Update on Shari Rodriguez

[cherla42]

Re: Update on Shari Rodriguez

Thanks for posting the slide show I'll let you know why I was told it couldn't be in court after I go to Frankie's sentencing on the 3rd of Oct.

Miss Shari is doing good. Trying to get her anti-seizure meds at the right dose for her....not easy. We are flying to Oahu Tues to see an endocrinologist for her symptoms of diabetes insipidis (rare form of diabetes). Other than the medical issues Shari is doing good. Shes doing great in her special-ed pre-school. She is really smart! Thank God!

I am looking forward to giving Shari's impact statement along with mine at the sentencing. Sadly they rarely change the judges mind on the sentence. Will go into all of that after Oct 3rd also.

God Bless,
Cheryl & Shari

[Miulang]

Re: Update on Shari Rodriguez

YEEHA! The scumbag is going to be spending at least the next 13 years in OCCC for what he did to Shari!

Ramirez said he accepts full responsibility for his actions, and would use his time in prison to take classes that would teach him to "never let my anger, frustration and stress get the better of me again." Before levying the prison term, Maui Circuit Judge Joel August questioned the defendant's characterization of the crime.

"This was not a question of anger management, which is a euphemism for the extremely violent acts that people do. This particular incident takes on the ramifications of something that is sociopathic in nature, or psychopathic in nature. It's something certainly beyond anger management," August said

OK, Cheryl, now the truth can finally be told.

Miulang

[Miulang]

Re: Update on Shari Rodriguez

A more complete story of what happened at Frankie's trial yesterday. The scumbag had not just abused Shari once "by accident", there was evidence that it had occurred previously. Such a sad story, but a miracle that Shari is still alive and wearing that million dollar smile of hers.

Miulang

[1stwahine]

Re: Update on Shari Rodriguez

Only tears of joy for Cheryl & Shari!

Mahalo to everyone who emailed and called to help them.

Auntie Lynn

[cherla42]

Re: Update on Shari Rodriguez

MAHALO to our friends who have supported Shari and I on Hawaii Threads! God Bless You ALL! Shari sharing with me her prior incidents of abuse at the hands of Frankie and her mother allowing me to bring HER impact statement into court yesterday was a powerful Blessing. It was finally her turn to be heard(she was not in court...I read her statement for her)! I am so PROUD of her. We are praying at the Parole Board hearing in the next 4 to 6 months they will decide to give Frankie 20 yrs without the posibility of parole. Time for me to re-group and get to working on changing laws and policies. I was happy to be informed that the homeless shelters will no longer let felons in. It is great to hear that at least one agency has made a positive change since Shari's near death beating.

God Bless,
Cheryl & Shari

[cherla42]

Re: Update on Shari Rodriguez

OK, Cheryl, now the truth can finally be told.
Miulang


OK here we go! Let's start with Shari's Impact Statement. This was exactly what was read in court.



These are Shari’s statements told to me in the comfort and security of our home. It is finally her turn to be heard.

April 28, 2007: Shari was trying to hold a bag of Cheerio’s with her partially paralyzed hand the bag spilled and she yelled at her hand for spilling the Cheerio’s.
May 02, 2007: When asked to use her right hand during home therapy she said “No it’s sick”.
May 08, 2007: Shari became very agitated with the surgical scar on her stomach. She tried to scratch it off then cried begging me to “take it off”.
June 25, 2007: “Daddy tried to cut my fingers off”. When I asked with what she said “a knife and it hurt”. I asked her why he did that and she said “because I was mad”.
July 04, 2007: “Daddy put tape on my mouth (she wipes her hand across her mouth), and my head (she wipes her hand over her head) and my nose (she wipes her hand across her nose). Mommy laughed. I barfed on my bed (puts her hand to her face gagging)”. “Mommy got a towel to clean it up”.
July 28, 2007: Shari said “I ran away up stairs”. “Mommy kicked me in the tummy cause I locked the door”.
July 29, 2007: “I hide under my toys”. “Daddy was going to stab me with a knife”.
Aug 03, 2007: “Mommy hurt me”. “She threw toys at me then cracked my head with a toy”.
Aug 06, 2007: “Mommy and Daddy hurt me”. “Daddy punched my tummy”. “He said f**k, f**k, f**k”.
Aug 19, 2007: “Daddy told me get in the car seat”. “He said f**k it”. “Mommy punched me and I barfed”

Shari’s statements combined with skeletal x-rays of her tiny body showing several fractures in different stages of healing prior to March 15, 2006 are proof in my mind that this was not a one time incident of abuse brought on by “stress”.

March 15, 2006 was not the first time this precious little girl was abused. March 15, 2006 was the day Francisco Ramirez could no longer hide the horrific abuse he inflicted time and time again upon a helpless 2 year old child.

[cherla42]

Re: Update on Shari Rodriguez

Here is my statement.

You’re Honor;

There were two things Francisco Ramirez could not brutally beat out of Shari on March 15, 2006, her will to survive and her undying desire to love and be loved in return. She was left with little else that day. Shari will NEVER recover mentally or physically. Her young life along with mine was violently and needlessly changed forever.

There is not enough time today to express the totality of the medical, financial, and emotional impact this senseless crime has caused for both Shari and I, therefore I will be brief and to the point on these issues.

It has taken a pediatrician and 5 pediatric specialists to take care of endless medical problems Shari suffers due to her near death beating at the hands of Francisco Ramirez. It takes 4 doses of 2 medications daily to hopefully control her seizures and inhibit the infections her tiny body can no longer normally fight. Flights to Oahu to see specialists are continuous. A simple cold or fever can and has caused re-manifestation of paralysis in her right side. During one such infection she was reduced to crawling, her right leg dragging behind her. She is at risk for pancreatitis, pneumonia, dehydration, sinusitis, urinary tract infections, brain bleeds, and diabetes which she is currently being tested for as she shows symptoms. Many of these risk factors could cause death.

The financial impact seems so menial compared to Shari’s life. I was unable to work for months due to Shari’s frail state combined with daily therapy, meetings, evaluations, and flights back and forth to Kapiolani Hospital for follow up visits and medical testing. My marriage, like most when faced with extreme injuries to a child, ended in divorce. More than half of our household income was lost in that divorce. I have since returned to work but can only work half the hours I used to in order to care for Shari’s medical and emotional needs. They are my first priority.

The emotional part of this journey has by far been the hardest. The broad scope of medical procedures and surgeries this little girl has had to endure would knock and adult to their knees begging “no more”. Shari no longer plays “mommy” with her dolls. She now imitates the endless medical procedures she has gone through on them. She tells me her right hand is sick and broken. She asks me to take the scar off her stomach. I thank God at this point she is unaware of the huge patch of hair missing from the back of her head. She has shared with me the stories of torturous abuse she suffered prior to March 15, 2006. She has no recollection of that day so far. It is through God’s grace I have been able to be open and honest with her about the abuse she endured but I can not answer the one question she always asks….”Why did he hurt me?”

My days and the days of those who spend time with Shari are spent in a constant vigil watching for a multitude of symptoms that would require immediate emergency medical treatment. Respite for me is little to none due to Shari’s injuries. Always looming in my mind the pseudo cyst that could become infected requiring another pancreatic surgery, will she have a seizure today, will she accidentally hit her head causing a brain bleed that could kill her, the list goes on and on.

Above all else I ask you to consider these truths before you sentence Francisco Ramirez.

Extensive portions of Shari’s brain, murdered.
Half of her pancreas, murdered.
Her spleen, murdered.
The ability to ever use her right hand normally, murdered.
The chance of this beautiful child living a normal life, murdered.


Thank You,
Cheryl Oelrich

[Miulang]

Re: Update on Shari Rodriguez

Cheryl and Shari sent along another slideshow, this one is of happy pictures instead of sad ones. I am so grateful that Shari has so many people who love and care for her. She shouldn't have survived the abuse she suffered, so that means she was spared for a reason. She now has many years ahead of her to figure out what that reason is.

Shari's happy slide show

Miulang

[cherla42]

Re: Update on Shari Rodriguez

Asking for more prayers for Shari. Blood work on her thyroid is not normal.

[Miulang]

Re: Update on Shari Rodriguez

Asking for more prayers for Shari. Blood work on her thyroid is not normal.

You got it. I wonder if it's related to her messed up pancreas?

Miulang

[tutusue]

Re: Update on Shari Rodriguez

Asking for more prayers for Shari. Blood work on her thyroid is not normal.

Count me in, Cheryl. Sorry to hear that there's another worry for you and Shari.

[cherla42]

Re: Update on Shari Rodriguez

Doc is sure it is connected to the extensive brain damage. She also has diabetes insipidus (rare form) also from the brain damage. Putting all the medical issues aside she is such a beautiful inspiration and example of what life should be about. She is full of LOVE, JOY, & HAPPINESS. So another lemon came our way.....we'll make more lemonade!!!!

[Miulang]

Re: Update on Shari Rodriguez

Doc is sure it is connected to the extensive brain damage. She also has diabetes insipidus (rare form) also from the brain damage. Putting all the medical issues aside she is such a beautiful inspiration and example of what life should be about. She is full of LOVE, JOY, & HAPPINESS. So another lemon came our way.....we'll make more lemonade!!!!

Yes, if there was a way we could bottle up her joy and that million dollar smile of hers and send it all over the world, this world would definitely be a better place!

Miulang

[cherla42]

Re: Update on Shari Rodriguez

This was in the Maui This was in the Maui News Letters to the Editor last Sunday:


Maui News
Sunday, November 04, 2007


Letters to Editor


Maui Child Welfare Services ranked among best in the nation
VIEWPOINT by LILLIAN KOLLER

Maui residents remain shocked by the plight of young Shari Rodrigues, who suffered brain damage and other life-changing injuries when she was beaten by her mother’s boyfriend, Francisco “Frankie” Ramirez (“Man gets prison for punching tot,” The Maui News, Oct. 4). Shari was just 2? years old at the time of the brutal attack.

During the sentencing, 2nd Circuit Court Judge Joel August unfortunately used the occasion to criticize Maui employees in the Child Welfare Services branch of the Department of Human Services. The judge cast doubt on their professionalism by citing an unrelated child abuse case involving CWS.

Your readers should know that the case the judge referred to is on appeal and therefore unresolved. Therefore it is inappropriate to conclude anything, right or wrong, about Child Welfare Services’ actions in the unrelated case cited during the Ramirez sentencing.

Also, in the Ramirez case, it is important to understand that the family was under close supervision before the attack occurred. Everyone involved in supervising the family was surprised by the attack, including CWS workers and the Family Court itself, as well as the child’s court-appointed guardian ad litem. Whatever occurred during this family’s supervision was a shared responsibility.

The undisputed facts about the performance of Maui CWS workers reveal that they have an exemplary record of service to Hawaii’s at-risk families. When a statewide sampling of child abuse and neglect cases was conducted in 2002 as part of the U.S. government’s nationwide Child and Family Services Review, Maui led the way for Hawaii in meeting or exceeding federal standards.

Then again in 2006, the federal government formally recognized Maui and the state’s other CWS units for achieving an ambitious series of required goals that significantly improved the safety, well-being and stability of children in the child welfare system.

Today, as the Department of Human Services prepares for another major federal review in 2009, Maui CWS workers continue to meet or exceed rigorous national standards. These achievements include:

Reducing the risk of harm to children.

Initiating investigations more quickly into reports of child maltreatment.

Providing enhanced services to children, their parents and foster parents.

? Increasing social worker visits with children and involving children and their families to a greater extent in case planning.

I am heartened that Ramirez will serve a lengthy prison term for beating a defenseless toddler. However, it is a shame that the judge used the Ramirez sentencing to take an unwarranted swipe at Maui CWS employees. They do not deserve that kind of treatment.

Lillian Koller is director of the state Department of Human Services.

ANY COMMENTS?????

[tutusue]

Re: Update on Shari Rodriguez

[...]Lillian Koller is director of the state Department of Human Services.

ANY COMMENTS?????

<picking self up off the floor...>

Yep...I have a comment. Sounds like someone is jockeying for position to SAVE HER EFFING JOB by creating the proverbial "paper trail".

Unbelievable...