This is who I am fighting for...

[Bjorn Against]

On Tuesday night I received the type of phone call that nobody wants to receive, it was about Liam.

The photo below shows me with Liam on the very first day of his life. He was born a few weeks early so they had to have him hooked up to a couple machines to monitor him for precautionary reasons, but he was very healthy and it looked like he was going to grow up and develop just like any other baby. Liam's mother wanted me to play an important role in Liam's life, I was not related by blood but she referred to me as “Uncle Bjorn” because she wanted Liam to recognize me as family.



On Tuesday night Liam's mother called me with some news I never thought that I would have to hear. Liam was in the hospital with severe head injuries and two broken legs and his father was sitting in jail. The doctors told her that there is a 90% chance that Liam will be facing permanent brain damage as a result of his injuries, and right now he is laying in a hospital bed hooked up to several machines and completely unresponsive as if in a coma. Tomorrow he will turn seven weeks old and we don't know if we will ever hear him speak, we don't know if we will ever see him take his first steps and we don't know if he will ever be able to recognize us. A full recovery is still possible and we are keeping our fingers crossed for that to happen, but we not only have to hope for the best we also have to prepare for the worst.

On Wednesday Liam's father finally admitted to police that he had shaken Liam. I am so angry with him that I can't express that anger in words, but even if I could express that anger I wouldn't want to. I don't want to talk about him any more than I absolutely have to, I will let the courts deal with him and I am going to focus on doing everything I can to help Liam and his mother.

I can't heal Liam and I don't know what his future holds, all I know is that I have to do everything in my power to make that future brighter. Part of that effort involves helping him and his mother out on a personal level, I have told his mother that she is welcome to move in to my spare bedroom and once Liam is able to leave the hospital he will be moving in here as well. I am also going to be working with my friends to organize a fund raising event on his behalf so we can get some sort of financial support to care for him.

While those actions are going to help a great deal in the short term they are not long term solutions. Liam may well require care for the rest of his life and in order to really help him live a better life we need to fight to ensure that social services are available to him and all the other Americans who need them.

Last Saturday I carried a “Healthcare not Warfare” banner at a Michelle Bachmann rally that took place at the Minnesota State Capitol. The teabaggers in attendance were not too happy to see a banner in the crowd that was so far off from the message that they wanted to promote and several them harassed us. One of those teabaggers yelled at me “I bet you're on welfare aren't you”, I told him that I was not but I have met people whose lives were saved by welfare. His response was, “Oh sure you have”.

Just a couple days after that teabagger implied that no lives were saved by welfare Liam is laying in a hospital bed and there is a very strong possibility that he is going to need welfare for the rest of his life in order to provide him the resources that he needs to survive. I am glad that my tax dollars are going to be invested in him, just as I would be glad to see my tax dollars invested to improve the lives of any disadvantaged people who were complete strangers to me.

Right now the Governor of Minnesota is slashing social services and health care for the poor because he wants to run for President and he can not get the Republican nomination if he raises taxes to balance the budget. Liam's life could be effected by these cuts, and Governor Pawlenty is not the only person trying to cut social services. There are many people in both parties who are more than eager to slash social services and these people need to be confronted.

I have been fighting these sorts of battles for quite a while now, but the events events of the last week have reminded me why I fight. I am fighting for people like Liam who can not speak up for themselves. Many of us have voices that can travel far and wide, but there are far too many others who do not have a voice and we need to stand up for them.

I have to go so I can start preparing to go to the hospital now so I may not be able to respond to your comments for a while.

Fortunately I am able to end this on a positive note however, just as I was getting ready to post this I received a call from Liam's mother and she informed me that Liam has now opened his eyes for the first time since the incident.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I am so horrified by all of this that I hardly know what to say...

I am also very proud of you.

To be there for Liam, and his mother makes you family. Family of the first order. This family doesn't need blood ties in order to exist...

My prayers go out to him and his mom, and yes, to you as well, as you are there for them.

And may the "father" rot in hell.

K&R

Please update as you're able...

:hug:


And as for the teabaggers and the Governor: they are beneath my contempt.

[Cerridwen]

2. Kick, recommend - beautiful post, tribute, and reminder.

Thank you.

[SPedigrees]

3. I don't have a clue what to say, except that I am so sorry for this senseless incident

and that i hope poor little Liam will be unscathed.. (And how thankful I am to have been born, 60 yrs ago, to parents with no "issues" who protected me from such brutality.)

[BrklynLiberal]

4. There are no words to express my horror and disgust with the behavior of Liam's father.

I hope that somehow there is a miracle and Liam recovers from this...The innocent suffer at the hands of the evil.

[Brickbat]

5. My heart sank when I realized that Liam lived in Minnesota. Because yes, Pawlenty is trying to

prove to the far right just how conservative he can be, all the while courting the religious who hold sway over the Republican party. It makes me sick.

Please let us know what we can do for Liam. He and his mother are in my thoughts.

[CrispyQ]

6. When you get that fundraiser going, please post back, because I want to donate.

My heart goes out to baby Liam & his mother. Sending positive thoughts your way. :hug:

[Hawkeye-X]

35. same here.

I don't have much, but I'll try to give what I can.

[ChicagoSuz219]

7. I am shocked & saddened by your story...

My thoughts and prayers are with you, Liam and his Mother. I hope he makes a full & speedy recovery.

Before your fundraiser, please post an address where I can send something.

And, please, contact Sens. Franken & Klobuchar... I'm sure they can help you cut thru any red tape & make sure the little guy gets what he needs.

Take care.

[FourScore]

8. My prayers are with you all. n/t

[Stinky The Clown]

9. My deepest concerns, Bjorn

:hug:

[Bjorn Against]

10. Thanks for the kind words everyone...

I am on my way out the door right now to go to the hospital and Liam's mother has asked me to spend the night with her so I won't have internet access so this will be my last post for a while.

I just wanted to thank you all for your support, I have seen so much kindness and generosity these last few days and it has really helped me get through these very rough times.

The fundraiser I mentioned in my post was going to be an event in the Twin Cities area that people can attend, but I could look at the possibility of an online fundraiser as well. Unfortunately I am swamped with things to do right now and I have hardly been home the last few days so it is going to be a little bit of time before I can get something setup. I do appreciate all the kind words and offers of support however and I know Liam's mother appreciates it even more. Thanks everyone.

[jillan]

11. Stay strong! Liam is going to need your voice fighting for him every step of the way.

He is lucky to have you there for him :hug: for you and his mom!

There are services that will be available to him...ones that Pawlenty cannot take away. He can slash the budgets but he can't take away everything. I have a daughter with special needs, she's 22 now. Contact me ANYTIME and I will be happy to share with you what I have learned. Right now, just give that guy lots of love.

[gleaner]

12. File For SSI Right Away

I am writing under my wife's log-in because I know something about this. I worked for the Social Security Administration for over 20 years, mostly in the SSI (Supplemental Security Income) program.

SSI is primarily funded by the Federal Government. Some states - a minority add state money to what the Federal payment is. I suspect this is one of Pawlenty's targets. SSI also brings with it automatic eligibility for Medicaid. Medicaid is primarily paid for by the states, but they are required to meet Federal coverage rules to qualify for Federal money to help the states pay for it.

SSI would provide a cash payment every month to Liam. The amount would be partially affected by his mother's income and resources, but from your post it sounds to me that she hasn't got a lot of these.

You should file the application as soon as possible. Retroactive benefits prior to the filing date aren't paid. Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to get the process going. They'll help you with the forms.

I am very sorry for what happened to Liam, and what his family including you are going through. I did see some similar cases during my time at SSA and always found them heart wrenching. If you have any questions or want more specific information, PM my wife (Gleaner) and she'll see to it that I'll get them.

I sincerely hope that Liam recovers and that you get all the support you and Liam's mother need.

[unapatriciated]

17. You are correct and SSI will also help with medical care.

My son has been on SSI since he was 18, he was denied when I first filed when he was diagnosed with dermatomyositis at 13.
I didn't try again until his 18th birthday and wish I had. It might of saved our home and his health due to constant insurance denials, delays and review of claims.

[gleaner]

37. Thanks ...

I'll show your post to my husband. He writes here too, but I literally dragged him out of bed when I saw this post about Liam. I knew that SSI could help and that he could explain it much better than I could because it was the program that he worked and chose to work because he thought he could do more good that way.

I am very sorry about your son and I hope he is getting the help he needs now. It is a good program. It was even better once, but the budget cutters have been hacking away at it for years. I am so tired of seeing people like you and your son and Liam suffering when this country has the resources and the will to help them, but that will is being thwarted by a few people who simply don't care about the community and the greater good. Take care of yourselves and take care of your son and whatever you do don't give up. We need you. We need your voice and your experience.

[unapatriciated]

48. Thanks for the words of encouragement.

My son is doing well (in remission for five years) and in his third year at SF Art Institute.
He has a lovely GF of five years, they would like to get married but can't because he would lose almost half of his ssi, which is only $800.00 a month.
She doesn't make enough to support him ,but hopefully when he graduates he will be able to support himself.

[gleaner]

49. Thank you for letting us know how your son is doing ..

It sounds like his future is bright. I'm sure that when he finishes his schooling he will be able to support himself and I think his girlfriend will stay with him whether they can marry or not. People who love each other want what is best for the other person, and she knows that he would marry her if he could. Love is what really matters and I don't think it will go away. I have been married to my husband for 35 years and he is still and always will be the love of my life.

Do stick with the SSI for as long as your son needs it and wants it. That is what it is there for. I have Multiple Sclerosis. Right now it is in remission, but I never know when it will go the other way and make me too sick to function well. I don't know much about your son's illness or how the course of it runs but it is better for him to protect himself as much as he can. All of you, take care of each other. You sound like a very close, caring family and I would be very saddened if anything happened to any of you.

[unapatriciated]

56. Thanks for the pm I will get the book your husband mentioned.

My son's illness is similar to lupus so it has affected his muscles (lost a lot during the long active phase). Yes I agree he never knows when it will become active again and not be able to work. You might remember a movie called Brian's Song a form of dermatomysitis (polymyositis) or Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Bell who lost his battle to Dermatomyositis which caused his heart failure. It's a pretty rare autoimmune disease.

[pnwmom]

13. Beautifully written, moving post -- and your last line made me feel a catch in my throat.

All my hopes to you, the mother, and Liam. I know what a rollercoaster the coming months will be.

[proud patriot]

14. We must care for our fellow citizens

Teabaggers make no sense to me ..

Sending Liam Healing Strength

[TheBigotBasher]

15. Proud to k&r

What a horrid thing to do to a child. There is no excuse for it.

[MuseRider]

16. I am so sorry.

It brought tears to my eyes but my husband is out and out crying over this. Good luck to you. Your heart is good and it is strong and Liam and his mother are going to need you so much. They are so lucky to have you as I am sure you feel lucky to have them.

I feel the same way you do. Why do people resist helping others? Will some take advantage? Sure, but so what? The vast majority will need every bit of help they can get. The worst thing is that these days when the services they need are being slashed there is also this anger against those that need what they will not get. It is doomed to create a situation that will need every one of us who feels they way you do to chip in and help those in need even more than we do now.

Bless your heart and your life. You are the kind of person that everyone needs to know and to emulate your care for others if we are to survive as anything but rank beasts.

Take care. Sending love to help warm you all when it is needed.

[Chorophyll]

18. I'm breaking my long DU silence for this one.

I'm standing with you and Liam and his mother. Prayers and healing energy to all.

[SeattleGirl]

19. That poor baby.

My prayers go out to him that he recover, and my thanks go out to you for doing what you can for Liam and his mother.

[Maru Kitteh]

20. Thankyou for all you've done and will do. For Liam. For healthcare. When you fight for Liam and I

fight for my family, we fight for millions more we'll never know.

Tiny little brains like that are very fragile, but they are very plastic too! I'll be hoping against hope with you that the best case scenario is realized for little Liam.

[tango-tee]

21. I can't find the words to truly convey what I feel,

so all I will say for the time being is this: Bless you for being there for this baby and his mother.

And, as another poster said, please let us know about a fundraiser. I will be more than happy to help.

Sending all my love to Baby Liam. May he be well. What a wonderful moment that must have been when he opened his eyes!

[Sienna86]

22. Will keep Liam in my prayers

Liam and his mother are graced by your presence in their lives.

[DesertFlower]

23. OMG. even when i was a little girl,

i knew how sensitive a baby's neck and head are. i was taught to always have my hand under the baby's neck when i held them.

one sister was born when i was 7 -- the other when i was almost 13.

[Bjorn Against]

24. Thanks again everyone...

I have a short couple hours at home before I am heading out to have dinner with Liam's family, but I wanted to inform everyone that when I saw Liam last night he was showing significant signs of improvement. He has opened his eyes a few times now and while he wasn't quite able to get them open during the time I was there you could tell that he was clearly trying to open them. The first couple of nights he seemed to be in a complete vegetable state with absolutely no clue of what was going on around him, but last night it was obvious that he knew we were there with him. The doctors originally told his mother that he might be in a vegetable state for the rest of his life, but last night it became clear that he has already moved past that stage. There are still many challenges ahead, but I am at least able to now say that the line from my OP that says, "We don't know if he will ever be able to recognize us" can now be stricken. I am now confident that he will certainly recognize us in the future, and he may well already be able to recognize us. There are still many challenges ahead, but last night was a very positive night. One of the nurses told us that when she put her hand next to him to comfort him he squeezed her finger and that is an extremely positive sign so we are much more hopeful today that he will make a strong recovery. There are sure to be tough moments ahead, but I am confident that he will continue to progress.

[SallyMander]

36. Thank you for the updates Bjorn

and for being there for Liam and his mom, I cannot even imagine what she is going through. :cry: :hug:

[will_in_chicago]

39. Thanks for being compassionate

Bjorn, I will keep Liam and his Mom in my thoughts and prayers. I am glad that you and the people who love Liam and her Mom are stepping up for her. It is my hope that Liam has a full life and that he will continue to improve.

Healthcare should be a right for all people, not just a privilege for those who can afford it. We need to make sure that all people have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We need to work to make health care reform a reality. It may take years to achieve a better system, but we have the power to do so. It is for Liam and all who need our help that we should dedicate ourselves to building a better nation and a better world.

[Chorophyll]

44. Thank you for updating.

:hug:

[Shining Jack]

25. Reading your OP I broke out in tears...

But your latest update is encouraging.I truly hope for the best possible outcome.

[MissDeeds]

26. Tragic

My thoughts and prayers are with Liam, his mother and you. But as California Peggy so aptly put it "May his 'father' rot in hell".

Anyone who would harm a child deserves to spend eternity in the lowest rung of hell - and I would like to help him get there.

Love and good vibes.

MissDeeds


:grouphug:

[Iris]

27. Be strong for Liam, Uncle Bjorn

[mzmolly]

28. Liam and his Mom are fortunate to have you in their

lives Bjorn Against. Please keep us updated.

My heart goes out to this little baby and his family.

[WillyT]

29. HUGE K & R !!!

:grouphug:

[nolabear]

30. I'm so sorry. Let's all keep fighting the good fight

sothat, with out support, Liam can go as far as he possibly can, and so people like his "father" can get help before this kind of thing happens.

[Lifelong Protester]

31. I want to reach out and hug you all, and I want to reach out and

kick any dumb-sh** who keeps ranting about making sure we don't help anyone else, by god, because that's what the founding fathers wanted, etc.

I know that those thoughts of kicking someone don't help you at all, but they help me, and it helps me to keep up the fight here. I am in your neighboring state (WI) and each day I hear some new jaw-dropper from T-PAw. What an ass he is.

So, keep us updated, and if you can get an online fundraiser, maybe with paypal (I don't know how costly that is) or an address we can send a donation, let us know.

Prayers to you all for strength and courage.

[upi402]

32. Republicans support life until it's actually alive

My thoughts and actions are with you and all of us like you.

[Faygo Kid]

33. Ohmigod. All the best, although that seems hollow now.

All the travails I have faced in my life pale in the face of yours.

[Hawkeye-X]

34. Best wishes for Liam, my friend.

I have a year old son, Joey, who I adore to death.

Here is his photo:



This was taken the day before his birthday.

Both his grandparents cherish him (My in-law's first, and my parents first born in Colorado, they have 7 other grandchildren, with another on the way in Israel)

Today he turned 13 months old.

Joey is the reason I keep on living, and will always have him with me.

Hawkeye-X

[BlueIris]

38. Really feel for you. You are a good friend to this mother and child.

It's difficult for me to imagine what motivates someone to do what Liam's father did--and I'd rather not try to imagine. May justice be served there, and quickly.

All best to you and the family.

[undergroundnomore]

40. anytime a child is abused

it is heinous. There are no words that I could come up with to describe how evil such a person could be.

Thankfully this child and his mother have you in their lives. Please let us know what happens. Please let us know how we can help.

[DesertDiamond]

41. I am so happy his eyes are open! Thank you for posting this. I'll be sending prayers

[Bryn]

42. I am speechless

how could someone do that to a tiny baby?

Let us know how he is as often as you can.

[RedRoses323]

43. I care....

:hug:

[tilsammans]

45. Prayers and warm thoughts to the little guy

And a huge "karma's a bitch" to the [email protected]#$%^&*()_+|}{":?><,./';][=- who hurt him. :grr:

[sandnsea]

46. Wishing the best for little Liam

and so glad you are there for him and his mother. Such a tragedy, and it just sadly seems never ending. :hug:

[Bjorn Against]

47. We have some more good news...

This turned out to be a very good weekend as every day Liam made major progress. On Friday he opened his eyes, on Saturday doctor's determined that he was able to breathe on his own again so they took his breathing tube out and people were able to hold him again, and today he drank from a bottle for the first time since the incident. Doctors originally said he might need a feeding tube for the rest of his life, so his mother was so happy when they told her that he drank two ounces and burped. There are still challenges ahead but things are looking better every day.

[Chorophyll]

50. Oh, what a tough little guy!

This is indeed good news. :hug:

[BlueIris]

54. Niiiiice.

Keep it up, little Liam.

[windbreeze]

51. I have children/and g.children, and right now...I am speechless

from what I just read...I certainly hope that Liam makes it, and that he lives to be 100..omg...such horror, I cannot even imagine...Thank God, Liam and his mother have you...wb

[Maru Kitteh]

52. +1 today for Liam.

[4lbs]

53. I'm am sorry for your plight concerning Liam. (Also concerning the welfare statement)

It is the reason I was for this HCR bill. Yes, it's not the PO nor is it single-payer.

However, it will function as a conerstone, a building block, for the PO and/or single-payer which will hopefully make it's way into fruition to help Liam.

Regarding the teabagger who said no one was ever saved by welfare.

The next time someone says that, tell them to talk to Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey. Both ladies were on welfare when they were much younger.

[Swamp Rat]

55. .

I do not know you, sweet baby Liam, but I send you love to help heal you. :hug:

[Bjorn Against]

57. Even better news...

I just got back from the hospital and I am happy to report that Liam is making a miraculous recovery. He is no longer hooked up to any machines and he is acting exactly like any normal baby his age would, when you see him now it is hard to believe that he was in such horrible shape just a few days ago because just by looking at him there doesn't even appear to be anything wrong with him any more. Of course there still could be challenges we are not seeing and the doctors still are going to be keeping a close eye on him for some time to come because it is difficult to measure the full mental capacity of an infant so I am sure they will be paying very close attention to him as he develops into childhood, but things are looking really bright right now. I can't even begin to describe the relief everyone is feeling right now, things were so heartbreaking a few days ago and now everyone is so happy.

[bullwinkle428]

58. Incredible news!! Please know that you're in the thoughts of

so many DUers, and we are all sending positive vibes to you, Liam, and his family through this recovery!

:grouphug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

60. That is wonderful news!

Babies can be so resilient...

I am thrilled to hear that little Liam is making such miraculous progress!

I continue to keep all of you, and esp. him, in my thoughts...

:grouphug:

[Chorophyll]

61. So glad to read this.

:hug:

[kestrel91316]

59. It is my fervent wish that the legal system prevent Liam's "father" from

ever coming with 100 yards of the boy for the remainder of his life.