Beautiful, Precious and Happy: Katherine McCarron
June 12, 2006 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
The McCarron family invites those who wish to keep Katie’s memory alive to view and download these images, and to post them on their websites and blogs. They, and I, only ask that the images be used in remembering Katie as a beautiful, precious, and happy little girl. They, and I, do not approve of the pictures being used as part of a message suggesting that she was “in pain” or a “burden.”
They do not wish for the photos to be used in any way suggesting Katie’s death is associated with a “problem” arising from a lack of services. Using Katie’s picture in these ways would only be an insult to her memory and cause more pain to an already grieving family.
Special thanks to Stephen Drake of Not Dead Yet and, most of all, to Katie’s grandfather, Mike McCarron, and the McCarron family.
What a truly beautiful and girl. Thank you Kristina and to the McCarron family for sharing these with us.
ETA: What a truly beautiful and PRECIOUS girl. Thank you Kristina and the McCarron family for sharing these with us.
Thank you, Square Girl—–Thanks most of all to the McCarrons for sharing Katie with us.
Thank you, this is precisely what we have been looking for.
My grand daughter has just been diagnosed with autism…and just five months ago my daughter called me in a fit of anger threatening to kill her. My wife and I told her…and we still would do it we will take her but whatever you do don’t hurt her…We have her step children and her husband watching her constantly…and my fear is that she will read this and think this is the way out. Katie was a baeutiful child…thanks for sharing her with us. And for the media who thinks killing an innocent child is mercy one can only hope that some day they dont have a child or grand child with autism.
Don M., please call Child Protective Services today and tell them exactly what you have written here. I understand that you don’t want to cause trouble for your daughter, but you can’t rely on her stepchildren to prevent her from committing murder. If she is so dangerous that she needs to be watched constantly, then she needs a caseworker, a psychiatrist, and probably medication of some sort. The agency can also help to make arrangements for you to take custody of your granddaughter. Please don’t delay. And let us know what happens. We care.
I did call them. In fact my wife and I drove over 1800 miles in 4 days with 13 hours cumulative sleep to try to convince them to send her home with us. Family services said that our complaint was unfounded. and they refused to allow us to take her home…I just hope that there investigation does not prove to be wrong.
Don M., please keep us informed about what is happened. What does your granddaughter’s father think about the situation?
My daughter was diagnosed as bi-polar as a teenager. She refused to take her medication back then and she is not on medication now. I do know that in the past few months she indicated that her adoptive mother has given her some of her lithium, however, that concerns me because she is currently pregnant, and Lithium is toxic to an unborn fetus. In addition I have grave concerns about anyone who would hand out there medication to someone else.
My daughter’s husband seems to think that she doesn,t need medication that “there is nothing wrong with her” and she has allegedly talked to a “professional” who states that there is no way she could be bi-polar, because they can’t diagnose it in someone as young as she was at the time (15-16).
My concerns continue to be as follows: 1. She continues to take this child to a multitude of doctors who tell her that my granddaughter is diagnosed as autistic, however when my wife and I were there, she seemed to interact appropriately as long as we set limits. Example: We would not allow her to get in the face of her baby sister, because everyone knows when babies are exploring with there hands she could accidentally have poked her in the eye etc. When I told my granddaughter not to do this she acted as if she was going to poke the baby in the eye. I see that more as a issue of simply training the child that you don’t poke your baby sister in the eye. 2. My daughter is married to a man who is in his mid 40’s, while she is only 26. Since they were married they have had three children in less than three years, and she is pregnant again. With a diagnosis of bipolar, and one child having been diagnosed as autistic we don’t beleive that they are thinking too clearly having another child. This would also mean that he has 8 children, ages mid twenties to age one. 3. The Family services hotline assured us when we made the report that my wife and I were doing the right thing, however my daughter claims that a. They told her who made the complaint. b. That they blew off the allegations that she had threatend to “beat” and or “Kill” her baby. This was verified in our minds when they determine the complaint was unfounded. It seems to me that child and family services should have an obligation to error on the side of caution and allowed a court to hear testimony and make a decision in the best interest of the child. My wife and I are so worried because we can see the manic behavior.
Don M., How often are you in contact with your daughter? What kinds of doctors and other professionals have dianosed your granddaughter with autism? Autistic kids—-contary to what the DSM-IV criteria suggest—-can certainly be affectionate and interested in people; my own son definitely was. How is your granddaughter doing as far as her speech, play skills and such?
First I have asked her to send me a copy of the testing results that the doctors sent to her which support a diagnosis of autism. I am in contact at least three to four times a week by cell phone, and my wife and I have made two trips to Georgia to visit in the last year. My granddaughter is very active and I beleive intelligent child…I don’t see where the autism diagnosis is coming from. She talks pretty well. Her play skills in my opinion are fine. For instance we bought them a pop up tent for there room. Both older girls play in it and interact, although the older one is sneaky. I have watched the older one wait till she thinks noone is looking and knock her sister down…I think thats more environmental than anything elsebut it is a concern. My daughter told us back in January she could not stand to be around her because she looked to much like her own mother, and my daughter had issues with her because at the age of 8 she just walked out of her life, and she didnt come back into her life till about two years ago when she was dying. We have never seen her bond with her…hold her hug her etc. Thats why we are so concerned that now she has taken her to doctors who have diagnosed autism. She has talked about sending our granddaughter to california to live with her aunt, who she has not seen since my daughter was three years of age. What mother would send her 2 year old to live with a complete stranger but refuse to allow the grandparents to take her? My wife of two years is a nurse, and although she has never had children of her own was willing and anxious to take this responsibility on, but the baby’s father and my daughter can’t seem to get a grasp on why we are so concerned. I really get concerned when they use statements like we would miss her and we could not bare to be away from her….shouldn’t this be about what is best for the child?
My granddaughter is very active and I beleive intelligent child…I don’t see where the autism diagnosis is coming from.
Well the 2 aren’t mutually exclusive. My test numbers are pretty darn good, and no one (or at least no one who knows what they’re talking about) challenges my diagnosis.
It’s a bit suspicious that the younger daughter doesn’t tell on the older one for pushing her.
If you feel your grandchildren are in danger, keep on CPS. Those with bipolar can be good parents, but they have to take care of themselves-that includes medication usually.
And there is some degree of evidence that autism and bipolar “run together”. LOTS of autistic kids with bipolar parents. *is the autistic bipolar child of a bipolar mother*
It seems rather than tell on her for pushing her the other child cries. The oldest granddaughter gets very upsetif I dont talk to her every time I call…the other granddaughter does not, and they are 3 and two respectively. Her mother has always been closer to the oldest daughter I suspect because she was the first child, and she is very advanced. As I said I am concerend that I have never witnessed my daughter nurturing and or bonding with the two younger granddaughters, including the one who has been diagnosed with autism. Instead she seems to to always be angry at her because she exhibits some pretty bizarre behaviors, such as messing in her diaper, and playing it it etc. Its not that I don’t accept the dianosis of autism…I work with people with disabilities daily, and my wife and I love each of our grandchildren (we have 10) equally. My concern is that my daughter seems to be blaming the child for behaviors that she might not be able to help.
When I lived in Georgia I worked with the local district attorney’s office, and I can’t tell you how many frustrating cases we had with Child Protective Services….this is just one more example.
I am sorry that I have posted so many things over the last few days, but I am a frustrated grandfather…and I really don’t know which way to turn. Perhaps this is not the right place or time?
Such a beautiful child.
I actually stumbled upon this site from a link from Wikipedia. You have some beautiful pictures of such a lovely child. There is never, ever, ever an excuse to kill a living child.
It’s hard not to feel angry at such a woman.
~AJ~
I can only respond in the affirmative—-
Thanks for your words, AJ.
Dear Kristina,
I just wanted to say thank you for all you have done to spread the word not only about the death, but about the precious short life of Katie McCarron. I read on another thread that there were some people looking for a tangible, public way to remember her. I think it was Kassianne who suggested black arm bands, but then Mike her grandfather said that he didn’t want to remember her in that way. I started thinking about colors, and of course I remembered that she really enjoyed playing in the grass. This is design I came up with:
http://www.cafepress.com/katie_mccarron
I superimposed the picture of Katie on a page from May 2006, the month that she was murdered. I see that she was murdered on a Saturday.
If you click on the picture of Katie, it brings you back to your site.
Thanks, Lisa——disability advocates are making pink ribbons to wear for Katie.
These pictures of Katherine are very beautiful. She looks so very much the happy child in them.
My 3 year old son is susspected to have AS. His doctor and my sister (a special need teacher) both have incouraged my ex-wife and I to getting him tested. He was accepted into an “At Risk” pre-k program. I am fighting with my insurance company to find a good (and covered) Doctor to preform the tests. Luckly his mother and I have remained close, and she works with him every day.
Scott, thank you for writing in here. We have had a lot of fighting, so to speak, to get Charlie the best things he needs and it is always worth it—-there are lots of parents and families out here with you!
I hope things are well this weekend with you and yours. Has your son started the pre-k program?
kc
My son who will be 36 in May. Over the years when he turns your head and looks you in the eye & puts his hand on your head and says, I love you.” So innocent, wonderful. He’s been part of my life for so long now, I could not live without him or hurt him in any way. Before he leaves every morning, we say our ritual prayer which I taught him which makes like worth it. Have Faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ.
My autistic son will be 36 in May. Over the years when he turns your head and looks you in the eye & puts his hand on your head and says, I love you.” So innocent, wonderful. He’s been part of my life for so long now, I could not live without him or hurt him in any way. Before he leaves every morning, we say our ritual prayer which I taught him which makes life worth it. Have Faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ.
I have three boys with autism and can only say, that if God had blessed me with as beautiful a little girl as Katherine, I would have felt that life could not get any better. I will never forget her and will keep you in my prayers always.
I think is not so easy to say a bipolar parent and autistic child is related, it is a medical problem, I mean neurological.
If that mother cannot cope with the child, grandparents are available take action now and ask for custody, that mother is not capable to raise a handicap child.