As some of you know, my SD16 has been very ill. Since last fall, she has been improving, mostly baby steps, and we are happy with whatever progress she makes.

Well, 2 weeks ago, she went back into the hospital. For malnutrition. Why? Because she has lost her sense of smell and taste and because the only food in BM's house is junk food. Everything in that house is processed junk. There is not one piece of fresh fruit, vegetable or meat/poultry. They just about live on fast food. Apparantly, BM was supposed to meet with a nutritionist at the hospital, but we have never heard the outcome of this.

Then SD16 goes back into the hospital the end of last week because she's got a blood clot. now, last fall, the doctors said this was something that could happen and gave her medication. Medication BM was supposed to contine at home. She did not give the medicine? Why not? Well, apparantly it's a shot and BM says that she does not want to hurt her daughter. Ok, I get that, but her life is pretty much depending on getting this shot. If you couldn't do it, why wouldn't you contact the hospital, they would probably have a nurse give the shot.

AS a step-parent it is so difficult to watch all of this. Is this neglect? What do we,DH and myself do about it? DH has never had custody, his daughter has always lived at least 3 hours away. Moving to her town would entail a huge pay cut for both of us which would result in life becoming difficult for us financially as we don't make that much to begin with. But, where we live, there are places that could treat SD16 and get her on the road to rehabiitation.

this is so frustrating...