Archive for May, 2010
Medical Health update for Friday, May 21, 2010
I called the hospital tonight as I have every single night since Dustin was admitted (save for the precious few days that I was in Regina).
Tonight, a nurse answered (she only said the name of the unit), I went through the whole routine of saying my name, giving my password and waiting five minutes for the nurse to go get the chart to check my password. Once that was over, I asked how Dustin was and what kind of day he’s had etc…
The anonymous nurse answered: “…he’s good, no change, we gave him a bath tonight. Bye.”
Before she had the chance to hang up on me, I tried again and said that I call every night at the same time so I can get info from the day and night shifts and asked if there was anything written on the chart about test results.
She said: I have nothing to tell you. He’s good, no change, we gave him a bath tonight. There is nothing more I want to tell you.
I asked her name and she refused to tell me, then said good bye and hung up.
Of course it is Friday of the long weekend and nobody will be in until Tuesday but I called and left messages for:
The Unit Manager, the Client Rep and the Social Worker.
NOW THE HOSPITAL IS WITHHOLDING INFORMATION ABOUT DUSTIN. I SUSPECT THIS IS FALLOUT FROM THE SECURITY BREACH – perhaps some of the staff from that rotation are back on shift.
**Update May 22**
This morning, the Client Rep. from the hospital called me to say that she would look into the matter and gave the name of a nurse on Dustin’s unit that I could speak with about updates. All I want is to know how my son is doing from day to day. Every little improvement and every ache or pain means something to us!
I have sent an email to Dwight Nelson, the CEO of the Saskatchewan Health Region. My email will be followed by a phone call on Tuesday.
This morning, the Client Rep. from the hospital called me to say that she would look into the matter and gave the name of a nurse on Dustin’s unit that I could speak with about updates. All I want is to know how my son is doing from day to day. Every little improvement and every ache or pain means something to us!
I have sent an email to Dwight Nelson, the CEO of the Saskatchewan Health Region. My email will be followed by a phone call on Tuesday.
Is the public at risk?
(Taken from a discussion from the Facebook group asking the above question)
Dustin’s Mom here……
The few times Paxton’s name appeared in print, next to the words “person of interest”, were in emails from Regina Police to family members. The only verbal confirmations we received from police that Paxton was a ‘person of interest’ occurred during telephone conversations between Regina Police and family members.
We were told: Paxton is only a person of interest. His name is flagged in our system.
The police have never publicly called Paxton a person of interest. The media have never reported that Paxton was a person of interest because the police would not confirm that information.
What about Dustin’s statement? I guess the truth and the facts don’t count until the police and/or the media tell us what the truth is….LOL!
My son, Dustin LaFortune, named Paxton in his statement to police on Friday, May 14th, 2010. He spoke Paxton’s name many times in answer to many questions through a mutilated mouth. The act of naming Paxton caused my son DUSTIN LAFORTUNE to experience physical pain (in addition to the emotional and psychological trauma that is rarely considered).
…and that is good enough for me.
The police question:
The Regina and Calgary Major Crimes Sections are investigating the case. The RCMP are not involved.
Regina Major Crimes has had the file since Monday, May 17th, 2010. The media reported that Calgary Major Crimes became involved about two days ago. I can more or less confirm this information (but it doesn’t count because I am just the victim’s Mom)
because I spoke with two Calgary police officers today.
Is the public at risk? Do you feel safe? We, the ordinary folk, are the only ones who can really answer that question.
Dustin’s Mom here……
The few times Paxton’s name appeared in print, next to the words “person of interest”, were in emails from Regina Police to family members. The only verbal confirmations we received from police that Paxton was a ‘person of interest’ occurred during telephone conversations between Regina Police and family members.
We were told: Paxton is only a person of interest. His name is flagged in our system.
The police have never publicly called Paxton a person of interest. The media have never reported that Paxton was a person of interest because the police would not confirm that information.
What about Dustin’s statement? I guess the truth and the facts don’t count until the police and/or the media tell us what the truth is….LOL!
My son, Dustin LaFortune, named Paxton in his statement to police on Friday, May 14th, 2010. He spoke Paxton’s name many times in answer to many questions through a mutilated mouth. The act of naming Paxton caused my son DUSTIN LAFORTUNE to experience physical pain (in addition to the emotional and psychological trauma that is rarely considered).
…and that is good enough for me.
The police question:
The Regina and Calgary Major Crimes Sections are investigating the case. The RCMP are not involved.
Regina Major Crimes has had the file since Monday, May 17th, 2010. The media reported that Calgary Major Crimes became involved about two days ago. I can more or less confirm this information (but it doesn’t count because I am just the victim’s Mom)
because I spoke with two Calgary police officers today.
Is the public at risk? Do you feel safe? We, the ordinary folk, are the only ones who can really answer that question.
Medical/health update for May 20th, 2010
- Dustin stayed up a little later than usual tonight. He was watching hockey and something else on TV.
- Dustin was weighed this morning. 111.39 lbs or 50.5 kg. (approx) He’s gained about one pound since May 11th..
- Dustin spent time in the special reclining wheelchair again today but was not allowed to leave his room (somebody ‘remembered’ the isolation restrictions so from now on, or until infectious disease says otherwise, Dustin must remain in his room)
- Dustin asked for painkillers several times in a row. Even after he’d been given meds and enough time passed for them to kick in, Dustin asked again. This continued for quite a while so the nurses asked him if it hurt anywhere and Dustin said NO. Then Dustin started repeating other things…
The nurses think ‘the recording in his brain’ just got stuck….he’s repeating and repeating everything. I was told this was normal for this stage of recovery.
- a consult was submitted to psychiatry re: trauma, depression etc…but then withdrawn after a preliminary assessment. It seems that Dustin has not yet reached that stage of self-awareness and processing.
- If Dustin is given photos of family, he looks at them and names the person in the picture. He has not identified himself in any of the photos. (for example: I wrote the word “YOU” on top of a picture of Dustin and the word Marcel on top of the picture of Marcel – both Dustin and Marcel are in the picture. Dustin says “thats YOU and Marcel”)
CBC News Video: LaFortune torture mystery
http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/TV_Shows/Connect_with_Mark_Kelley/ID=1499737530
The mother of Dustin LaFortune talks with CBC’s Mark Kelley about her son’s mysterious torture ordeal
Ryan’s response to Steve Lamber’s article in Macleans
http://www.macleans.ca/article.jsp?content=n3396712
That is an article by Steve Lambert of the Candian Press (Whom I denied an interview with because the family was tired of reporters) But he decided to write an article about me and my family anyway. As is his RIGHT in this wonderful country of ours. Now I would like to… excersize my RIGHT to a rebutte his article in a public forum.
Dear Steve Lambert (Canadian Press):
Do you have a brother? I do, and he is the victim of a horrific series of events leading to his emaciated burned and tortured body being dumped at a Regina hospital. This was AFTER he was missing for two months. We did all the right things, we called the police to report him missing. I will admit that there are many missing people in this world and 26 year old men are NOT the priority. I had assumed he would turn up, and assumed the police would do little other than file a report that would gather electronic dust somewhere. Our Family did what we were supposed to, wait and worry. Then he turned up at a hospital with the afformented horrific injuries. These injuries were CLEARLY not self inflicted, the were NOT accidental, he was drugged, he was even dropped of at the hospital by someone under FALSE PRETENSES. So we did the right thing and called the police. They came and looked, as did social workers and hospital staff. We did what we were supposed to, we waited and worried. We set up a small support site to grieve and maybe find some answers. We even did some REPORTING as to this point the media was nowhere to be found. So we had done all the right things, and had NOTHING DONE FOR US. The weeks went by, still no help from the Police and the media. Then came the miracle Dustin spoke! HE NAMED HIS ATTACKER!! So in your journalistic opinion when the VICTIM NAMES HIS ATTACKER WOULD YOU PRINT THE STORY UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTACES? OR SHOULD THE POLICE DO SOMETHING AT THIS POINT? Guess what? They didn’t. Then Dustin did an interview with the police, again naming his attacker. This is a QUOTE from the Regina PD, ( I will not publicly name the officer out of respect for their privacy and family.)
“The interview gives us some concrete information, but because Dustin cannot pinpoint the date or time (of the assault(s)), we need to bring him to the station and do a video- & audio-taped statement. We need this to build the case for the incidents having been ongoing in Calgary, which is necessary for a Canada-wide warrant – otherwise we can only issue a Saskatchewan warrant. When Dustin is released from the hospital (!) we would love to interview him and get this information… please let us know the time frame for his release when you know it.”
This is when I went off the deep end! If Dustin was dead there would be a national manhunt. If Dustin was better he could waltz in to the station and charge his attacker himself, but because he was incapacitated THEY WOULD DO NOTHING! Dustin’s recovery time table PHYSICALLY is 18-24 months. They were going to wait up to TWO YEARS to do anything! What this told my family and myself was that we were on our own. The media was interested now, but only because Dustin had testified in a murder trial 8 years ago. So myself and the family struck out on our own to get things done. We started talking to the media vultures, we started tracking leads down on suspects, we started publishing our stories on Facebook and many other blogs any where where we could find a forum. We were basically our own police and our own media. We have done far better than either to this point. We have raised awareness of violent crime in our country, I have started a letter writing campaign to our government, We havegone into action. My Brother has been tortured, I WILL NOT REST, I will use EVERY tool at my disposal to find JUSTICE for my brother, be it the internet,the streets, the media, the government, 12′000 and counting outraged canadians, WHATEVER it takes for however LONG it takes I WILL DO IT! Welcome to the electronic age everybody, where one family can stand up against all odds for a fallen member and make shit happen!
Mr.Dustin Paxton, If you would like to sue me for libel and false allegations you are more than welcome to step forward and be heard!
Mr.Lambert, this is not personal but if you can write an article about me, without an interview or permission, certainly I can answer it.
To all of the wonderful people out there supporting the LaFortune family during this crisis THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I LOVE YOU ALL, and I LOVE MY COUNTRY BECAUSE THIS IS ALL POSSIBLE!!
thank you
Ryan LaFortune
Twitter
Facebook
RSS
Youtube