Since it's all over the news I suppose I can't pretend thata mother in San Antonio didn't just kill hernewborn in a way that I'd rather not discuss on these pages for fear I'd send those of you who are fragile into a complete tizzy. (Seriously, if you are suffering,DO NOTlook for or try to find out more about this story. It has nothing at all to do with you and your particular situation.)
The story ishard to figure out at this point, because the details are conflicting. The various Associated Press stories and others confuse me — some say she was diagnosed with postpartum depression, some with postpartum psychosis. Some family members say she was clearly ill, her husband says she was fine. Had she or hadn't she been diagnosed with schizophrenia prior to the birth? Was she actually hospitalized because she had PPD or postpartum psychosis? Who cared for her and why was she released from the hospital? What symptoms did her family or others see that required her to be hospitalized in the first place? These details are so important to this story, yet we don't haveany answers; only peoplelining up for the chance togive Otty Sanchez the death penalty.
According to one version of the story in the Houston Chronicle, she checked into the hospital because she had been hearing voices, but then checked herself out. If a woman who has just had a baby and has a history of schizophrenia is hearing voices, what hospital in their RIGHT MIND would release her?
On top of that, the media writing, as usual, cloudsthe whole issue of postpartum depressionas compared topostpartum psychosis. To wit, from the Associated Press via the New Jersey Star-Ledger:
"According to the Associated Press, Sanchez had a history of schizophrenia and had been hospitalized on July 20 with postpartum depression, and yet she lived in a home where she had access to Samurai swords and child welfare officials were never called."
Child welfare officials do not, I repeat, DO NOT need to be called just because someone has postartum depression. WRONG, media people,and way to go on furthering the myth that mothers with PPD are dangers to their children.
Part of me wants to know nothing of this horrible story. The other part of me wants to know a whole lot more so that I can understand how this woman and her child were possibly left unprotectedby everyone around them, leading to a tragedy that could have been prevented.
This is so devastatingly sad, thank you for sharing and as you always do, for compassionately highlighting the need for understanding these awful diseases.
I have been thinking about this too. I also think it is bad reporting because there aren't any real answers, yet just enough information to be dangerous.
Of course all will turn out eventually. If she was treated before in hospitals then her medical records will come into play. Until then there will be a lot of misinformation until we can find out for sure.
I have my own opinions on the matter, but until I get more information I can't really say anything.
🙁
Hearing voices and the devil told me to do it… it is unfortunate that yet another family has been destroyed due to lack of knowledge on postpartum psychosis. If only that facility she checked herself into would have put the pieces together 🙁 So so so sad.
Thank you for posting, I can totally relate to not wanting to as we have been totally overwhelmed with work since this case broke. Clearly the info is all still new. But in my heart of hearts, that part I am not suppose to use when working, yet always have to keep open… she clearly was suffering, and treatment should have been more drastic.
We hear from moms who have sought help and were treated that had similar thoughts of the terrible things that happened to this baby. The only positives that can come from this tragedy is the more needed awareness for PPD/PPS and womens/moms medical issues. We pray for this family, mom and angel and for all the moms who are currently suffering in silence. In silence. We can not change and save these innocent babies lives if we are not willing as a nation to provide and execute appropriate treatment plans for moms who are suffering. Education, prevention and rehabilitation. God bless you, be well with love Liana Preble Founder http://www.brokenmoms.com Healing Ministry
I am just heartsick over this.
I was unaware of this until you wrote about it. I clicked on the link that had her name, and I had to stop reading the news story because I just couldn't handle it. Clearly, this woman was seriously ill. It sounds as if she had some serious mental health issues to begin with. And, you are absolutely right – the details are just so muddled it's hard to tell what she was really suffering from.
In response to the part about why a hospital would release her. I'm a hospital social worker and deal with people who are suicidal/homicidal as part of my job. If she checked herself into the hospital, she was there voluntarily, so typically, that means the patient is free to leave whenever they want to. However, your point cannot be ignored – she just had a baby, she had schizophrenia, and she had access to all these weapons at home.
It says she checked herself out of the hospital. If it was believed that she was a danger to herself or others, she could have been held there for further evaluation against her will. Regardless of whether or not she presented herself as posing a danger to herself or anyone else, it seems clear to me that there were people who did NOT do their jobs.
In situations like hers, the mental health professionals are supposed to check with family re: access to weapons, etc., and those items need to be removed from the home.
Also, I appreciated your comment pointing out the issue of how some people assume child welfare services should automatically be called because the mother had been hospitalized and had access to weapons. That's just a bunch of bull. How insulting that a news outlet would put the idea out there that it should be expected that child services are called just because a mother is hospitalized…
This story is just heartbreaking and sickening beyond words. There had to be warning signs – obvious warning signs. It seems this could have possibly been prevented had people done their jobs in a more thorough manner.
It's just hard to swallow with all the gaps in the story…
Thanks for shedding light on this story. You always share the most interesting and relevant stories.
"Child welfare officials do not, I repeat, DO NOT need to be called just because someone has postartum depression. WRONG, media people, and way to go on furthering the myth that mothers with PPD are dangers to their children."
This IMO cannot be overstressed. You're so right about PPD and child endangerment, and this fear (of CPS overstepping) is a very real reason a person might not seek help if they could. Thank you.