Location: Michigan, US
I need help and I don’t know who to ask. My(29m) nephew(20m), we’ll call him Brian, asked me to take guardianship of his daughter, we’ll call her baby, because CPS got involved. Let me start at the beginning. When baby was born she tested positive for THC. CPS got involved then and has never really left (thank god for baby’s sake honestly). There have since then been multiple occasions where baby was brought into the ER for questionable things. It started when she wasn’t gaining weight properly, then she had a swollen leg, and most recently she was brought in for her 6 month visit where the doctor found a bruise on the back of her arm. Brian attempted to explain it away as she was “rolling around on a toy”. Now obviously the hospital didn’t believe this and brought her in for full body scans where they found 2 hairline fractures. One near her elbow and one near her ankle. CPS is taking baby due to signs of abuse/neglect and they have court today. Brian called me yesterday saying baby is with his girlfriends(17) (no I do not agree with the age difference either, that’s another story) mom(30s I believe) who is supposedly a drunk and they want me to attest and fight for custody of baby. My question is, can I do this? Can I fight for this baby? What do I need to do to get her with us and keep her safe? I just want baby safe and happy. I’m playing nice with Brian but I’m utterly disappointed in him. But for that baby? I will do anything it takes even if that means being nice and friendly with her abuser until she is safe. Please help me… I’m at a loss.