Octuplets Mom Spurning Offer Of Free Care?

(CBS)  An organization offering free, constant care for the octuplets born late last month and their six young siblings says it hasn't heard back yet from their mother, Nadya Suleman.

Angels in Waiting estimates that such care would cost $130,000 a month.

Suleman has drawn the wrath of many in California since word got out that her family will rely heavily on government assistance to pay for raising her kids.

On The Early Show Friday, attorney Gloria Allred explained to co-anchor Julie Chen that, "Last week, unbeknownst to Angels in Waiting, I contacted the Department of Children and Family Services in Los Angeles County. I filed a complaint to ask them to open an investigation into whether these babies, these octuplets, in addition to the six siblings, were possibly endangered because the octuplets are soon going to come out of the hospital. And the grandmother had indicated that she didn't think her daughter, Nadya, was capable of caring for them.

"At the same time, Angels in Waiting, a wonderful organization with a registered nurse, with prenatal care, neonatal intensive care for medically-fragile infants, had contacted Nadya, or tried to ... to say that this is what they do: They provide for the care of high-risk, premature, medically-fragile infants, and they would be willing to provide 24/7 care to these babies when they come out of the hospital. In fact, to the siblings, as well, with nurses and educational development specialists. And so, when Nadya didn't respond to this offer, which is so important to these babies' development, then we had a news conference and made that offer public to Nadya."

Allred pointed out that, "They would all be together in a home if the Angels in Waiting offer is accepted. If not, then they may be taken by the Department of Children Services, placed in foster care, all children put in different homes, and they won't get the care from public agencies because of budget restrictions that they would get from angels in waiting." Also, Nadya cold stay in the home with them if she takes Angels in Waiting up on its offer.

Angels in Waiting founder Linda West Conforti, a registered nurse herself, told Chen all 14 "kids would come in. We have a property that's set up. And that's why I contacted Gloria, because time is of the essence here. We have to -- you know, we have the property, but we have to make a home. It will take two days just to put 14 beds together, eight of them being cribs. And I was really concerned when I watched (a TV) special. I saw how small these preemies were. And I'm set up for it. I have occupational therapists. I have physical therapists. I have behavioral feedback doctors. It's all on board to help these kids.

"We're looking for donations" to provide the funds needed for their care, and for therapy for Suleman, Conforti added.

An infant developmental needs expert for Angels in Waiting, Jackie Peebles, says, "Preemies that are born at such an early age, they're two-and-a-half months early at this time, the brain development is so crucial. They need to be -- to have the care that they are going to have to be successful. Brain implanting that these babies need, you know, they need constant rocking. They need the same patterning so that the brain will pattern right and that they can start developing. If they don't, then a lot of the time, the statistics are out there that these babies will end up with failure to thrive and have other issues."

[ReginaFilangee]

Nadya hasn't accepted the offer because it was not on HER terms (whereby she'd be given money and free food/diapers/houseing and more money and could spend it as she pleased.) Throughout this entire saga, everything has been ONLY about HER as far as she's concerned.

This offer is what she hoped for and ASKED for.....and is EXACTLY what she and her children NEED. But she knows that having trained medical professionals around her 24/7 will only finish exposing her psychological illness for good, and she's not willing to take that chance (again, worrying more about HERSELF than about what's best for her CHILDREN.)

She should be jumping up and down for joy that these people offered her such a wonderful situation and should be thanking them profusely for bailing her out of the mess she created for her family. Only a mother who doesn't put her children's welfare first and foremost would turn her back on it and continue living the way she is now: .without any reasonable plan whatsoever, just HOPING "it will all work out."

[Qualabearz1]

It seems to me the question is "Why has she not responed to the offer of a home and help for these babies? It would keep them all together. If she really wanted the babies and the other children she would have responded when the offer was made. The only thing she is after is the glory of all the stories about herself. She has no interest in the well being of these children. That is why DCF was called. Concerned people did the right thing. For crying out loud she could have walked away if things were not going right from the charity she was being offered. It has been said that she wants her own sitcom about her and the children like that one family. Well she has to get it together and actually do some work to be able to make a sitcom. I do not feel that Family and Childrens (DCF) should get involved in peoples lives as deeply as they do but in this case those babies are in high danger if they go to a house that is dirty unkept and going into forclosure.

[Qualabearz1]

It seems to me the question is "Why has she not responed to the offer of a home and help for these babies? It would keep them all together. If she really wanted the babies and the other children she would have responded when the offer was made. The only thing she is after is the glory of all the stories about herself. She has no interest in the well being of these children. That is why DCF was called. Concerned people did the right thing. For crying out loud she could have walked away if things were not going right from the charity she was being offered. It has been said that she wants her own sitcom about her and the children like that one family. Well she has to get it together and actually do some work to be able to make a sitcom. I do not feel that Family and Childrens (DCF) should get involved in peoples lives as deeply as they do but in this case those babies are in high danger if they go to a house that is dirty unkept and going into forclosure.

[ladydy6979]

If anyone or agencies want to help Nadya, then do so! Why threaten to take her children and placed them in FOSTER CARE. Why separate these children from a mother who definitely loves her children. I agree with HelenX. Where are the PRO-Life groups! You people are playing GOD. Gloria and all of you would want to take these children from Nadya, why don't you adopt some of the many children who are still in foster care and group homes who are being abused. This whole reaction to Nadya's family has disgusted me. You people are making alot of noise and smoke. Help the woman and children. Keep the family together!

[helenX]

I am concerned that at a time when this mother needs to be concentrating on her babies, snipers like Gloria are doing the family a grave disservice. I believe that at the crux of all this lies the fact that she is a single parent. I think that the sharks will not be satisfied until they have ripped her and those babies apart. Now, the other thing that I do not understand is where are the church folk, the right to lifers, the organizations who oppose abortions and the attorneys who need to bring an end to this "witch hunt."
It is my prayer that the mother of the babies be given the nonjudgmental support she so desperately needs. I find it amazingly hypocritical for those who worry about whether the state will have to support those beautiful lives when corporations are sucking of the breasts of humanity for survival. To see those babies is to know that they belong to the mother. She should be supported not back stabbed for higher ratings on a television show, not bullied into accepting help from an organization who spends more time on television raking her over the coals than garnering support from any and all willing angels of mercy to help.
I am calling on nearby churches to rush to the aid of the mother, to defend her and to see to it that she and her family is stabalized. God brought those babies into this world for a reason and she successfully delivered those babies and she had the best doctors this side of the Mississippi. The mother needs our support for those babies needs her attention, focus and love. Let us extend mercy and grace and support her in every way possible including our money.

[jiibique]

Poor families in the past had as many as 14 children or more, but they lived closer to extended family, neighbors helped each other, and the government had little or nothing to do with it. Many babies died and only the strong survived. Some poor large families had problems feeding the children. They lived in much smaller houses than today. Also amy of those children in large poor families had severe problems in life.

With no evidence of an extended family, caring neighbors, no evidence of a strong local organizational or church presence, and with a history of dependence on the state for assistance, this is a modern disaster! The economy is in dire straits, the wealthy are contributing less to causes, and everybody seems to be totally pissed with an obviously irresponsible and unbalanced mother. If there is anyone out there with money and compassion (and without a need to make money on the situation themselves) it will be a miracle. Love won't solve the problem.

If the state would declare the mom incompetent and appoint a guardian to make the decisions, using the available assistance for the situation from whatever resources - and free up the grandparents from the burden - the children would be better protected. Since the mother has endangered all of her children with this situation, there should be some legal means to provide appropriate care and long-term mental health care for the mom.

[PUTCHKIN]

You people make me laugh.Do you know anything about the Dionnes?They were poor,dirt poor and they had a lot of children,both before and after the quints.Yes the government made mistakes,they were a miracle,but at least they ate and were clothed,a lot of children at that time weren't.We're talking about the "dirty thirties",things were rough for everyone but these children received good care.I suppose the fact that they were sexually abused by thier father when they were finally reintoduced to thier family around the age of 9,is also the fault of the government?Damned if you do,and damned if you don't.

[alexandreal]

How many children should she have.....Surely not 14 as a single, who has nothing. Rich.. she doesn't have money...if she did she should have used the $30,000 lip surgery loan to pay her mother's mortgage. Common sense tells us that the economy is at its worst, and how she is going to raise them at the lowest level of "well" is what we are concerned about. Like I said taxes taking care of them....not a problem. It's taking care of her that is crap. I find it strange that so many people are sorry for her. Why? Because she is brainless, or is it because you have the $130,000 that it is going to take to raise them. If you do....please pay for them so i don't have to.

[alexandreal]

Nobody wants her to have anything bad happen to her babies.....they are innocent. It's there incompitent mother that lacks self respect, self reliance, and any dignity or respect for the babies....if she did she would want what's best for them now, and that's not her living off of the government that we pay into. I have no problem paying taxes and the babies being cared for with it, I have a problem taking care of her and her surgeries and her wardrobe, while I wear crap to school just so my own kids are dressed well and fed well and our house is paid for and bills,,,, none of the things she is even attempting to do.

[alexandreal]

No it has nothing to do with taxes! I have 3 small children of my own, on my own. I go to college full time, work full time, and pay all my bills without crap from the government. so I don't feel any sympathy for her. She made the choice to have them or destroy them. They weren't yet fetus' nor were they any different than throwing a used condom away. So we as people have the right to judge....we all have something she doesn't apparently, like common sense. If anyone should get help it should be the one's that are making a full effort to better themselves for their children.....not get a lipjob so she can try to find a man that will take care of her and her school of children.