At 76 years old, I just applied to be legal guardian of a brother and sister, who are 18 and 19. They live with their mom in Louisville, about 90 miles away. The girl is a Type 1 diabetic, with ADD. She has a 61 IQ, which makes her about 8 1/2 years old in the mental department. She cannot manage her blood draws and the 7 daily inoculations. She has been caught multiple times stealing sweets. The little boy has a 51 IQ, has no tongue, a feeding "G" tube and a tracheotomy.He can't tie his shoes and bleeds constantly from the mouth from tumors.

Mom has a 70 IQ (about 12 years old, mentally). She is all they have, other than the help I give. I go to Louisville every other Sunday, am the emergency contact and now am offering to be guardian because the girl has been in foster care (the system almost killed her), which makes mom look bad. Mom has had financial difficulties, which makes approval of her as guardian unlikely.

These are the grandchildren of a horn player I met in 1960, and, because of mental challenges,I took care of him and his family. I was also guardian for George's wife after he died.

If I don't step up, none of the suppliers (DR's, hospitals, specialists, etc.) will do any services without the signature of the individual or a guardian.

Sadly, these two little folks have slipped through the cracks. They cannot manage on their own and wouldn't make it a month without help.

Am I NUTS?

Russ

You're not nuts, just a wonderful human being.

Court day was Monday. I was granted full custody for both kids. Evaluations from medical and psychological staff members predict no possible improvement in medical or mental issues.


Mom was identified from a past(2013)Foster Home incident to be guilty of gross life-threatening negligence. Thing is, A judge at the time said, "how can the mom be accused of being guilty of an incident when it happened when the child was in school?".

I have to develop a survival plan. All medical and mental experts say there is no available support from the system.

Kentucky is notorious for having the worst Child Protective Services operation in the country.

Money will help, but won't fix the problems.

I'm willing to do everything I can to keep these youngsters alive.

I'm scared to death that my best efforts won't be enough.


R.

Reading it is already overwhelming; I’ve never dealt with something like this yet, but I will keep in mind this good example that you are giving.

An impressive example of charity and transcendence of the self for the benefit of others indeed.

Thanks, folks. I REALLY appreciate the support...now, more than ever before.

I'm all these little folks and their mom has.

Russ