Hepatitis and child removal from home

I just posted a topic on how to deal with leg pain for my wife who is Hep C positive and got some great responses and help from the forum members. I now have a question which may be out of the scope of this forum but I need to know if my 5 YO extremely Autistic granddaughter can be taken from us because of my wife having Hep C. I've went through the internet and have found almost nothing of consequence and/or substance explaining if they legally can or not. I've applied for Medicaid and put this condition in the application and hope it doesn't come back to bite me in the butt. I live in Cobb County Georgia and can't find anything about it through their website...please help me by letting me know the legal ramifications of a child being raised by my Hep C positive wife. Thanks in advance....Jim

Post Edited By Moderator (hep93) : 1/12/2012 4:52:42 PM (GMT-7)

If you don't tell social services about the Hep C, how would they know? SS isn't going to check with them. In any case, it shouldn't make a difference. I'm very up front about my disease and anyone who knows me, is aware of it. I realize that in many places, people equate Hep C with the plague. It's not and I let others know how difficult it is to transmit the disease without blood to blood exchange.

the only problem would be if your grand child is not receiving appropriate care... even the Hep C would not be a reason for removal... the bottom line would be that the child is care for appropriately... and I say ditto to "how would they find out"....take care Sandia

Thanks all for the responses...all are very helpful and make me feel better about not having to worry about Summer (our Granddaughter) being taken away from us. My role in the raising Summer is that of a father....I dote on her, play with her and try to be that father figure she needs. Terri (my wife) treats Summer as her daughter and spends every waking moment with her...EVERY MOMENT. Summer is never starved for attention and I feel that we're doing a good job with her. Summer is full blown Autistic and has special additional needs to try to cope with it. We have her enrolled in a "special" school that deals with Autistic children and she is making great strides in every aspect of her Autism. We already have Medicaid for her and collect food stamps for her also so she's receiving the medical and nutritional care she needs. When I applied for Medicaid I requested it for my wife and I and wrote a leter which I enclosed with our applications detailing our situation and being very honest about our home situation...my fear was having her taken out of our home because of the seriousness of Hep C. Thanks to all and please keep giving me your opinions whether good or bad...everything I've learned here has helped me understand things I really wasn't sure about...Thanks to every again...Jim

Thanks all who posted everything here and giving me very good info about our issues. Summer ("Summer Rayne" is her birth name..yes, great name) definitely won't go without the love she needs should something happen to Terri...I'm very active in her life now and plan to be for the rest of my life....she'll never do without the love and affection she needs. Thanks to all who had input into this and you've lead me in the right direction concerning what OTC pain reliever is best for her...I took away here aleve and replaced it with Tylonol. Also, thanks for making me feel somewhat better about the Summer being taken away issue...I didn't think they could but hearing it from other people makes me feel a lot better. I appreciate any additional info anyone might give...there's no limit of what I can learn to make these issues if lead in the right direction. Thank you all again...Jim

Terri, I am the father of 3 beautiful children. My middle daughter (Tallie) is 4yrs old and is autistic. I was diagnosed with ESLD and cirrhosis caused by alcohol on May 3rd. I haven't had a drink since that day and the reason is them. I also was divorced last July (rough year), so trying to focus on them and my health has been very tiring, especially with Tallie. She doesn't speak (yet), so I kind of jump into her world and go where she leads me. I'm on Medicaid and tried to get her on it but since I am not the primary caretaker, and my ex makes "just enough money", that she was denied multiple times. I live in NE and the schools and programs for her are very expensive. There are some free activities out there though. My favorite is Saturday mornings at the movie theater. For one kids movie they turn off the "Please be Quiet" sign and let kids be kids. Tallie LOVES it. I am not in need of a caretaker so I do as many things as I am able to with them. It will be overwhelming so take it easy on yourself. Sorry to get off the subject a little. Tallie starts swim lessons tomorrow and I'm pumped. Okay, I'm done.
Jeff

Terri Q said...
I just posted a topic on how to deal with leg pain for my wife who is Hep C positive and got some great responses and help from the forum members. I now have a question which may be out of the scope of this forum but I need to know if my 5 YO extremely Autistic granddaughter can be taken from us because of my wife having Hep C. I've went through the internet and have found almost nothing of consequence and/or substance explaining if they legally can or not. I've applied for Medicaid and put this condition in the application and hope it doesn't come back to bite me in the butt. I live in Cobb County Georgia and can't find anything about it through their website...please help me by letting me know the legal ramifications of a child being raised by my Hep C positive wife. Thanks in advance....Jim

What is wife's viral load? PCR needs to be done. Child likely has hearing problem (capd) and no memory for faces (prosopagnosia). Rocking? Child needs constancy. Removal would be traumatizing. Hep is difficult to transmit if precautions as not sharing razors, toothbrushes, etc are taken. Fatigue may be an issue. Pace yourselves as this type of child needs lots of attention to become engaged. Computer is great tool for learning in these children which would keep child sufficiently occupied for wife to get through tough times.