Hello,
My child, at age 9 became mysteriously and suddenly ill. I took her to about 14 doctors over the course of 2 years before recieving a diagnosis. She had and still has, 11 years later, Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome. To date she has been seen by over 24 doctors because of CFIDS and the public school district she was enrolled in from grades K - 12.
While dealing with the school system I learned the ins and out of the public school system. My daughter was under Section 504 and Special Education. She was placed under Special Education for CFIDS and Visual Impairety. The school district wanted her exited from Special Education prior to her gradation. This step would ensure the school district would not be responsible, in any way , including financially, for her. Children under Special Education are entitled to a Free education until and through age 21.
I fought back and tried to keep her in Special Education. The school district made my daughter go to 3 more speciallists, one of them was the doctor who initially diagnosed her with CFIDS. His letter to the school district, while it did not say she no longer had CFIDS, because she did, suggested I be brought before the hospital board for suspicion of Munchausen By Proxy and other and some other stuff I can not bring to mind at this time. (the hospital was and still is a top pediatric hospital in my state)
My story is long and involved. The long and short is that while the school district would often bring up the topic of Munchausen By Proxy at the many, and I do mean many PPTs for my daughter...(.1 meeting was over 12 hours long over a period of 3 days!) and the doctor wrote the letter I previously mentioned, no one ever investigated me for Munchausen By Proxy. I feel I was a victim of harrassment due to my knowledge of how the public education system works and the accommadations my child was qualified for under Special Education.
The school district did infact , in my opinion,"kick" my child out of Special Education prior to her graduating highschool. They said she no longer qualified for Special Education, yet she still had and to this day, has CFIDS!
My child is presently a junior in college and doing quite well. The college provides her with accademic accommadations she needs. Financial support is provided by her parents.
After this ordeal with the public school system, I have vowed to advocate, free of charge, for any child with special needs. I am successful helping those that seek my help.
I have a friend who, not only shared my experience but endured her own as she has 3 children with CFIDS. We advocated together.
Our children are amazing people for having risen above those who tried to crush them.
I am not the one that "hurt" my child....they know who they are!
