"Unfairly accused of murder, cleared:
actually just a Vitamin D deficiency"
~ Cynthia G. Creel
3-25-2013
My Story:
I was an undiagnosed person with a Vitamin D deficiency. I am lucky I wasn't part of the epidemic of rickets that can be caused by a vitamin D deficiency. I was lucky I only have the tip of my breast bone that points outward slightly that I can feel when I rub my tummy as a left over sign. It is the only effect I have left from being low deficient of vitamin D. The only reason I became aware and was able to stop this silent devastation of the body was because knew to ask. I asked about 3 years ago because I had read a small article suggesting it as a possible undiagnosed problem in the Untied States and around the world that would be easily fixed by identifying it from a test the doctor could give.
The challenge:
I was lucky even though my children were breast fed they never had a fracture of a bone to be questioned and look as if I may have been an abusive parent. As a family we all had were low on vitamin D3. Now that that has been all corrected it is just a distant memory of more difficult times.
What if things had been different? I could have been like one of the parents in the article in mailonline (1) where surprising new evidence shows parents who have been falsely accused of child abuse with some being convicted of murder or a crime of child abuse.
Jayden Wray, a 16 year old mother was accused of murder after her son died at the age of four months with head injuries due to the parent having severe vitamin D deficiency that would have been passed to him though his mom. Only when it was discovered the baby had a vitamin D deficiency could the injuries be explained as something other then murder or abuse.
Dr. Marta Chohen, of Sheffield Children's Hospital was reported to say "It was likely that many children suffering from rickets had wrongly been placed into foster homes because their parents had been suspected of abuse."
Also Dr. Cohen told BBC Radio 4: "
Dr Marta Cohen, of Sheffield Children’s Hospital, said, “If you have bones that fracture easily they will fracture with any normal movement. Like trying to put a baby grow on a baby, you will twist the arm in a child whose bones are weakened. It is easier for them to get these very tiny fractures or big fractures."
According to a Vitamin D Expert Panel Meeting in 2001 reported by the Center for Disease Prevention (CDC) (3) nine per million children in the United States were hospitalized with rickets between 1990 and 1998. The CDC (4) also reported between 2001 to 2006 two-thirds of the population had sufficient vitamin D with about one fourth at risk of vitamin D inadequacy and 8% were at risk of vitamin D deficiency.
The problem has been clearly identified in England is the United States doing as well? I can not find any data that tells of a problem. How many people are deficient if the test is not part of a regular check up for adults and children?
According to the New England Journal of Medicine (5) being undiagnosed with vitamin D deficiency is no uncommon with vitamin D being a clear indicator of risk of bone health, risk of cancer and other chronic diseases. Decreasing the risk for postmenopausal women rescuing there risk of cancer by 60 to 77% by increasing the levels of vitamin D. With recommendations of sensible sun exposure (or ultraviolet B irradiation) and the use of supplements
are needed to fulfill the body’s vitamin D requirement.
Summary:
If a parent has unexplained fractures with a child in their care a simple test can prove a why to their innocents. It creates a proactive parent to avoid the problem all together if they know to ask for a simple Vitamin D3 test. In England today one family escaped not only the legal procedure, but the emotional battle of being accused of something they did not do. Sadly they are left with the lost of their baby because that knowledge was missed by all. There are 7 other cases currently under review with the expectations of a reversal of the original finding. There are many other cases that can not be proved because the child was taken from the home fed differently and no sign of a problem could be detected after it was eliminated. Most were affected because of breast feeding, not because the parents didn't take care of the child.
This is an example of people thinking they were doing the right thing without the whole picture. Rickets are a part of all developed countries including the United States today. It has be thought to be a third world problem until the last few year. Unfortunately the US is way behind even with diagnosing the problem while England seems to be on top of things getting the vitamin d challenge under control.
Final Words:
It is clear Vitamin D is quite important. The loss of each baby, each parent that if falsely accused of abusing or murder is unthinkable one of the cruel outcomes of this epidemic. No one is a winner even Jayden Wray who was cleared of murder still will come home to an empty crib. This should happen no no parent or child. In our modern times it should be a routine test and corrections made easily. My hope is by writing this blog, it may save a family the heartache of going through such a loss.
One of the first ways of stepping on to the Path of True Health is making sure your doctor orders a vitamin D test. This will help you on your way. Just like blood pressure your vitamin D level is important to know. Children are at risk too ask your child’s pediatrician to check your child’s vitamin D levels. Be proactive ask question and find answers. I wish I had asked before my children were born. I will never know what was missed or lost. I know now, I can check this off my list of thing to do, until the next time I visit the doctor.
By Design ~ "Life is good By Design"
Photo creation by Cynthia G. Creel all rights reserved ©2013
all rights reserved ©2013 written permission is needed to duplicate
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of By Design or Cynthia G. Creel. Consultation of a medical professional is highly recommended before any changes are considered. This article is not saying anyone person or company is right or wrong, it is only speaking in general terms. .
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Source:
(1) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2092128/Vitamin-D-deficiency-Parents-wrongly-accused-murder-abuse-babies.html
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7334122
(3) http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/nutrition/pdf/Vitamin_D_Expert_Panel_Meeting.pdf
(4) http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db59.htm
(5) http://www.grc.com/health/pdf/Vitamin_D_Deficiency_Medical_Progress.pdf
http://www.grc.com/health/pdf/Vitamin_D_Deficiency_Medical_Progress.pdf
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