Anyone watch Dateline Tonight?

[am1977]

I'm actually still very, VERY upset :bawling: about the story they reported on the little girl, Ariel. To refresh your memories, this was the little girl with Type 1 Diabetes that died after being in a state of DKA. Her mother was actually put on trial for murder of her child.

Now, I don't know if I would call it murder, but I was totally enraged :mad: at what happened to this little girl. And I strongly believe that her parents should be held responsible. Ariel's blood sugar readings were off the charts many, many times...they even noted that her A1c was over 15 at least twice! :eek: Insurance payments showed that insulin was only purchased twice over a year period. There's no way in **** that little insulin can sustain that child's health... Also, her mom had lost her daughter's glucometer at times in the past. Not to mention, that it seems like her mother didn't want to learn or try to learn about her daughter's condition. According to her, she felt like she knew what she needed to know about her child's health. Obviously, this was not the case :( .

Then what was even more appauling was that it seemed like the defense almost put the blame on the child. They said Ariel cheated, didn't follow her diet, and ate junk food. Well, yes, children AND adults don't always make the best food choices. However, if Ariel did that periodically, her mother should have still been there to test her and give her insulin to cover those things. I don't think that happened. As for the purchasing of insulin, her mother claims that there was only two insurance payments towards insulin, b/c she paid it out of pocket and she stockpiled insulin. I know this can be done, but sounds like bull**** if you ask me. They only found 4 vials of insulin at their home and two were opened. It wasn't mentioned that the child needs two types of insulin, long acting and short acting...and who knows what types of insulin these were. It's hardly a stock pile. :thumpdown

I am stunned and saddened by this whole story :sad:. This girl shouldn't have had to die. How could her parents be so neglectful? It just blows my mind how irresponsible and uncaring people can be to their own family! That's, actually, a huge understatement.

In her trial, Ariel's mom was found guilty of 2nd degree murder. However, her verdict was overturned and she was issued a new trial...which I don't quite understand :confused:. In my opinion, this mother should be behind bars for the rest of her life. I know that, sadly, won't bring Ariel back, but I think she should still be held accountable for her death. That goes for the father, too. Yes, they were divorced, but he should have been aware of the situation and should have taken action.

I'm just very, very emotional right now after seeing this story. I'm literally bawling :bawling: at the moment. I just hope little Ariel is at peace now and that this type of thing doesn't happen again to any other child.

[Cinnabon]

Am thank you for sharing that. I cannot believe I missed that. Sounds very interesting, is there any chance if it plays again?

[Cinnabon]

here it is...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11092139/

[lgvincent]

Yes, I saw the program, too. I don't know what to think. I know a nurse testified that Ariel had an HbA1c of 15 about 18 months before she died and it was 16.1 when she was admitted to the hospital before she died. Clearly, something is not right here but I would have to wonder why it wasn't higher if she wasn't getting insulin. Maybe she was simply not getting enough, rather than none at all. As I recall, of the three meters in the house, only one had had any glucose readings and it only had 2 of them, one taken about a week before she went to the hospital and one the day she entered. Again, it looks like the parents were not keeping a check on this but I have to admit that until about 1983, I had never checked my blood sugar and I didn't have such high sugars.

[someone]

Yep, I saw it. The mother should definately be charged with 1st degree murder. That is just sad that she could let her a1c get to 15 and say she did try her best. 15 is an average of a blood glucose of 500 mg/dL. That is rediculous. Even if the little girl did "cheat" like the defense said, how could her mother pay no attention to that?

[JediSkipdogg]

I'm still childless in my life but I guess from my line of work I don't see fully how this is the parent's fault and how they could be charged with it. If your 14 year old son steals a car on a Friday night is it the dad's fault that he didn't tell the son not to steal that car? Heck no. Now if the child blatantly told the mother she wasn't going to check her blood or give a shot and the mother did nothing, then I could see some fault in that. Maybe the mother was also misinformed on how she should have controlled her daugher's diabetes. We all know that from this forum that doctors tell patients hundreds of different treatment styles and some of them surprise me on how the person doesn't have complications.

I guess I'm just rambling on and maybe if I saw the piece I'd know a little more about it. But I'd also like to know more about the family relationship and what kind of child the daughter really was. I see parents at our Police Dept. all the time asking us where they can turn their 10-15 year old child into 2020 at (2020 is juvenile jail, and parents can voluntarily sign a kid into it) because they have given up hope on trying to correct the behavior problems of the child.

[someone]

I'm still childless in my life but I guess from my line of work I don't see fully how this is the parent's fault and how they could be charged with it. If your 14 year old son steals a car on a Friday night is it the dad's fault that he didn't tell the son not to steal that car? Heck no. Now if the child blatantly told the mother she wasn't going to check her blood or give a shot and the mother did nothing, then I could see some fault in that. Maybe the mother was also misinformed on how she should have controlled her daugher's diabetes. We all know that from this forum that doctors tell patients hundreds of different treatment styles and some of them surprise me on how the person doesn't have complications.

I guess I'm just rambling on and maybe if I saw the piece I'd know a little more about it. But I'd also like to know more about the family relationship and what kind of child the daughter really was. I see parents at our Police Dept. all the time asking us where they can turn their 10-15 year old child into 2020 at (2020 is juvenile jail, and parents can voluntarily sign a kid into it) because they have given up hope on trying to correct the behavior problems of the child.

You really need to see the show, or read the entire transcript posted by Cinnabon. It would take a lot of candy bars and no insulin to get to 500. I mean, these days it is people in the third world that die from diabetes. It is proposterous for an 11 year old to die from diabetes. How can you say it is the child's fault? The insurance reported that only 2 viles of insulin were purchased that year by the mom, however, the defense argues that she stockpiled insulin that was purchased over the counter. Who in the world is stupid enough to buy insulin over the counter when they have insurance!? It makes no sense. Anyways, I could go for 10 pages with this, so I'll just stop here.

[Tony]

I guess I'm just rambling on and maybe if I saw the piece I'd know a little more about it. You should watch the piece.

I didn't see the show on date line however, I do remember when this happen and that is the child was very sick and needed her insulin while the Mom was on sitting down watching TV having a couple beers.

You think any mother in her right mind will let her child go six months to a year having a hab1c of 15?

[liz32]

I watched the show and it was truely sad. I know kids cheat...heck, I cheat, but not to that extent and at age 11, she's not responsible for it all on her own. My kids don't have diabetes and I still know pretty much everything they eat. It's so sad and yet there are parents out there who don't care one lick about thier kids. I think the woman should be charged! Then number of meters you own means nothing if you never use them...and obviously the mother didn't. they end the show with the mother brushing off her daughters head stone saying she hopes one day to clear her name...oh, please! She cared more about her daughter after she was dead then she did when she was alive!
Liz
oh, and my first a1c was 16.1 and I was sick on the couch barely able to move! You tell me that a mother woulnd't realize that she was sick?

[am1977]

Am thank you for sharing that. I cannot believe I missed that. Sounds very interesting, is there any chance if it plays again?


Yeah, it was interesting, but it was even more so heartbreaking :(. I couldn't stop sobbing :bawling: after I saw the report. It's just such a tragedy.

As for the murder charge...that I don't know about. I don't think she really wanted her daughter to die and she didn't plan to kill her daughter. However, saying that, she should have known enough about Ariel's condition to take care of her. In other words, she didn't do anything to prevent this from happening.

I also agree :dito: that the Mom seemed to care more once her daughter had already passed away. Where was she when her daughter needed her sugar checked? Or when Ariel was having averages of 500 or higher? Too busy or what? :confused:

Yeah, I don't see how her Mom didn't know that something was wrong. Even if she thought that it was the flu, diabetics need immediate medical attention in that circumstance. Ariel was very sicky and I'm sure it was obvious in her appearance. The nurse at the clinic she finally was brought too even said this...how her eyes were all sunken. It seems like her mom chose not to see these things and, tragically, it caused her to lose her child and even more tragically, for Ariel to lose her life.

In my opinion, I think the parents should be charged with something...whether it's criminal neglect, or what have you. I think she and Ariel's father need to be held responsible.

It probably will replay at some point in the future...but I'm not sure. Thanks, Cinn, for posting the transcript. :smile:

[cherokee_psh]

Not to change the focus.....but..

With an A1C of 15 on at least 2 occassions should have alerted her medical team that someone either was not following the advice/plan or just plain did not understand what needed to be done. Medical personnel are never shy about calling social services when they suspect abuse. Should this have been any different? I know hospice came to my parents home when Dad was first diagnosed (his readings were 400+). Shouldn't some services through the state, county, city, or school been available to assist this situation?

I personally think this situation is more broken then charging only the parent reflects.

[Penny]

Not to change the focus.....but..

With an A1C of 15 on at least 2 occassions should have alerted her medical team that someone either was not following the advice/plan or just plain did not understand what needed to be done. Medical personnel are never shy about calling social services when they suspect abuse. Should this have been any different? I know hospice came to my parents home when Dad was first diagnosed (his readings were 400+). Shouldn't some services through the state, county, city, or school been available to assist this situation?

I personally think this situation is more broken then charging only the parent reflects.
My doctor will not renew my prescriptions if I do not see him every 3 months, how did this woman get insulin "over the counter" without one? Wouldn't the child's doctor have needed to see her and realized there was a problem? There seems to be more to this than we are seeing.

[JediSkipdogg]

My doctor will not renew my prescriptions if I do not see him every 3 months, how did this woman get insulin "over the counter" without one? Wouldn't the child's doctor have needed to see her and realized there was a problem? There seems to be more to this than we are seeing.

That's where I'm going with this. I think it's more fault than just the parents and they shouldn't be charged with the full blame. But we would need to know more to the story to find out.

If she was diagnosed with a 15+ A1C woudln't the doctor want her back in 30 days to check her up and do another A1C? It may not drop to normal in 30 days, but it would be alot lower. Did the doctor even try to get her back and the parent/daughter refuse? If they refused, was child protective services contacted?

To me there are just alot of empty questions I have on this before I think the full blame should be put on the parents. That I see is partially why they only charged her with 2nd degree murder. 1st degree would actually mean she planned on doing it, whereas 2nd degree is it happened by the person had some control to stop it. If anything, the mother should only be charged with child neglect in my eyes. But that's just me.

[someone]

That's where I'm going with this. I think it's more fault than just the parents and they shouldn't be charged with the full blame. But we would need to know more to the story to find out.

If she was diagnosed with a 15+ A1C woudln't the doctor want her back in 30 days to check her up and do another A1C? It may not drop to normal in 30 days, but it would be alot lower. Did the doctor even try to get her back and the parent/daughter refuse? If they refused, was child protective services contacted?

To me there are just alot of empty questions I have on this before I think the full blame should be put on the parents. That I see is partially why they only charged her with 2nd degree murder. 1st degree would actually mean she planned on doing it, whereas 2nd degree is it happened by the person had some control to stop it. If anything, the mother should only be charged with child neglect in my eyes. But that's just me.

I am not sure a prescription is required to buy insulin unless you want the insurance to pay. But yes, I thought about the same thing. What was the hospital thinking?

[rzrbks]

What was the hospital thinking?

All they can do is turn the case over Child Welfare.

Since there have been HUMOUNGOUS cuts in social services in the last 5 years.........well, people get lost in the system if you haven't enough peole to do the job, much less, do the job corrtectly.

[Penny]

I am not sure a prescription is required to buy insulin unless you want the insurance to pay. But yes, I thought about the same thing. What was the hospital thinking?

Insulin is a drug, you can take too much of it, I think. You couldn't go to the drugstore without a prescription and get a vial of insulin, at least not at any of the drugstores around here. I still don't understand about the "over the counter" thing.

[Tony]

The only insulin the requires a prescription is the fast acting, Humalog and novolog.

[Penny]

The only insulin the requires a prescription is the fast acting, Humalog and novolog.

This is good to know. If I should lose a vial of Lantus, or forget one while away from home, I can just go to a drugstore and buy one? This is always one of my big worries.

[Tony]

This is good to know. If I should lose a vial of Lantus, or forget one while away from home, I can just go to a drugstore and buy one? This is always one of my big worries.
Oh.. I forgot about Lantus, I think you may need a prescription for it.

[someone]

Ok. So I guess some do require a prescription, but NPH, Regular and 70/30 can be purchased without a prescription. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/catalog.gsp?cat=111259&path=0%3A5431%3A111884%3A111259

[alilpita]

I'm with you on this one. My husband and I both watched it and when they were in court and they said her A1C was 16, I was enraged. My husband asked what all that fury meant. I told him it meant they these so called parents weren't at all taking care of her. This father, if that's what you'd call him is JUST as GUILTY as the mother.
My heart broke for this little girl, you know darnned well this girl was sick long before this and was, drinking and eatting everything in sight, she couldn't help it. With blood sugars that high she had an insatiable appetite I'm sure of that!!!
God, I hated that woman so much and the man just as much when I saw him but everytime I saw the little girl Ariel on those video tapes they were showing off and on I cried like a baby. This girl was sick long before she threw up the day (so she says) the mother took her to the hospital. This whole thing just made me want to be sick
This poor lovely little child never even had a chance. It would appear that when the marriage fell apart the mother blamed Ariel. That's just my observation of it though. God may she burn in **** for what she did to that poor little Angel. And dear old dad :mad: says she looked pale the last he saw her. Oh my God how could they have not know how sick she was this type of thing doesn't happen overnight, and then to have the nerve to say she didn't use her insurance to buy the insulin. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
God, this really got my goat! Why would someone with insurance pay full price for insulin???????? OMG, this show just have me wrecked for the night, I soooo know how you felt AM! May this $##@*(& burn in **** for what she's done, and this attorney, I was yelling at him last night
By the way NPH and Regular insulins you can just buy over the counter. Not Lantus, still too new I think that's why. Humalog you need a script too. This is stupid too cause no one who doesn't need it is going to take it and what are you going to get addicted to it. Guess it's just the drug companies way of protecting their product and making money.
This on the other hand is different than an older teen stealing a car. Ariel was very young when I was her age my mother always knew where I was and what my sugars were too. It seems that when the high sugars were addressed by the diatician , the mother told her she didn't need anyone telling her what to do with her child. That she knew what she was doing with her diabetes and knew how to control it. This young girl who in my book was still a baby, her mother should have known she was more than just a little bit sick and to think it was the flu?? I don't get it as I got diabetes when I was 12 yrs old and Ariel was even younger and had it for some time, there would have been multiple signs she was getting sicker. Especially with an A1C of 16, unheard of, I get chewed out at 9. My gosh that means her sugars were averaging 500+ she had to be sick all the time and just feeling really bad. Juvenile diabetes is a little different and should ahve been really noticable. I was away at summer camp and called my parents to tell them I wanted to come home early, they couldn't understand why, they came and got me after a consellor told them I was sleep and drinking alot. The minute we got home my father told me to get a bath and get changed that I was going to the Drs to get checked out. When I got undressed, my Mom said he knew something was wrong because my ribs and shoulder blades were really stuck out and I was skinnier than he'd ever seen me in only a weeks time. I went to the Dr's, don't remember what he said, just remember going in the door and the pjhone was ringing telling Mom and Dad to get me to the hospital stat! They said my sugar was 425 and that in 24 more hrs I probably would have been in a coma.
Had I not been at camp they would have know sooner, but I remember really feeling sick and never getting enough to drink, they said I was severely dehydrated. I was in the hospital for 2 weeks Mind you this was 31 years ago but the symtoms haven't changed with high sugars.
Sorry for rambling , but this story really got to me.
The parents should have done something, the school should have noticed something also. I don't know, it's just so very sad.

[am1977]

I'm with you on this one. My husband and I both watched it and when they were in court and they said her A1C was 16, I was enraged. My husband asked what all that fury meant. I told him it meant they these so called parents weren't at all taking care of her. This father, if that's what you'd call him is JUST as GUILTY as the mother.
My heart broke for this little girl, you know darnned well this girl was sick long before this and was, drinking and eatting everything in sight, she couldn't help it. With blood sugars that high she had an insatiable appetite I'm sure of that!!!
God, I hated that woman so much and the man just as much when I saw him but everytime I saw the little girl Ariel on those video tapes they were showing off and on I cried like a baby. This girl was sick long before she threw up the day (so she says) the mother took her to the hospital. This whole thing just made me want to be sick
This poor lovely little child never even had a chance. It would appear that when the marriage fell apart the mother blamed Ariel. That's just my observation of it though. God may she burn in **** for what she did to that poor little Angel. And dear old dad :mad: says she looked pale the last he saw her. Oh my God how could they have not know how sick she was this type of thing doesn't happen overnight, and then to have the nerve to say she didn't use her insurance to buy the insulin. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
God, this really got my goat! Why would someone with insurance pay full price for insulin???????? OMG, this show just have me wrecked for the night, I soooo know how you felt AM! May this $##@*(& burn in **** for what she's done, and this attorney, I was yelling at him last night
By the way NPH and Regular insulins you can just buy over the counter. Not Lantus, still too new I think that's why. Humalog you need a script too. This is stupid too cause no one who doesn't need it is going to take it and what are you going to get addicted to it. Guess it's just the drug companies way of protecting their product and making money.
This on the other hand is different than an older teen stealing a car. Ariel was very young when I was her age my mother always knew where I was and what my sugars were too. It seems that when the high sugars were addressed by the diatician , the mother told her she didn't need anyone telling her what to do with her child. That she knew what she was doing with her diabetes and knew how to control it. This young girl who in my book was still a baby, her mother should have known she was more than just a little bit sick and to think it was the flu?? I don't get it as I got diabetes when I was 12 yrs old and Ariel was even younger and had it for some time, there would have been multiple signs she was getting sicker. Especially with an A1C of 16, unheard of, I get chewed out at 9. My gosh that means her sugars were averaging 500+ she had to be sick all the time and just feeling really bad. Juvenile diabetes is a little different and should ahve been really noticable. I was away at summer camp and called my parents to tell them I wanted to come home early, they couldn't understand why, they came and got me after a consellor told them I was sleep and drinking alot. The minute we got home my father told me to get a bath and get changed that I was going to the Drs to get checked out. When I got undressed, my Mom said he knew something was wrong because my ribs and shoulder blades were really stuck out and I was skinnier than he'd ever seen me in only a weeks time. I went to the Dr's, don't remember what he said, just remember going in the door and the pjhone was ringing telling Mom and Dad to get me to the hospital stat! They said my sugar was 425 and that in 24 more hrs I probably would have been in a coma.
Had I not been at camp they would have know sooner, but I remember really feeling sick and never getting enough to drink, they said I was severely dehydrated. I was in the hospital for 2 weeks Mind you this was 31 years ago but the symtoms haven't changed with high sugars.
Sorry for rambling , but this story really got to me.
The parents should have done something, the school should have noticed something also. I don't know, it's just so very sad.

I think your reaction is totally natural...so don't apologize. This story really bothered me tremendously and it took a while for me to really calm myself down and compose myself. It's a tragic death :(

This little girl didn't have to die. Her death could have been prevented if her Mother and Father had taken responsibility, shown some love and care for their child, and acted like parents. Sadly, I think they chose to let Ariel fend for herself and, at that age, she lacks the maturity to make the right choices. Ariel was a child-you can't put total responsibility in her hands. Parents need to be there to protect and make sure their children are doing the right thing- whether the child protests or not. Sure, I don't want to inject myself of prick my fingers every day, but I know the consequences. I don't know if a child Ariel's age would fully understand that.

I agree that the mother's excuses for why Ariel was sick sound like nothing but lies. She remembers how Ariel was just before diagnosis, I'm sure that that week before she died, she was having symptoms and acting similar to pre-diagnosis. To say that she thought Ariel had the flu, sorry, lady, but I think you'd have to be stupid to buy that. Like you said, blood sugars averaging 500 is extremely, extremely high and also extremely dangerous. It would be obvious that there is something going on and that she needed medical attention immediately.

It almost seemed like the parents just didn't want to be bothered. They neglected their child and they have to live with that. I hope that this haunts them for the rest of their lives, b/c I don't think they should be able to go about having a normal life when Ariel didn't have the chance to.

Just my thoughts.

[someone]

You really can't get all emotional about something like this. It happens.. there are very stupid people in this world. What about people in the 3rd word who come up with the disease, I am sure many people in other countries die of this very same thing--now if you are going to get emotional, that is something to get emotional about.

[am1977]

Actually, Someone, I think there is plenty enough reason to be upset over this matter. This little girl died rather tragically- yes, I have used that word a lot, but that is what seems to describe what happened. I know there are other serious and sad things that go on in the world. However, saying that, I don't think that takes away or diminishes what happened to this child. So I'm sorry, but I disagree with you.

[ashlyn]

Insulin in my state (Michigan) doesn't require a prescription except Lantus. Maybe even Humalog I am not sure on that. I have insurance but when I buy my Novolin R I pay out of pocket only because my insurance copay would cost the exact same. Look guys..there is no excuse for that little girl to have died that way. An A1C of 15 or heck just for kicks let's say 12, is ridiculous and unacceptable for an adult or a child. In our world today insurance is provided to every child..no if's and's or but's about it!!!! Medication is available to every child. Let's not kid ourselves on this one and try to empathize with the "grief stricken" parents. They were ignorant and yes...extremely neglectful of that child. I was diagnosed with Type 1 at age 9 (1979). Treatments were not like they are now. Once home from the hospital my mother had to learn, just as I did, how to care for me. I remember screaming, crying and pleading with her not to poke me anymore. No more finger pricks, no more shots in the arms!!! My mother never gave up and left me. NEVER!!! I ate 3-5 meals a day...even when I was sick. I am certain she wanted to throw me in a snow bank or leave me in a pasture somewhere for someone else to worry about my disease. But my point is I was taken to regular doc visits, my mother tested my BG for me, morning and night. There was no excuse for these parents to give up on that child or let her die! While we're at it...let's punish the doc who even sent that child home with an A1C of 15!! My doc would have me in the hospital ASAP. If my daughters ever become diabetic there is no way in **** I would turn my back. No way....no how......no reason. I would think to even the most oblivious person this case is MURDER!!! I can't believe anyone would even blame that little girl. Yes..she may have knew better than to do what she did.....but let's face it...she's a child! The mother is the adult in the relationship and should have taken the lead.

[Dewey]

You really can't get all emotional about something like this. It happens.. there are very stupid people in this world. What about people in the 3rd word who come up with the disease, I am sure many people in other countries die of this very same thing--now if you are going to get emotional, that is something to get emotional about.
I agree that there are very stupid people in this world, but it does not excuse what happened to this little girl. I also don't agree with comparing Ariel's situation with other peoples' (i.e. those in third world countries). The very fact that something like this happened in a country where there's plenty of access to appropriate medical care, makes it that much worse. Before, I believed that Ariel should have been more responsible, but reflecting back, I realized just how much my parents helped me during my youth. If it weren't for them (especially my mom), I wouldn't be here now. :adore: I got lucky in that I was blessed with good, caring parents. My mom STILL watches over me, to this day. She'll call and ask how my blood is, and when I visit with her, she can tell when I'm low (or "off"), just by looking at me.

[someone]

but it does not excuse what happened to this little girl.

Nothing excuses what happened to the little girl, that is not what I was trying to say. Just for me, it is not worth getting all emotional about.

[Erin]

You really can't get all emotional about something like this. It happens.. there are very stupid people in this world.

Yes there are very stupid people in this world, unfortunately, Ariel's mother was not stupid.

Ariel was diabetic since she was 3, she died at 11. That is 8 years to figure out how this diabetes thing works, and if you can care for a toddler with D, you can care for an 11 year old.

When her HbA1c was 15+ (not at diagnosis, after being diabetic for about 6 years) she told the TYPE ONE DIABETIC Diabetes Educator nurse, that she did not need education on how to care for her daughter. How much more of an expert can a medical professional be, than someone with the technical training and the first hand experience of a T1 CDE? Rather than taking the help the mother simply moved to a different state so Children's Services couldn't track her.

And as for the argument that the child could have cheated, the mother can't be held responsible, that is the biggest load of bull$h!t I've ever heard! The mother has a responsibility to check the daughter's blood sugar and get medical help if the numbers are too high. If the meter was full of readings (4+ every day), even if those readings were all 500 or above, I would say the mom was trying, but didn't have the education / resources / medical support necessary to care for her child, or that the child was just shooting herself in the foot by eating ridiculous amounts of trash. That is not what happened. That child was abused, by a selfish and I'd even go so far as to say evil woman. I think the mother blamed diabetes for her marriage failing, and that's why she stopped taking care of her daughter.

The father is stupid, the school system is stupid, DYFS or whatever acronym Children's Services goes by in Nevada is stupid, the mother is pure evil.

[Cinnabon]

LOL... Erin all I can say is.....:congrats:

[alilpita]

I totally agree about the amount of stupid people in the world. But this is NOT a third world and these things should not happen here at all. I could see if it were a 3rd world country but it's just not. There are doctors and resources that are plentyful here. The woman(mother) herself said she knew what she was doing and didn't need told. So if she had been educated, which she had more than once why did this still happen??? Means that she intentionally let it. In my book this was her way of not getting charged with murder. This is a sick world we live in, any mother who has a sick child that they love will go to the ends of earth to care for their child,. This woman did not care about this child as much as she stated. Did anyone truly look at her face?? Look at her and really see her, I didn't buy any of it.
I agree with you Erin the mother is pure evil!!!!!!!
Emotion is what a normal human being has as they relate to any given situation. I do not fault anyone for showing how they feel about a situation as that is what a forum is for. Everyone may not always agree but that's the beauty of a forum. It's your opinion, you're entitled to it with or without emotion.
Just my 2 cents

[someone]

She should be charged with murder! END OF STORY. The husband should have done something, but they really didn't say enough in the show to really know what his deal was.

[Eve]

I am so outragged by the death of this little girl. I blame EVERYONE. If you are going to put the mother in jail be sure to put the other adults in charge of her care in as well. I think the very nurse that testified in court should be just as responsible and all of Ariel's medical professionals in her life. I also think that once the insurance company sees that a everyday NEEDED medication, is no longer being filled then they should contact the doctors to see why. And what about the father? I mean when my husband is not home for the day and calls at home he ask me and my daughter what her levels are. How come the father was not involved with his child's medical history?

When a mother is informed that her child's A1C is that high and refuses to have a consult. The authorities should be informed.


My oldest child was killed by a drunk driver. And even though I know logically it was not my fault. I spend every day blaming myself. This mother really made me angry when she was asked do you blame yourself. She replied that she didn't that she was a good mother.

I'm a true believer and I pray that this little girl is enjoying every beautiful moment heaven has to offer.

[am1977]

I am so outragged by the death of this little girl. I blame EVERYONE. If you are going to put the mother in jail be sure to put the other adults in charge of her care in as well. I think the very nurse that testified in court should be just as responsible and all of Ariel's medical professionals in her life. I also think that once the insurance company sees that a everyday NEEDED medication, is no longer being filled then they should contact the doctors to see why. And what about the father? I mean when my husband is not home for the day and calls at home he ask me and my daughter what her levels are. How come the father was not involved with his child's medical history?

When a mother is informed that her child's A1C is that high and refuses to have a consult. The authorities should be informed.



My oldest child was killed by a drunk driver. And even though I know logically it was not my fault. I spend every day blaming myself. This mother really made me angry when she was asked do you blame yourself. She replied that she didn't that she was a good mother.



I'm a true believer and I pray that this little girl is enjoying every beautiful moment heaven has to offer.


Eve,

I'm very, very sorry about the loss of your child :(. That's truly a sad thing. No parent should ever have to bury her child.

You are right. The mother is responsible, but others involved dropped the ball too. It's a very unfortunate and sad thing :bawling: and it didn't have to happen. I don't know where Ariel's parents were when she was having these extremly high levels and why nothing was done to try to help this little girl. I find it very odd that she can call herself a good parent. Obviously, she doesn't know the definition of what good is, because it sure as **** isn't her :frown:.

I wish that there was a different outcome to this story and that Ariel didn't die. But, I think we can take comfort that she is in a better place. I'm sure she is among angels in heaven :hypocrite:

[JediSkipdogg]

[COLOR="Indigo"]I am so outragged by the death of this little girl. I blame EVERYONE. If you are going to put the mother in jail be sure to put the other adults in charge of her care in as well. I think the very nurse that testified in court should be just as responsible and all of Ariel's medical professionals in her life. I also think that once the insurance company sees that a everyday NEEDED medication, is no longer being filled then they should contact the doctors to see why. And what about the father? I mean when my husband is not home for the day and calls at home he ask me and my daughter what her levels are. How come the father was not involved with his child's medical history?

When a mother is informed that her child's A1C is that high and refuses to have a consult. The authorities should be informed.


Firstly, I believe the father was not involved in this because the parents were divorced and he only had visitation rights. Plus they lived pretty far away, so it would be easy for the mom to hide stuff from the dad. Someone correct me if I'm wrong on that one.

As for insurance, that you can't blaim. Insurance companies see MILLIONS of claims a day and some that just end all the time because doctors change prescriptions or methods of treatment. They don't have enough time to call doctors to see if they changed treatment.

I do blaim the mom, the daughter, and the hospital though for not stepping in and doing something more. I'm not sure where the dad does stand in all this, if he knew anything about this or if it was all a total shock, but I would think he could sue the mom (whom proply has no money) and the hospital for not taking a harsher treatment when the daughter had high/deadly A1C levels multiple times.

[alilpita]

Jedi
the Dad lived very close by. In fact they were talking about when Ariel had ridden her bike over to see him.
I agree, the Dad and Mom should be held responsible but primary custody was with the childs Mother and she was a young child not mature enough to really understand the consequences of what she was doing. Who knows maybe she felt responsible for her parents break up and thought if she got sick it would bring them back together. Hard to say but this child was too young to fully understand what she was doing, 11 years on this earth does not make her responsible that's why she had a mother and father.
She has found peace though that I am certain of. And her true father knows what really happenned and that gives me peace knowing they will pay a larger price than they can even imagine. So may I just say, "burn in ****, you day will come". Ariel is now a free spirit.
Eve,
I am so sorry for what happenned to your daughter. But this had nothing to do with you, I guess it's normal though to think if we'd just done one thing different could it have made a difference. Don't blame yourself but take comfort in knowing your daughters arms were out and waiting to embrace Ariel in her new life. They are at peace now!

[cherokee_psh]

Firstly, I believe the father was not involved in this because the parents were divorced and he only had visitation rights.


Just because the parents are divorced does not end their responsibilities as a parent. Yes it would have been harder. Parents should ... no are required to do the hard work. He had the same right to his daughters medical records as the mother. He needed only to follow up! I guess he had better thing to do then verify his daughter health.

[JediSkipdogg]

Just because the parents are divorced does not end their responsibilities as a parent. Yes it would have been harder. Parents should ... no are required to do the hard work. He had the same right to his daughters medical records as the mother. He needed only to follow up! I guess he had better thing to do then verify his daughter health.

But if you are divorced and your partner says your daughter's medical treatment is going well and the daughter states it too are you going to start another family arguement asking to verify medical records? Most families still have some trust in certain areas even when seperated. I don't see a need for him to follow up on everything that happened because that may upset the mother more and cause more problems later on which could have been bad had the daughter still been living. It's a chance you take, but you can't second guess yourself everytime something bad happens.

[Erin]

At least during the last year of Ariel's life she lived in the same city as her father. She even rode her bike over to his home the week before she died. He mentioned her looking "pale" and "not right" but he attributed it to her riding her bike across town. Yes, I think he should have noticed something was wrong, and should have stepped in to make SURE that his ex-wife was caring for their child, but LEGALLY he is in the clear. The mother was supposed to take care of Ariel, as she is the parent the girl lived with. He dropped the ball, and I bet he beats himself up over NOT noticing every day, but legally he can't be held to the same standard as the custodial parent. Morally, that depends on how much of it was ignorance of the situation, and how much of it was callousness.

How do you expect the hospital to keep track of this little girl when her two high a1c's were taken over a year a part, at different hospitals, in different states? The mother moved from Colorado to Nevada shortly after the first high a1c was recorded. There was no mention of a doctor in Nevada at the trial (other than the doctors from the emergency clinic she went to days before she died) and there were no other A1c test results mentioned between the Colorado reading and the reading days before Ariel died, which leads me to believe that the mother did not take the little girl to see the endo after their move. There was no medical professionals watching out for this little girl because her MOTHER didn't take her to the doctor's office.

I can not in good conscience blame the little girl at all. Even if she was doing EVERYTHING wrong, I'm talking eating a bowl of sugar for breakfast with some chocolate milk on the side, where were the ADULTS? Sometimes being a good parent is saying "no, you can not eat a bowl of sugar for breakfast this morning" and "yes, you have to take your insulin." She was 11, not a rebellious teenager. and you don't get an A1c of 16 by cheating when your mother's back is turned, unless your mother's back is ALWAYS turned.

[JediSkipdogg]

Thank you Erin, you explained alot of empty holes about the move and the father.

[kgm0612]

In some states, you do NOT need a prescription for insulin. In my state, anyone can purchase insulin without an Rx.......but you need one to purchase syringes!

[JediSkipdogg]

In some states, you do NOT need a prescription for insulin. In my state, anyone can purchase insulin without an Rx.......but you need one to purchase syringes!

Looking at the syringes from a law enforcement perspective that makes sense. But from a perspective of medical needs, it doesn't make sense. Gotta love the FDA. Hmmmm, who created that department of the goverment?

[Erin]

Well it makes sense in a way, if you're in a strange city (where you'd need a prescription... your local pharmacy is gonna have that on file) that you'd already have your syringes, but you could accidentally drop a vial of insulin and be up a creek if you weren't a good girl scout who brought extras. I always thought that was the rationale behind making some insulin available otc? Or am I trying too hard to make logic where logic is absent?

[sydneya]

Well it makes sense in a way, if you're in a strange city (where you'd need a prescription... your local pharmacy is gonna have that on file) that you'd already have your syringes, but you could accidentally drop a vial of insulin and be up a creek if you weren't a good girl scout who brought extras. I always thought that was the rationale behind making some insulin available otc? Or am I trying too hard to make logic where logic is absent?

Logic is good. Not always there-but good. When I had carpal tunnel surgery, I did exactly that. I was in Denny's restroom and dropped and broke my vial of insulin. I was very glad I didn't need a Rx for insulin. My husband just ran across the parking lot and got me another bottle.

[Cinnabon]

A bit OFF TOPIC.....
Here in Florida you need an Rx for everything but R & N. I can understand due to that Gyms/Bodyubuilders are stocking up on insulin for non-diabetes related reasons, Crazy i know!
But to pull us through an emergency, like Erin stated, there should be some simple form of us proving we are. (Showing our pump for some of us).

[Erin]

Well, in an emergency I guess you could put R in your pump. Probably wouldn't work terribly well, but you'd survive until you could get home or to a doc to write you a script.

Like I know in an emergency I could use R and N (if I could remember my stinking doses) it wouldn't be fun, but I could do it, if i had to.

[vrocco1]

The thing that made me sick was when the reporter asked the mother if she felt at all responsible. The mother denied all responsibility! When a child dies, a mother will feel responsible whether she was or not! That women should rot in jail.:thumpdown

[cweyand]

I did not watch the show, so I am speaking strictly in reation to this posting. I am responding because I believe that people do the best they can to cope. Sometimes their best is problematic, but it remains the best option they have from their internal emotional world. The mother's denial is her desperate effort to keep her painful feeling out of her awarenes.

The mother may know she is not responsible for her child's developing this horrible condition, which is reality. That a mother would feel something contrary to what she knows is normal. She can keep her feelings unconscious by denying them and topping it off with the rational support for the denial. For her it is better than the alternative, whatever that may be.

[rea]

wow, that is a case where not only the childs parents were at fault, but the doctor for not doing something! If I had a high a1c, my doctor would have me back in a month to make sure it was corrected!

what an awful story!

it amazes me how people can have children and not look after them.

[tyrice]

Wow. That story literally floored me. I started reading it with my kids sitting behind me and found my self yelling at my monitor regarding the idiotic comments in the case.

IMO The mother should've been found guilty in the first. Personally I think she planned it. Its just too easy. Her child wasa diabetic for 8 years..8 YEARS!!! There is absolutely no reason what so ever that her sugars should've been that high consistently. I was diagnosed at 12. Sure I cheated occasionally. But I always got caught because my mom was right there over my shoulder when I was poking my fingers. If anything was out of the ordinary I was automatically in the hotseat. No excuses. 3 glucometers and only 2 recorded tests?? Come on..Lets have some common sense here. I won't argue the purchase of insulin otc. Only because she may have been doing it, but its obvious she wasn't using them.

They mentioned the mother had a boyfriend as well, he was only mention nce I believe. Maybe he wasn't comfortable with the fact if her having a daughter that took so much responsibility. She was also probably blaming her daughters sickness as reason for her divorce and did not want a repeat with her current companion. I mean, with all that was presented there is no reason this should've happened. That woman is sick and needs serious mental instruction. I want to comment on the father as well, but there wasn't any supporting information given about their situation. We don't no the stipulations of their divorce. We don't know how much he was allowed to see his daughter or even talk to her. We also don't know what the mother was telling him about their daughters health. I may have forgotten, but did they even say how long they were divorced for? If he's not exposed to seeing his daughter in her different stages of illness, I an understand why he didn't immediately raise a flag when he saw her. He did tell her to ask her mom to make a doctors appointment. Some might say he could've taken her himself, or even called her mom himself, but like stated earlier we don't know the restrictions on their custody agreement. There are a lot of variables involved as well as emotion.

The doctors I believe should've attempted at least a follow up after that A1C..Yeah I think they dropped the ball on that one. But with so many patients coming in and out, its easy to get lost in the shuffle. Not an excuse, just reality. I think there is more to this case than whats being shown. People say now he mother has to live with the sadness of burying her own child. In her case I think its a case of relief more than sadness. Thats one HUGE responisbility off of her head. And the way her DA is working, she's not going to see much time unless someone opens their eyes.

[Georgia]

I've only just read about this - crumbs that poor child. It is so sad.