The Fight for the Parental Rights of a Disabled Mother

posted on Apr 14 by Admin in the Disability Discrimination, Disability News, Traumatic Brain Injury category

Abbie Dorn, 34, is the mother of triplets whom she has not seen in roughly two years. Following the birth of her triplets, Dorn suffered trauma to the brain which left her unable to talk or move on her own. Initially the father, Dan Dorn, would bring the children by the hospital to visit their mother. Abbie spent a year in the hospital after the delivery of the triplets. Then the visits began to dwindle until they eventually stopped altogether. Soon after Dan Dorn filed for divorce and told Abbie’s parents it was time for him to move on.

Abbie has since moved in with her parents in South Carolina and receives round the clock care, while her children remain in Los Angeles with their father. Dan has refused to let the children see their mother for fear of traumatizing them by seeing her in that condition. This is the defense his lawyers and experts are using in the lawsuit that has been filed against him by Abbie’s parents. Abbie’s parents, Paul and Susan Cohen, say that their daughter is very aware and has improved during the past five years of treatment. According to them, Abbie does one long blink to notion yes, she cries when in pain, and smiles when happy. Caregivers also say she says “yeah” and “no” in response to direct questions. When ABC news spent the day with Abbie, they asked her if seeing her children was important and she responded with one long blink.

“A mother needs to see her children, she gave them life,” Paul Cohen said. “Her blood is in their veins. These children need to know they have a mommy and she needs to know her children are growing.”

The family lawyer representing the Cohens on behalf of Abbie agrees stating that Abbie’s right have been completely ignored.

“Abbie has a right, a constitutional, legal right to have her parents, her own representatives, to request visitation on her behalf,” Lisa Helfend, an attorney for Dorn and her parents, said.

Dan Dorn declined to interview with ABC News to give a response. He legal team’s experts say that Abbie is ” in a permanent vegetative state with virtually no hope of recovery.” In a statement, Dan’s attorney, Vicki Green, said, “while the grandparents criticize the father, they denied him any footage or medical update of Abbie’s condition before opening their home to Good Morning America.  This case is sad and tragic. However, it is also legally complex and there is no reason to try this case by public opinion.”

Abbie Dorn’s parents plan to fight as hard as they can on their daughter’s behalf for her to have the right to see her children.

“If all she can say to them is one or two words and show in her eyes how much she loves them, I think that will mean a great deal to those children,” Susan Cohen said.