Don’t let them take my little girl away
Parents fight bid to put sick daughter, 11, in foster care
A MOTHER is fighting to stop her seriously ill 11-yearold being taken into foster care as she argues with doctors over medication.
Karina Driscoll, 35, fears daughter Melody is suffering needlessly because consultants have denied her painkillers.
But the doctors looking after Melody, who cannot walk or talk due to conditions including the rare genetic disorder Rett syndrome, say that the drugs damage her liver and could ultimately kill her.
After accusations that mother-offive Mrs Driscoll administered pain relief herself, social services have begun proceedings for Melody to be taken into foster care.
Mrs Driscoll, of Croydon, south London, said: ‘It’s absolutely devastating. We can’t bear to see Melody like this any more.
‘She is a shadow of her former self. She was known for her bubbly personality – it’s all gone. Melody is losing her spark. She is not herself any more. She is wasting away.
‘We have looked after her for 11 years. She wasn’t supposed to live for that long – we know how to look after her. I know she is in pain, even if she can’t say it.
‘I’m just absolutely gutted for Melody. I feel the longer she suffers there, I’m going to lose her.’
Melody was taken off the pain medication after moving from Great Ormond Street Hospital to King’s College Hospital in south London five months ago.
But Mrs Driscoll and Melody’s stepfather Nigel, 46, claim that since doctors began weaning her off the drugs, she has lost 12kg (26lb).
Doctors fear that, if Melody returns home, her parents will not follow the treatment plan set out for her.
In a letter, Croydon Council told Mrs Driscoll: ‘The local authority has been very concerned about your ability to care for your child Melody Driscoll after concerns raised by King’s College Hospital. The situation for your child has become so serious that we may need to take action.
‘I am therefore writing to let you know that we are going to court to try to make sure Melody is safe.
‘The local authority’s proposed plan is for Melody to be placed with foster parents when she is fit to be discharged from hospital whilst assessments are undertaken about where and by whom her long-term needs are best met.’
Now the family is trying to raise £50,000 to instruct Harris da Silva, a firm of solicitors involved in the case of Charlie Gard last year, to stop Melody being taken into care.
Charlie hit the headlines after doctors went to court to stop his parents taking him to the US for treatment for a rare genetic condition.
Mrs Driscoll said: ‘Parents’ rights are being taken away. I won’t go down without a fight. We needed another voice for Melody.
‘We’ve managed to get the solicitors of Charlie Gard’s parents. They have been fantastic. But they are not a legal aid firm, so we are trying to raise money to pay legal fees.’
Croydon Council and King’s College Hospital did not comment.