DISCONNECTED
This is the true story of my daughter’s struggle to find answers as to why all four of her children have subtle but very chronic physical maladies. It takes place in and around the city of Redlands, CA and Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA where the town revolves around the religious atmosphere of the Seven Day Adventist’s medical University, Church and Academy.
The story begins in South Bend, IN on the Notre Dame University campus where Leslie Kelsch and Kirk Udvardi, both belonging to Hungarian families with a strong faith in the Catholic Church, were married at the Cathedral August 13, 1988.
In 1989 they moved to Redlands, CA and eventually had four children: Mathew, Samuel, Abram and Esther. While Kirk was obtaining his master’s degree in music theory at the University of Redlands, he was teaching music at Loma Linda Academy, where all of his children now attend. Leslie maintained the home where she tutored university and high school students in advanced math and transported her children to classes and medical appointments.
The next sixteen years is the story of Leslie’s struggles to find answers as to why four normal looking children were constantly having medical problems. Eventually her perseverance in challenging the medical professionals at Loma Linda University Medical Center was not the thing to do. On 12/07/2005, all four children were taken out of their academy classes while in session and placed in the custody of the Department of Children’s Services. The charges being brought by the hospital and DCS against Leslie were Munchausen’s Syndrome by proxy and bodily harm to the children. Kirk was charged with failure to protect. Leslie was ordered out of their home and allowed to visit the children once a week for two hours with authorized supervision.
The family’s seven-month struggle and turmoil continued until the three-week trial ended with all charges being dropped on 6/21/06. The ramifications preceding the trial were frightening. Testifying in Leslie’s defense were specialists from John Hopkins University and the Harvey Institute for Human Genetics, Dr. Clair Francomano, and from the Chiari Institute, Dr. Paolo Bolognese. These doctors graciously waived their fees after reviewing the children’s’ records. Leslie and all four children have been examined for hereditary CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISORDERS at the Harvey Institute, Cedars-Sinai and the Chiari Institute. All have tested positive. To this day the hospital has not apologized. Nor does the family have recourse against the Child Protective Agency, the hospital, or the county. Kirk and Leslie’s costs have been excessive along with the contributions of the family.
Leslie’s sixteen-year episode is a story of faith, hope, despair and doubt. But throughout the last year of crisis, there is a heart-warming story of support and understanding for this family in the form of the Seventh Day Adventist church and community.
Ps: Both older boys are in honors classes at the academy and performed with the symphony band touring Europe two years in a row..
“end – part !”
This is the true story of my daughter’s struggle to find answers as to why all four of her children have subtle but very chronic physical maladies. It takes place in and around the city of Redlands, CA and Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA where the town revolves around the religious atmosphere of the Seven Day Adventist’s medical University, Church and Academy.
The story begins in South Bend, IN on the Notre Dame University campus where Leslie Kelsch and Kirk Udvardi, both belonging to Hungarian families with a strong faith in the Catholic Church, were married at the Cathedral August 13, 1988.
In 1989 they moved to Redlands, CA and eventually had four children: Mathew, Samuel, Abram and Esther. While Kirk was obtaining his master’s degree in music theory at the University of Redlands, he was teaching music at Loma Linda Academy, where all of his children now attend. Leslie maintained the home where she tutored university and high school students in advanced math and transported her children to classes and medical appointments.
The next sixteen years is the story of Leslie’s struggles to find answers as to why four normal looking children were constantly having medical problems. Eventually her perseverance in challenging the medical professionals at Loma Linda University Medical Center was not the thing to do. On 12/07/2005, all four children were taken out of their academy classes while in session and placed in the custody of the Department of Children’s Services. The charges being brought by the hospital and DCS against Leslie were Munchausen’s Syndrome by proxy and bodily harm to the children. Kirk was charged with failure to protect. Leslie was ordered out of their home and allowed to visit the children once a week for two hours with authorized supervision.
The family’s seven-month struggle and turmoil continued until the three-week trial ended with all charges being dropped on 6/21/06. The ramifications preceding the trial were frightening. Testifying in Leslie’s defense were specialists from John Hopkins University and the Harvey Institute for Human Genetics, Dr. Clair Francomano, and from the Chiari Institute, Dr. Paolo Bolognese. These doctors graciously waived their fees after reviewing the children’s’ records. Leslie and all four children have been examined for hereditary CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISORDERS at the Harvey Institute, Cedars-Sinai and the Chiari Institute. All have tested positive. To this day the hospital has not apologized. Nor does the family have recourse against the Child Protective Agency, the hospital, or the county. Kirk and Leslie’s costs have been excessive along with the contributions of the family.
Leslie’s sixteen-year episode is a story of faith, hope, despair and doubt. But throughout the last year of crisis, there is a heart-warming story of support and understanding for this family in the form of the Seventh Day Adventist church and community.
Ps: Both older boys are in honors classes at the academy and performed with the symphony band touring Europe two years in a row..
“end – part !”
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