Scientists discover rare genetic condition that attacks kids’ immune systems
Baby Wrongly Taken From Devastated Parents After Student Mistook Rare Condition Which Left A Bruise For Abuse
A BABY was taken away from his parents for six months because of a bruise that was later shown to be not their fault.
The child, who is not named for legal reasons, was taken from his parent's care after they were wrongly suspected of hurting him.
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A baby was separated from his parents for six months after a student mistakenly suspected abuseCredit: GettyThe baby was later returned to his parents after it emerged they weren't to blame for the mark.
Instead, medical tests used to justify the abuse hadn't been properly conducted, a judge ruled.
The Cardiff family court case stopped after it was discovered that the 2.5cm bruise was a symptom of mild von Willebrand disease.
The condition, which affects around one in every 100 people in the UK, can make bruising or bleeding occur more easily than injury.
The parents said the court case had been "traumatic" and blamed a "one size fits all" approach for the ordeal.
Shortly after the baby was born there had been a routine appointment with a student health visitor, who raised concern over a 2.5cm bruise to the baby's lower rib area, WalesOnline reported from the hearing.
At the time, the parents could not give a definitive explanation for the bruise.
They said it could have been from their baby rolling on a plastic toy giraffe or accidentally being held too firmly.
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From dementia to the 'kiss of death' - when cold sores become sinisterTwo days after the bruise was found, a GP from Cardiff and Vale health board, specialising in child protection, conducted a medical exam.
The "significant bruise to the chest wall" was found to be "unusual" for rolling over a toy.
My baby died in my arms after hospital pumped him with 'contaminated' feedA 1.5cm darker green/blue area within the 2.5cm bruise was found to be "highly concerning for non-accidental injury".
Within days, the Vale of Glamorgan council had taken the baby from his parents and placed him in the care of other family members.
The parents were only allowed to visit the baby under supervision.
The council then applied for a care order to give parental responsibility for the child, using the bruise as the sole basis for the application.
District Judge Julian Hussell approved an interim care order and delayed the case so a consultant paediatrician could assess the baby, raising doubts about Cardiff and Vale Health Board's initial child protection exam.
The paediatrician wrote in his report that the baby's initial blood tests and examination were "not carried out as recommended by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to exclude a bleeding or clotting disorder".
What are the symptoms of von Willebrand disease?
People with VWD have a low level of a substance called von Willebrand factor in their blood, or it does not work very well, the NHS says.
Von Willebrand factor helps blood cells stick together (clot) when you bleed. If there's not enough of it or it does not work properly, it takes longer for bleeding to stop.
The symptoms of VWD may start at any age. They can range from very mild and barely noticeable to frequent and severe.
The main symptoms are:
He concluded that the torso bruise was likely to have been accidental and that it could have been caused by the bar of a pram catching the baby as he was being placed in it.
'Warm and loving bond'Following this report, and around five months without their child, the parents applied for the case to be dismissed.
However, Judge Hussell did not dismiss the case after claiming it was not "obvious" that the council would fail to meet the criteria for a care order.
Instead, he adjourned for blood tests which he noted "should have been undertaken" earlier.
The tests were indicative of mild von Willebrand disease, and he concluded the baby was likely to have a borderline bleeding tendency.
In the final hearing, six months after the baby was removed from the parents' care, Judge Hussell said there were no concerns of the couple having substance abuse, domestic violence or anger management issues.
He said they had been "totally cooperative throughout" and had been observed to give "excellent care" to their son with whom they had a "warm and loving bond".
The judge also took into account evidence from one of the family members the baby had been staying with.
The family member had kept a log of any bruises or marks on the baby, and this suggested that he bruised more easily than the average child.
The council accepted it was unable to prove the bruise was caused by inadequate care.
They asked the judge for permission to withdraw its application for a care order.
James Lewis, the council's barrister, conceded that from the outset of the case "the medical evidence was not very firm".
He added: "I have to say, I cannot imagine the strain these proceedings have put on the mother and father and the family as a whole.
"It is clear they love their son dearly and want to be reunified with him."
'Traumatic'Speaking after the hearing, the parents said they were overjoyed but that the court case had been a "traumatic" experience.
In light of the revelations over inadequate testing, they felt the nuances of their son's situation were missed because of a "one size fits all" approach.
Vale of Glamorgan Council and Cardiff and Vale University Health Board were contacted for comment.
ITV Coronation Street DS Swain's Horror Bruises 'explained' - But She Didn't Kill Joel
Coronation Street: DC Swain receives update on JoelCoronation Street viewers have 'worked out' why DS Lisa Swain is covered in bruises - and it's not related to Joel Deering.
The police officer, played by Vicky Myers, first appeared on the soap in 2021 and has since been embroiled in several major plotlines. Currently, she's caught up in a murder mystery following the death of Joel Deering (Calum Lill).
The vile lawyer Joel was written out last month when his 'true' nature was revealed. Viewers will remember that he was guilty of grooming and abusing young girls, including Lauren Bolton (Cait Fitton).
Since Joel's demise, a host of characters have emerged as potential culprits, including his former fiancee Dee-Dee Bailey (Channique Sterling-Brown) and her family, including father Ed (Trevor Michael Georges).
However, Lisa's recent actions on the soap have raised eyebrows among fans. Last month, shortly after Joel's death, she was seen grimacing in pain outside the cafe on the cobbles, appearing nauseous, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Swain is covered in bruises (Image: ITV)In Monday's episode (October 28), a flashback showed her confronting someone in a car, presumably on the night of Joel's murder, attempting to halt them while wielding a crowbar. Back in the present day, while in her bathroom, numerous bruises were visible on Lisa's back, as she tearfully observed them.
While speculation is rife among fans that the bruises could 'prove' she's behind Joel's demise, others suspect her daughter Betsy (Sydney Martin) might be the culprit. Yet, in a potential gut-wrenching twist, some viewers have concocted a third hypothesis.
Fans have predicted a heartbreaking health twist (Image: ITV)Fans have taken to social media to share their theories, with one Coronation Street enthusiast suggesting on a Facebook fan page: "Hmmm I'd say Swain's bruises are something medical instead."
Another fan agreed, adding: "Yes I agree, she could have something that stops her leading a normal life and that's why she doesn't pursue anything with Carla. It could be medical also."
Meanwhile, another viewer posited: "It will be a deficiency disorder that will be causing the bruising." Since gracing Weatherfield, DS Lisa Swain has quickly won over the audience and is even being hinted at as Carla Connor's (Alison King) next romantic interest after several close encounters.
Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX
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Lady Gaga's 'Disease' Music Video Is Downright Haunting
It's been years since we've seen a Lady Gaga video in full glory. Sure, she's shared performance recordings and appeared in films—but the kind of musical visuals with her signature drama and theatrics? Not since her "911" short film in 2020.
That changed last night with the release of her "Disease" music video, just days after the new single dropped. Marking the start of a new era for her next album (for now, fans are calling it LG7), she went all out.
YouTube
YouTube
The visuals, directed by Tanu Muino, offer the kind of over-the-top spectacle you'd expect from Gaga (the fashion! The commitment to theme!), but with a notably dark feel. The singer battles multiple versions of herself throughout: a Gaga in a high-fashion gimp suit hits another Gaga with her car; two Gagas brawl in the street; a different Gaga stands atop her clone's back while handcuffed to the ceiling; yet another Gaga emerges in a pool of black vomit and convulses in an alley.
It's haunting, and at times disturbing, but the real Gaga explained her personal inspiration behind the concept. "I think a lot about the relationship I have with my own inner demons. It's never been easy for me to face how I get seduced by chaos and turmoil. It makes me feel claustrophobic," she wrote on Instagram last night when the video premiered.
"Disease is about facing that fear, facing myself and my inner darkness, and realizing that sometimes I can't win or escape the parts of myself that scare me. That I can try and run from them but they are still part of me and I can run and run but eventually I'll meet that part of myself again, even if only for a moment."
But she continued the post with an empowering message. "Dancing, morphing, running, purging. Again and again, back with myself. This integration is ultimately beautiful to me, because it's mine and I've learned to handle it. I am the conductor of my own symphony. I am every actor in the plays that are my art and my life. No matter how scary the question, the answers are inside of me. Essential, inextricable parts of what makes me me. I save myself by keeping going. I am the whole me, I am strong, and I am up for the challenge."
And she ended with a timely greeting for her spooky video: "Happy Halloween."
Watch the full video for "Disease" above.
Erica Gonzales is the Senior Culture Editor at ELLE.Com, where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more. She was previously an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.Com. There is a 75 percent chance she's listening to Lorde right now.
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