Some stories aren’t shared for sympathy — they’re shared to reclaim truth. And this one is mine.
🍼 When an Accident Changed Everything
It started as just another day — sleep-deprived, love-drunk on my newborn, and in full mama mode. I was preparing a bottle like I had done so many times before. But she had lost too much weight — 14% of her birth weight — and I knew I needed to get her checked out.
That morning, I put hot water in the freezer to cool, tested it on my wrist, and in one instant, it spilled — on both of us. I burned my hand. She got it worse. I scooped her up, my heart dropped, and I rushed us both to the emergency room.
The guilt hit me hard. I didn’t feel careless — I felt human. Tired. Trying. Doing my best.
🏥 A Hospital Stay, A Mother Who Stayed
The ER confirmed it: a second-degree burn. They also found her blood sugar dangerously low. The doctors said she would be admitted, and later we were transferred to another hospital.
I didn’t leave her side. I slept in a hospital chair, asked every nurse every question, tracked every feeding, every poop, every milliliter. I breastfed, pumped, bottle-fed, and comforted her through the healing. Her blood sugar went up. She began to gain weight again. I fought for her — every hour, every decision.
And I started to feel like we were turning a corner. Until we got home…
🚪 A Knock at the Door
Just when I thought the hardest part was behind us, DCFS and the police showed up at my door. They had been contacted by the first hospital — the one where I rushed her for help.
The police left quickly, saying no crime had been committed and that they’d simply fill out an injury report. But DCFS stayed in the picture. And they weren’t just asking about the burn — they brought up my sobriety, my relationship, and the decisions I’ve made as a mother.
They claimed I wasn’t in a program, even though I completed rehab and have been sober since February (with one brief relapse in early pregnancy). They said I was exposing myself to “risky environments” with my partner. And they said I didn’t act fast enough with her weight loss — even though I was already on my way to the hospital when the accident happened.
Now, they’re saying they may seek to detain my baby.
💬 What They Won’t Tell You — But I Will
This isn’t a story of neglect. It’s the story of a mother surviving systems. A mother who went straight to the ER. A mother who stayed through every feeding, stayed awake through every worry, stayed present through every second of recovery.
They don’t want to see that version of me. But I do. And I’m not ashamed.
I know who I am.
I know what I’ve done.
And I know I’ve shown up for my children in ways that no report could ever fully capture.
So I’m not backing down. Not hiding. And not scared. I’m just telling my truth — because too many of us are quietly surviving and holding it together when the world doesn’t believe in us.
📣 Let’s Talk — Mama to Mama
If you’ve ever had CPS knock on your door… if you’ve ever made a mistake while trying your hardest… if you’ve ever been judged for healing while raising babies — I see you. Drop a comment or DM me. You’re not alone.
We need to tell these stories. We need to support each other. We need to stop letting shame silence us.
🧭 Resources for Mamas Going Through It
- National Parent Helpline – Call 1-855-427-2736 for emotional support
- Postpartum Support International – Free online groups and support for new moms
- National Advocates for Pregnant Women – Legal and advocacy support
- RISE Magazine – Real stories from parents navigating child welfare
📌 Want to follow more of my journey?
Subscribe or leave a comment below. I’ll be posting updates, reflections, and helpful tools for mamas navigating motherhood, healing, and the system — all at the same time.
This Little Light of Miche 
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