Anaïs (Baby aged 6 months, France)

Pregnancy and Delivery

My pregnancy was marked by several complications: I had two cases of thrombophlebitis as well as a pulmonary embolism. Additionally, Issam presented with intrauterine growth retardation, placing him at the 2nd percentile. For this reason, I was induced at 37 weeks of gestation.

Issam was born with a low birth weight of 2.360 kg, but the delivery went well without instruments. The day after his birth, he had to be catheterized due to hypoglycemia, a consequence of my gestational diabetes.

We returned home after a week. At that time, Issam was eating every four hours and was generally an easy baby, although his growth retardation persisted without particular medical concern. However, he suffered from severe colic. At 12 days old, he experienced a choking episode during sleep; he had to be resuscitated with chest compressions and hospitalized in intensive care, fortunately for only a short duration as he recovered quickly.

Subsequently, Issam stayed at home with me and was never cared for elsewhere.

The Day Everything Changed

After one month of life, we began to notice small marks and petechiae on his body. These marks became more frequent, and we consulted the emergency room when Issam was three months old. Examinations then revealed a rib fracture, likely due to the chest compressions he received at 12 days. We had not noticed anything before. A report was made, but we were able to return home with follow-up from the CRIP, which eventually requested closure of the concerning information.

When the Diagnosis Fell

In December, Issam woke up one morning with his right arm red and swollen, having doubled in size. Having experienced similar complications during my pregnancy, I immediately thought it was a related issue without imagining what would follow. At the emergency room, an X-ray was taken within minutes, followed by another report, without explanation or communication to us. Despite dozens of fractures observed, no blood tests or medical assessments were conducted before requesting urgent placement. Other examinations showed that Issam actually had nine scattered fractures on his body. Nine hours later, he was removed from our care and placed with the Child Welfare Services.

In the Judicial Machine

He spent seven days in the hospital, then seven days in a nursery, awaiting the provisional placement order, totaling 15 days. During this period, he underwent two surgical procedures, one while we were under arrest. We experienced 37 hours of detention, close to being remanded. A psychological and psychiatric evaluation was also imposed.

This 15-day placement was very difficult for Issam. Professionals quickly noticed he was extremely unhappy. They had to call us several times for him to accept feeding, as he ate without difficulty whenever we arrived. He regained his lost smile… We were only allowed two visits per week, totaling two hours.

At the end of these 15 days, we appeared before the children’s judge, who ordered placement with my parents, considered trustworthy third parties, for six months with AEMO measures. Amidst this tragedy, we had the chance to meet attentive professionals who understood the extent of the injustice and did everything to get Issam back home quickly.

After two and a half months of placement, the situation became unbearable for Issam: he could no longer sleep alone and always needed to hold hands. Professionals then requested changes in custody rights with two nights per week at our home. Shortly after, they solicited the judge to lift the placement. Three and a half months later, the judge accepted his definitive return home. Meanwhile, the criminal investigation had been closed.

Today, Issam is back with us, but he retains significant psychological sequelae. He suffers from separation anxiety, cannot tolerate his parents moving too far away, and can no longer sleep alone.

And all for nothing… One year later, at Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital in Paris, a proper assessment was finally conducted. The results came in: Issam’s bones are indeed affected. Blood tests are clear. But due to the slow response time, we still do not know what disease he has. We are still awaiting medical answers.

Living with Suspicion

The impact has been very heavy on our couple and family. Psychologically, we have been deeply marked by this brutal separation from Issam. We are being followed because returning to a “normal” life after all of this is extremely difficult, and we still take a real “hit” every day.

For Issam, the trauma remains very present: he suffers from separation anxiety and can no longer tolerate us being away from him. For us, as parents, the guilt of having abandoned him, the pain, and the feeling of helplessness remain very acute. Our loved ones have also been affected: everyone has suffered from this unfair situation.

Financially, the impact is significant, even though we were victims of an injustice. Between travel expenses, work absences due to court appearances, procedures, loss of income, and various costs, we have been put in a difficult position.

Our vision of life has radically changed. We no longer see things the same way: now all our energy and value are devoted to our family. Futile things no longer matter; we simply try to rebuild and gradually resume a stable life despite the trauma of separation.

Today, the most persistent feeling is that of profound injustice. We still ask ourselves: “Why us?” We do not understand why a medical explanation was not sought first before tearing Issam away from his family. Today, he suffers the most because this brutal separation has caused deep trauma whose scars he still bears. We, as parents, also bear this pain, but the real victim is our child above all.

For consistency across testimonies, this text may have been slightly edited or translated by artificial intelligence. If you notice any error or inconsistency, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Adele, France

My husband and I are merchants, and we’re thirty years old. We have three children: a daughter and twin boys. We live above our …

Agathe, France

It has been 8 years since I have been taking care of babies coming from nurseries or hospitals. I am a mother of three children aged 14, …

Alexandre, France

The delivery went without any issues. My baby was crying a lot, was he already suffering? We regularly consulted the pediatrician and …

Alexia, France

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Amédée, France

Separated for a year at the time of the events, I was the mother of two boys aged 20 and 18 (one in the army, the other in school). I had …

Anaïs, France

My pregnancy was marked by several complications: I had two cases of thrombophlebitis as well as a pulmonary embolism. Additionally, Issam …

Anonyme, France

We have been a couple for 11 years and married for 7 years. We are 35 years old and have three children aged 5, 3, and 1 year. We live in a …

Anonyme, France

I have worked in the field of early childhood for 10 years, 5 years in a facility and 5 years as a childcare provider. I never had any …

Another Family, UK

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Audrey Edmunds, USA

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Barbora, Canada

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Bénédicte, France

Bénédicte, childcare provider since 2014. Married and mother of two children. Difficulties observed at the end of pregnancy. The child came …

Camille, France

Story coming soon.

Candie, France

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Catherine, France

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Chloé, France

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Courtney, USA

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Cyrille, France

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Dwayne Lindsey, Australia

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Elisabeth, France

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Elise, USA

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Elyne, France

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Emeline, France

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Fajr, USA

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Fany, France

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Flora, France

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Ilona, France

Parents’ age at the time of events: 24 and 25 years old. Mother with a disability (arthrogryposis), cashier, adopted from Cambodia by …

Jennifer, France

I have been a childcare assistant since July 2008. I hold a CAP in early childhood education, a BEP in health and social careers, as well …

Josh, USA

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Julia, France

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Julie, Australia

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Julie, Australia

We are both 44 years old, and our son has a twin sister and a three-year-old sister. We reside in Australia. During pregnancy, my twin boy …

Karen, France

I became pregnant in quite a miraculous way, as I had been suffering from endometriosis for several years. Seven years earlier, I was …

Karine, France

Childcare provider for over 13 years, taking care of children, especially infants, is a passion. Although caring for them at any age is …

Kat, UK

I am a mother of three and previously worked as a pediatric nurse before facing accusations of shaken baby syndrome. My family had no …

Kimberly, USA

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Laeti, France

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Laetitia, France

My husband and I have been together for 13 years. The desire to have children came quickly in our relationship. After finishing our …

Laura, UK

I had a caesarean birth at 36+6 weeks with twins. The only issue was her head circumference, but this was never thoroughly investigated. …

Laurine, France

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Leigh Crutch, USA

Greetings! My name is Leigh Crutch, and I have worked as an Investigations Consultant specializing in real estate foreclosures since 2003. …

Lily, France

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Lisambs, France

Mom is a nurse, dad is an aide, in our thirties, owner of our house. First child, very much wanted. I was hospitalized during pregnancy for …

Lolo, France

I am 28 years old and my partner is 38. We have been together for 12 years. I work as a technical assistant, and he is an electrician. We …

Louise, UK

I am a mother who worked as a sewing machinist. Until my children were 14 years old, I raised them all. Then, the state wrongfully took …

Lyana, France

Mr., 36 years old, works in industry. Mrs., 34 years old, is active in the social sector. We have a first daughter who is four and a half …

Maddie, USA

I enjoy volunteering and taking psychology and behavioral health classes. I am also preparing to start work as a behavioral health …

Maë, France

R, M and E, a family living in the Hautes-Alpes. R is 36 years old and an electrician; M is also 36 and a teacher. E is their first child. …

Maeva, France

I had a perfect pregnancy despite bleeding during the first three months. The delivery, however, was premature at seven months of …

Manon, France

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Maria, France

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Marie, France

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Marissa, USA

My son was 25 at the time. He worked as a roofer, and he has an older sister and a younger brother. We all reside in Des Moines, Iowa. The …

Mark, UK

My name is Mark Lackenby. I am 45 years old and work on the railway. My family has a history in mining, as we are from the UK. I have five …

Mary, UK

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Melanie, Canada

I am a thirty-year-old mother who recently discovered that I have HEDS, which was misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia for years. Currently, I am a …

Melissa, USA

Mom and Dad are now married for 26 years and have five children aged 20, 18, 14, and twin 10-year-olds. This incident occurred when the …

Mia, Finland

At the time of the accusations, I was 35 years old, and my partner was 38. We both are a year older now. I work in Human Resources, while …

Mlmd, France

I had been a childcare assistant for one and a half years at the time of the events. I am also a mother to two daughters aged 7 and 11. …

Nancy, Canada

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Nathalie, France

I was 35 years old and my husband was 45 at the time of these events. I am a restorer, and my spouse works as a salesperson in …

Nini, France

Trustworthy guardian who took in her niece after she was placed by Child Protective Services (CPS) because the parents were abusive. Stable …

Nini, France

Nursery assistant, nursing aide, childcare provider, and home support worker. I don’t know how the delivery went. The child was cared …

Orionea, France

I quit my job as an administrative/financial assistant to become a childcare provider in order to take care of my stepchildren and my first …

Paula, USA

I am the paternal grandmother, and I am filling out this form on behalf of my family. My daughter-in-law was 32 years old and worked as a …

Perle, France

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Peter, Sweden

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Reginald, USA

I am Reggie Ware; my wife, Melonie, was the accused. This occurred in 2004 when she ran an in-home daycare. I work as a musician and real …

Roxanne, USA

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Sally, Canada

I am 26 years old, a support worker. My partner is also 26 and works in construction. Our baby was born three weeks early. Every time I …

Sarah, France

I am married and have a child. The child had strange breathing after vomiting. I informed the mother who arrived quickly. She told me that …

Skye, UK

My labor lasted two days, and it was a natural birth. She was significantly larger than my other children. We went home, and she seemed …

Stephanie, USA

I am married with two children and have been licensed to operate a home daycare for over fifteen years. N/A It was her first and only day …

Sylvie, France

My son, the father of twins, works in public works. He is a dad to twins born in March 2021 and lives in a house he renovated to …

Valeria, France

Our family was torn apart by these accusations. We had been married for eight years when Victoria Siara was born. As her mother, I am …

Vanessa, France

New mother, my son was the same age as the little one I was taking care of. The parents were in their thirties, like me. The mother had …

Vanessa, France

I obtained my Early Childhood Care and Education certificate in 2012. I then worked in a daycare center, recreational center, as a nanny at …

Virginie, France

We are both 40 years old (I was 39 at the time of the events). I am a primary school teacher and Lionel works as a sorting inspector. We …

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