You just don't want to believe that something like this can happen.  Would
getting a newspaper writer involved help or hurt?
Gwen

You and me both, Kelly. M, you must feel like banging your head on a
wall. I know I would. I'll continue to pray for all of you.

Hugs,
Carole

Adelle, i too have my suspicions, but you followed them through with
some know-how! m, just know you and your friend and her daughter are
in our thoughts and prayers. i'm glad you're safe and hope this gets
resolved asap.

diane

Thanks everyone for continued prayers.  We actually managed to get an
EPO last night and my friend is now safely out of town awaiting the
next steps. those next steps will be observed by many many people who
are now looking at our county.  Her legal bills are being picked up by
a friend of mine and victim witness will be funding thearapy for both
of mom and daughter. Adelle and Diane, your thoughts have been echoed
by many many people but as far as we can tell, he is not connected in
any way-just a very glib sociopath.

Nann, I know so many people in power in California and nationally.
Political and social power are my arenas.  I can usually put my
finger on the person to solve the problem no matter what obstacles are
in the way or how big the problem is.  There was within three days,an
alliance here made up of  powerful legal, medical, and political
people.  It still took us five six days to get anything done. The real
question is how many times has this happened to other children?  I
have to tell you I have solved some fairly big problems and always
been able to cut through some major red tape effectively.  This left
me entirely impotent.  I am also now very aware that in our county,
this kind of thing is not an anomaly.  I am sure that we cannot have
the only county in the country that is also not effectively protecting
it's children

Next week i am meeting with a friend who is a professor at Boalt and
we will begin  to structure a non-profit child  abuse emergency
response team that will have legal and medical support for anyone
going through this.  Yes we have crisis support and several DV
organizations that do EPO's TRO's etc. and a shelter but we still
obviously cannot effectively protect our kids  We talked last night
until 3:00 about how   we will structure this.  I have the assurance
from one of my close friends who runs one of the wealthiest
foundations in the country, that she and her husband's foundation will
fund the project.  My old partner in crime will write our grant
proposals.  I envision a center that can respond nationally with the
best legal support, advocacy family support, safe houses when needed,
therapy center, polygraph examiners, etc.

Now I am going to sleep as i have a major cold and have slept 14 hours
in the last week.  i think it would probably be best if I don't get
pneumonia right now

thanks for those hugs, jo and thanks for the prayers, everyone.

m