“Nature abhors a moron” ~Henry Louis Mencken

For too many reasons, this topic keeps me up at night. Often.

So I got a note from one of Pearlsky’s doctors that she can eat food fit for humans. I sent it with this email to the new director of sped in the high school, as well as to the superintendent and the assistant superintendent. And yes, the attorney general’s office.

Attached is a copy of the letter from Pearlsky’s doctor showing that Pearlsky does not need to eat blended food, and even more so, never needed to eat blended food. Note that I left the original letter with your secretary earlier today.

I sincerely hope that someone has explained to the head nurse that her insistence that Pearlsky only be given blended food was based on zero medical facts or information. And, once again, she and her nurses have compromised Pearlsky’s quality of life for absolutely no valid reason, this time for four years until I discovered it. Will it ever end?

And the doctor’s note that was attached said:

I have cared for Pearlsky in the complex care clinic at the hospital for fifteen years. Pearlsky is diagnosed with an amino acid deficiency which manifests itself in many ways including a seizure disorder and global developmental delays. I am very familiar with her medical issues and how these issues may limit or cause concern for her safe participation in activities of daily living. During my most recent evaluation of Pearlsky, as well as all those in the past, I saw no reason for her nutritional intake to be limited to foods that are processed in a blender. She is able to carefully and safely ingest soft foods of all types (such as, but not limited to, eggs, spreads, donuts, pasta, tuna fish, etc.). She enjoys the various tastes and textures and they are an important part of maintaining her quality of life.

Thank you for your interest in my patient. Please feel free to contact me should you have any further questions regarding Pearlsky’s care.

The response form the school’s sped director (shown as is, really):

I’m meeting with Supt. and Asst. Supt. in an hour or so and I have both the colorful letterhead letter and the copy they sent me.
I will tell you what happened next.
Thank you for doing this.

Then nothing.

Until this.

From the town lawyer.

Why? No clue.

This follows your recent communications with the Assistant Superintendent regarding your daughter Pearlsky’s diet at school.

The Public School Department seeks to ensure that Pearlsky’s experience at school is both safe and enjoyable. Thank you for providing Pearlsky’s treating physician’s letter, dated December 2, 2011, advising the the district of what Pearlsky can safely ingest.

The district looks forward to working with you cooperatively in the future to ensure a positive experience for Pearlsky at school.

What the hell was the point of this? Why is she involved and why is she writing? Since many of my emails did go to the Chief of Civil Rights, State Attorney General of the state, I can understand her interest, but this email was just to me and the Assistant Superintendent (unless there were bcc’s).

So, I had to respond, and openly cc’d everyone.

I have no idea why you are writing this to me, why you are thanking me.

Pearlsky ate “normal” food for her first nine years in the School District without any questions. Your head nurse, KD, on her own, without medical advice, without contacting me nor Pearlsky’s mother, without contacting any of Pearlsky’s doctors, and without notifying any of us, commanded that her food must be blended; an absurd, unwarranted and rather distasteful decision.

“Forward cooperation,” as you state, would be nice. And a first.

Thank you for your time.

“The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.” ~Henry The Sixth, Part 2 Act 4, scene 2, 71–78