Francheska, her husband, and her 6-month-old son were living in a shelter when they noticed he was experiencing pain in his arm. When they took him to the hospital, no one told them what was wrong and took him away with out explanation. Francheska describes the experience as the worst day of her life. “A year later, without an apology, we got him back. The hospital had mixed up the x-rays,” she says.

Video Transcript

It was the worst day of my life. Jaden was 6 months old. When I picked him up, he cried. Something was wrong with his arm. We were living in a shelter at the time. Me, him, and my husband. I called the doctor and she told me to take him to the emergency room. But I didn’t have any money for transportation so I had to wait a day for someone to take us. The E.R. was crowded and noisy. I waited for the test. I was so nervous and scared to eat. The results came after two stressful days. The doctors didn’t find anything wrong with his arm. They found something else, but they wouldn’t show me the x-rays when I asked. They said they were too busy.

On the third day some people came to ask me questions. I’ll never forget the accusing looks. Or how I cried when they tried to pull him out of my arms and sent me home without him. The x-rays showed a fractured tibia and hip. What was happening? I would never hurt my son. Was I going to miss out on his first steps? His first teeth coming in? His first everything? How could this happen to me? I love my son.

A year later, without an apology, we got him back. The hospital had mixed up the x-rays. I guess Jaden was a popular name.