Medically Fragile Boy in Peril

August 11, 2011 permalink

A ten-year-old handicapped boy was removed from from his mother in South Carolina. The article does not say so, but the boy, McCaden, is in mortal danger. Children with genetic defects are in vital need of care that only the mother can provide. For examples of what happens when such a child is removed, refer to the cases of Trevor Nolan or Samantha Martin. Child protectors became involved with McCaden when his mother Synclare Moss had medical problems of her own and the boy called 911 for help.

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Mother says police took her son due to false charges

Published Thursday, August 11, 2011 7:28 PM

Synclare Moss and her son, McCaden

GEORGETOWN SC — The past two weeks have been a nightmare for Georgetown resident Synclare Moss and her 10-year old son, McCaden.

Because of what Moss says are false charges, she was arrested by the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office and her son was removed from her custody.

She has only been able to see him for one supervised hour and the two could be separated until at least Aug. 24, the day a hearing is set to take place in family court.

She said the incident began when her disabled son — as he has been taught to do — called 911 as she was suffering a seizure.

McCaden suffers from Prader-Willi Syndrome which, according to medical documents provided to the Georgetown Times, is a “life threatening, lifelong genetic” disease.

As a result, he has very limited speaking capabilities.

Moss suffers from seizures which is what was happening July 28 when the ordeal for the family began.

According to a Sheriff’s Office incident report, Central Dispatch received a call from the Moss home on Meadow Street that morning from someone who did not say anything.

Moss said this call was made when she was having a seizure. She suffered another seizure about four hours later and McCaden called 911 again.

When Deputy Chris Geno arrived at the home, the child — wearing only boxer shorts — answered the door. When the officer asked him to get his mother, he just stared at him, the report states.

Geno went inside and reports the living room was in disarray with broken glass scattered about.

Moss said the glass was from a broken picture frame.

Geno called out for the child’s mother who emerged from a rear bedroom. She appeared to have just woken up.

When she saw the glass on the floor, Ms. Moss started yelling at her son.

Geno states the child “had shards of glass on the bottom of his feet” from the glass on the floor, something his mother denies.

“He did not have any cuts on his feet,” she said.

Geno left McCaden with his mother but, when she suffered another seizure at about 4:30 p.m., he responded back to the home because of a call to 911 by McCaden.

The report describes Moss as being “incoherent” and “high from the use of drugs.

“I only take prescription drugs for my seizures,” she said.

She said she may have acted spaced out because of the seizure she had suffered not long before the officer arrived.

“I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I don’t even use caffeine. We can only take medications prescribed by a doctor,” she said.

Her seizure medicine — Dilantin — was the only drug she had taken, she said.

Moss said she wanted the officers to allow her to take a drug test but they refused to do so. She was not tested for drugs until five days after her arrest. Moss also said Geno never asked her if she had any medical conditions prior to her arrest.

Arrested, child removed

The arrest warrant, signed by “S. Burbage,” states Moss was taken into custody for placing her child at unreasonable risk of harm “by leaving” him without supervision or proper care.

Geno’s incident report does not mention Moss ever being away from the home or leaving him unsupervised.

Moss said she has never left McCaden unattended and did not do so that day.

Nevertheless, she was placed in ankle shackles and handcuffs in front of her son who was “freaking out” at what he was seeing, she said.

“He was jumping on me trying to help me,” she said.

The Department of Social Services was called in to take custody of the child, despite the fact Moss’ parents were available to take care of him.

DSS worker, Amanda Busch, in a report provided by Moss, states her parents — James and Jean Lynch — are unable to handle McCaden’s medical and physical needs because they are both more than 70-years-old.

Moss said her parents care for her son quite often and are very capable.

Moss said she was taken to the Detention Center and was placed in a small room with a window and was forced to strip. She said because of the way the room is set up, others — including men — were able to see her naked.

Moss was subsequently released from jail on bond but was not allowed to see her son.

In foster care

In the first few days of being in DSS care, McCaden was moved to five different foster homes, his mother said.

After spending an entire week without seeing her son — or even knowing where he was being kept — Moss and her parents went to the local DSS office Aug. 5.

They waited in the lobby for five hours until a case worker saw them.

Moss was able to find out her son was being kept at a group home in Myrtle Beach and on Aug. 6, she was able to see him for one hour while being supervised.

“I was not able to touch him so I could not give him a hug,” she said as she fought back tears. “He was like a zombie. He said he was scared and wanted to go home. This is my child. He is my only child. It has always been him, me and my parents.”

Moss said her only other communication with McCaden since July 28 was a 15 minute Skype call Thursday evening.

“It was only 15 minutes but 15 minutes is 15 minutes,” she said.

Hearing set

According to DSS, a “merits hearing” will be held in family court on August 24.

Moss is being represented by attorney Julia Bass who was unavailable for comment Thursday.

By Scott Harper sharper@gtowntimes.com

Source: Georgetown Times