Club foot baby’s parents are target of cruel comments (From York Press)
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Club foot baby’s parents are target of cruel comments
10:36am Friday 13th May 2011 in News
Kevin Outterson and Tasha Kelly with their son, Hayden
A YORK couple hope to raise awareness of their baby’s painful medical condition, after being accused of harming him.
Eleven-month-old Hayden Outterson was born with bilateral talipes, also known as club foot, and has undergone a number of medical procedures which have left his legs in casts.
But his parents, Tasha Kelly, 28, and Kevin Outterson, 29, said people often questioned what was wrong with Hayden and some had even accused them of child abuse. The couple said they hoped to raise awareness of the condition, which affects one in 1,000 people.
Tasha, of Constantine Avenue in Tang Hall, said: “When people see a baby with casts on their legs they can think the worst. We have encountered this many times … there were even whispers that we had broken our baby’s legs.
“On one occasion we even got followed by a member of staff when we went shopping. They were giving us the most disgusting looks.
“We just want for people not to assume the worst. I want people to know about the condition and to be supportive.”
Hayden’s disorder means that his feet are twisted inwards. To correct this he has had to wear casts on his feet and has recently had an operation on the tendons on the back of his ankles.
He also has to wear tight and uncomfortable boots held together with a bar for hours at a time.
The couple were encouraged to speak about Hayden’s condition by the national charity STEPS, which is holding an awareness week to promote treatment of the condition. Sue Banton, the charity’s director, said: “People in the UK really aren’t aware of the number of children who are born with club foot or what to do if they have a child with the condition and we want this to change.
“We would like to ensure that every parent who has a child with this condition knows what the best treatment is and where they can access it.”
For more information visit steps-charity.org.uk
What exactly is bilateral talipes?
Talipes is a deformity of the foot in which one or both feet are twisted out of shape or into the wrong position. One in 1,000 babies is born with talipes and it is twice as common in boys.
Talipes can be caused by abnormal pressure on the foot while it is developing, as a result of positioning in the womb, or by a combination of factors such as a genetic predisposition or a condition where there is a shortage of amniotic fluid around the baby in the womb.
Quick to judge
CHILD abuse is the most odious of crimes, but sometimes we’re too quick to accuse, just ask Tasha Kelly.
Her son Hayden has to wear casts on his feet to correct a rare medical condition, but Tasha is upset that some assume he wears them because she has harmed him. Now she is appealing for people to be more understanding and less quick to judge.
And we agree. Not everything is as it seems, so please think twice before jumping to conclusions.
Comments(19)
Gromit
says...
10:59am Fri 13 May 11
roskoboskovic
says...
10:59am Fri 13 May 11
rockchic1
says...
11:05am Fri 13 May 11
Soothsayer17
says...
11:16am Fri 13 May 11
consumer wrote:Probably so his parents can read them and take some comfort. QED when you stop and think about it, really.
What exactly is the point of opening comments on this? I could write them all myself now and save everyone the bother.
Digeorge
says...
11:23am Fri 13 May 11
They are actually quite hurtful and tend to linger a rather a long-time particularly when it comes to doctors doing the same thing (and yes there are a number in York). I just wish some of them would come into the 21st century!! It is difficult enough to raise a disabled child without that rubbish. I would love some of them to try it for a change.
I am hoping that the new guidance on the subject by the GMC will address some historic issues in relation to false allegations and child protection due out in September time.
The other point, there are a number of people with the above on Facebook and I am sure you will get a lot of support there and personally know people with club foot and the care that the local Tertiary Centre in Leeds by the Children's Orthopaedic Surgeons very good as I know them.
Good luck to you and continue with your awareness and do it on Facebook too.
Digeorge
says...
11:56am Fri 13 May 11
If this child had been an adult they wouldn't have had to put up with the false claims of child abuse which seems to be on the increase again (unfortunately).
I just wonder if some of them are doing a paper again!
If they are can you do it on this instead and stop wasting tax payers money on this stupid rubbish which it is obvious what the child had.
Digeorge
says...
2:54pm Fri 13 May 11
Dr Rant has posted on his blog about other misdiagnoses in medicine and stated google could work it out quicker!!
If the doctors have managed to find this blog then they can use 'google' and the alternative diagnoses.
What these doctors do 'consumer' is jump to conclusions that have no bearing on ANY logical thought.
Sorry been there seen that, got that medal with no justification and know what these doctors are like.
And yes, they do write papers and I know who they are and they know who I am!!
And so do the regular contributors know the story too by now and don't have anything 'rare' as a child as this is what you are targetted with.
It is entirely wrong when common sense would prevail.
Pete the Brickie
says...
3:10pm Fri 13 May 11
Digeorge
says...
3:13pm Fri 13 May 11
I really hope it never happens to the parents again in any other way as there are alternative diagnoses that they target you with even years later.
I wish I could be positive about this but even when they are widely wrong, fail to apologise. The arrogance of it all is just unbelievable.
There are doctors who are well-known in York and Leeds and I just hope you never come across them again and GPs.
I can not believe how much money these cases cost and the lengths to which these doctors cover up for all their mistakes. Often the allegations come when the parents start asking questions about their child's diagnosis or that it doesn't run the normal course or different or rare.
The doctors start covering up for themselves and the more they cover up they can't stop themselves because they carry on doing it to escape medical negligence.
One of my consultants nick name them - "The local Medical Maffia"!
crabman
says...
3:29pm Fri 13 May 11
Well done to the lad's parents and the little man himself!
crabman
says...
3:31pm Fri 13 May 11
Soothsayer17 wrote:I could'nt put it better, Soothsayer17!
Poor little lad. Sounds like his parents are doing a great job though. Shame there's so many morons about but that's life I suppose.
I wish it well for the little lad and his parents!
Digeorge
says...
5:11pm Fri 13 May 11
So there is a journalist who has become Expert Witness (as of 2 days ago) and is allowed to name names so in future all those giving evidence in these cases be aware that you will be named and shamed.
This is for the local doctors namely paediatricians reading this blog and that permission has been given to Brian Morgan!
And for those that know the history of this congratulations Mr Morgan and msbp.com and I hope cases like this never get to the Family Court because they shouldn't be accused in the first place.
The secrets of these Family Courts will be exposed by all those that work against the system.
Good luck to the parents and the little boy and hope that all continues to go well.
Digeorge
says...
5:38pm Fri 13 May 11
The answer it is now 'legal' and the 'law' as is all the other things that are going on regarding 'changes to policy' and 'working behind the scenes' and things are really 'happening' in the Family Courts whether or not you like them or not including that of the General Medical Council Child Protection Review Team who are working on new guidance.
I feel sorry for these parents who have to put up with your offensive comments.
And the thing is do you really know and have this history - answer is "NOT".
gemini97
says...
5:40pm Fri 13 May 11
I want to say a huge thankyou to kate who wrote the story and has also agreed to cover any fundraising events i do for steps.xx
Digeorge
says...
5:54pm Fri 13 May 11
I post as DiGeorge (i.e syndrome) for a reason.... :)
And I wish you all the luck in the world and I for one know what it is like to have a disabled child.
I do have talipes parents out there on Facebook and know quite a number affected personally with Club foot amongst my DiGeorge friends (my son also wore Pedro boots) and had problems in this area.
Good luck and I am sorry you had to put up with Consumer's comments
I know what false child abuse allegations are like which it isn't (and I have really strong feelings on this ) because I know what it is like to be called retard etc even when you know it isn't true - I have a degree!
gemini97
says...
6:39pm Mon 16 May 11
jodie_annie
says...
9:26pm Sat 21 May 11
I just wanted you to know you're not alone; I have a little boy named Aiden with talipes who's now 6.
When he was a baby and in his casts or his boots-n-bar I too felt like getting a sign made up to stick on his pram because I got so upset with people staring and making comments! The worse thing was that I thought that my poor baby would be so badly affected by all the staring and head shaking that it would ruin his life more than the condition; I think he actually thought that all the attention was just because he's so awesome though as he's grown into such a confident, friendly child who everybody loves- he's never let it stop him! He had to have the casts, tendon surgery, and 23 hour-a-day bars untill he was 4 and then he had to have another op last year and a wheelchair for a while. That might sound depressing but really he copes so well and I'm sure your little one will too- Aiden learnt to crawl and walk in his bars and now he wears special shoes and can easily keep up with his big brother running around the playground or playing football :) People who don't know are always surprised if I tell them about what he's been through!
Talipes may be classed as a deformity but my baby is perfect and so resilient- if he ever hurts himself he just brushes it off and says "it's ok, I've been through worse!". If I can give you any advice it's just to let him be as independant as you can- it was so hard with all the blisters and sleepless nights and tearful cast changes and especially the operations but it DOES get better, don't wrap him in cotton wool and let him find his own limits- they didn't know if Aiden would even ever walk but he's amazed us all!
Good luck and enjoy your perfect little boy.
Jodie xxx
gemini97
says...
10:34am Sun 22 May 11
Soothsayer17 says...
10:47am Fri 13 May 11