds that her school would be one targeted. So, no. No guns. No guns in school.

No? But what about the recent school shootings in Finland, of all places (I love Finland), or that almost took place in Pennsylvania not far from where I live, or that did take place last spring at Virginia Tech, or Columbine, or, or, or? No. No guns in school. One gun will not protect against such an incident.

So, yeah, this pretty much outs me as someone who is uncomfortable with guns. Guns in schools, that is. The whole idea just seems very very wrong to me.

Oregon May Ban Kids from Riding in the Front Seat

JasonAvant — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 19:34:00 GMT

If your kid likes riding shotgun, you may not want to move to Oregon. The Oregon House Judiciary Committee is reviewing a bill that would revise some of the state’s rules on where and how kids can ride in the car. Among other changes, children under 13 would be required to ride in the backseat. Not a bad idea, in my opinion. Proponents of the bill argue that the chances of grievous injury and death increase dramatically when young kids are in the front seat. One study cited indicates that kids riding in the back are 37% less likely to suffer fatal injuries if an accident occurs. The bill would also tighten up height/weight requirements for booster seats, and would require infants under 12 months to ride in a rear-facing safety seat. (Hate to kick you when you’re down, Britney, but INSERT OBLIGATORY BRITNEY-AVOID-PORTLAND JOKE HERE)

While the bill met with no opposition from committee members, there were two who had some concerns. Rep. Jeff Barker was worried that his 89-year-old mother often rode in the back because, per the article, she was “smaller and more fragile” than a young kid might be. (To which I say, she’s 89; that’s a nice amount of time to have spent on this earth, so enjoy the view from the front, grandma.) Rep. Wayne Krieger was concerned that kids like his son, who weighed more than 200 pounds when he was twelve, might not fit in the back seat. (To which I say, um, a 200+ pound 12-year-old? Uncomfortable silence ensues.)

Oregon Dad Builds Pirate Ship for Sons

Patti — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 13:44:00 GMT

A little dumpster diving, six bucks' worth of hot glue, and forty man-hours was all it took for Steve Lacey of Salem, OR to build a scale-model cardboard pirate ship for his 10- and 5-year-old sons. Currently being displayed at the Reed Opera House, where Lacey is a building superintendent, the ship is big enough for the two boys to "sail" and was built pretty much freehand, according to Lacey. Next up, he says, is a Viking longboat.

In contrast, my daughters are squishing themselves into empty Pampers cases and sailing around the living room. I'm afraid if I potty train the little one, their days of seeking treasure in the Tortugas will have to come to an end.

Ever built anything outrageous for your kids? Or do yours, like mine, have to be content with a washing machine box tipped on its side as a playhouse?

Oregon Breastfeeding Advocates Sponsor "Art of Breastfeeding" Show

Patti — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 00:49:00 GMT

Calling all artists: the Lincoln County Breastfeeding Coalition is accepting submissions for their upcoming art show, "The Art of Breastfeeding". Scheduled to take place in August at venues in Lincoln City and Newport, OR, the show will involve works in various media depicting the nursing relationship.

LCBC spokesperson Pat Lewis says "There are no images of breastfeeding in the public venue ... the images may be out there, but we don't see them. It's not in the social psyche." She hopes that the art show will help change that. Oregon's WIC program is one sponsor of the show (they're seeking additional sponsors as well), and the winner of the juried art show will have his or her work featured on WIC posters.

Sounds like a great summer road trip for Portland and Seattle families.