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    • Mother Denied Custody Of Daughter Save Email Print
    Court rules against mom of 2-year-old who suffered burns
    Posted: 10:37 PM Jul 22, 2008
     Last Updated: 9:30 PM Jul 23, 2008
     Email Address: sixonline@wowt.com
    77 comments
    A | A | A

    A Douglas County Juvenile Court judge Wednesday denied an Omaha mother's attempt to regain custody of her 2-year-old daughter, citing unexplained burns on the girl's body.

    Mom Dena Roll said the burns were from a cigarette and were accidental, but Judge Jeffrey Johnson said the burns did not appear to be caused by a cigarette.

    He stated it would be in Alana Roll's best interests to be placed in "the temporary protective custody of Nebraska Health and Human Services for appropriate care and placement, to exclude the mother’s home until further order of the court.”

    Dena has been granted supervised visits.

    Judge Johnson based his decision on several other factors, including little Alana staying with her grandfather Roger Roll, a registered sex offender for possession of child pornography. Dena was evicted from her father's apartment after the burn incident.

    A relative who wants her identity concealed because she's fearful of Dena's friends said Tuesday she first saw what looked like a burn mark on the toddler's neck several weeks ago.

    "Alana did state that it was definitely a burn mark inflicted by her mother. At that point, I didn't know for sure if it was an accident or just how it happened."

    A few days passed before she saw Alana again. "She had a mark on her shoulder. At that time I was very scared in thinking that something is definitely happening to her." She says that mark was as big as a lemon so she called Child Protective Services and took Alana to a doctor.

    "She was right, she got burned by a cigarette, but it was not intentional,” Dena told Channel 6 News on Tuesday. “I don't even like spanking my baby."

    "We were at the park and I had a cigarette in my hand and she had run by because she was running all over the place and she ran into it and part of the ashes got right here on her face and then it got on her shoulder."

    Roll said she had no idea it became infected and regrets not getting medical attention for Alana. "It is my fault that I didn't take her to the doctor and didn't get it looked at right away, but I wouldn't hurt my baby.”

    Roll has not been arrested or cited for abuse, but has lost custody of Alana, who had been in the care of her great aunt and grandmother. We're told the 2-year-old is recovering and is in good spirits.
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    Posted by: DaRae on Sep 15, 2008 at 01:42 PM
    Stay strong D, you'll get your daughter back. Love yall!
    Posted by: savannah on Jul 26, 2008 at 11:24 AM
    To the mother of this little girl! it looks as if you do not have roll models for you or Alana. Break the cycle and change your life around, All parents need family love and support, and when you have not had this! life can be that more dificult. No excuses what has happen to Alana! But you can do all you can do , so it never happens again. find mentors, support groups, parenting groups ect. stay away from family who have distroyed ur life in a negitive fashion.
    Posted by: Susan on Jul 25, 2008 at 02:18 PM
    Hip..Hip..Hooray for those who are watching over Alana now
    Posted by: mike on Jul 25, 2008 at 11:31 AM
    Trial by public opinion. After reading all these posts it's kind of like a public stoning, only with words. While you're at it, throw the Mother in some water and see if she sinks...she might be a witch!
    Posted by: Michal on Jul 25, 2008 at 08:14 AM
    To the post from Mike who knows the mother and worked with her. SO WHAT! Just because you worked with her does not mean you know her as well as you think you do. It is apparent that she did harm her child. By the way the story is told, Dena does not have the interest in her own child as she should have. THAT is the bottom line. I just hope that if and when she does get her baby girl back, she has learned a lesson from this, quits smoking, finds a new place to live,(away from pedophiles)and, finds new friends that don't party.
    Posted by: L on Jul 25, 2008 at 03:46 AM
    I'm sorry, but this young mother's story doesn't hold water. I noticed every bump, bruise, scrap, scratch, cut-everything, when my children were young. They know to come to me or their father if they are hurting and we will take care of them and do what needs to be done. Obviously, the mother was far too young to be a mother and is still way too immature to handle a rambunctious child. Alana is a beautiful little girl who deserves so much better. While I can't say if it was abuse or not, it certainly was neglectful to let the burn get infected and not take Alana to a doctor. Sounds like she knew it was infected and had to make up a story on the fly. Perhaps she doesn't have good health insurance and couldn't afford to take the baby to the doctor, I don't know. But as a mother, you have to be extra vigilant and make sure your kids are safe and well cared for.
    Posted by: Jessica on Jul 24, 2008 at 09:15 PM
    This type of abuse sickens me. I am a mother of a 4 year old and I notice every little scratch and scrap that appears on my child. How could a mother not notice a mark the size of a lemon on their child. I give a huge thank you to the aunt that helped the poor baby. Who knows what would've happened next if the aunt hadn't stepped in.
    Posted by: mike on Jul 24, 2008 at 06:58 PM
    I worked with dena for 2 yrs and she would not hurt her daughter in any way,shape or form and she is a good mother so why dont you all bug off matter of fact I love that women and shes a good person just remember you cant judge a book by its cover
    Posted by: cola on Jul 24, 2008 at 06:57 PM
    i agree with lynn on the fact that maybe something should have been done sooner. ask dena how many drug test she failed before alana was born?? try 2. and still nothing was done. what do that really have to say about the system. and the smoking is not the issue here. don't take the easy way out and blame it on that. maybe someone should ask dena who and where the father is and why she never seen the marks when she gave alana a bath or changed her cloths. alana is better off with the great aunt and grand mother. i just wish there were more people out there that would do that for there grand children or family members. my hat off to the great aurt and grandmother.
    Posted by: Jessica on Jul 24, 2008 at 05:36 PM
    I think credit needs to be given for the little girls aunt that took the little girl to get check out. It takes courage for someone to step up and I'm glad she did. Who knows what could've happened next.
    Posted by: Savanah on Jul 24, 2008 at 05:35 PM
    Thanks for saving a child! The relative saved this little gal from further heart ache and possibly further life threatening pains! If the mother cares so much! she will have plenty of time and programs to attend to prove this! Second of all! Did any consquences happen to the Grandfather for being that close to a child? Im hoping so! or perhaps like Scott Whitsett who was recently charged for child porn at work! and no one is making him follow the law about staying away from kids!!! Dont Child services understand that most kids who are abuses are done so by close realtives! becuase the adults know how to manipulate them more? well at least maybe this little girl can be saved.
    Posted by: R on Jul 24, 2008 at 03:45 PM
    I agree with the posters here so far, the other thing that stood out to me was her comment "I don't even like spanking my child" I found that an odd statement. Not "I would never spank my baby" but her statement implies she does spank and doesn't it like. Who spanks a 2 yr old?
    Posted by: CS on Jul 24, 2008 at 03:24 PM
    I think the operative word in this story is "burns" - which means more than one. I can see burning the child on accident ONCE with a cigarette but not more than once b/c accidents DO happen - but not more than once. The creepy grandfather doesn't make matters any better for this girl either. I agree that this child needs to be protected and the court should make specific requests of this mother mandatory before even considering returning the child.
    Posted by: Wow..... on Jul 24, 2008 at 03:01 PM
    Do my eyes deceive me or did the courts actually do the RIGHT thing??? Awesome! Protect that child court system, its obvious the parents cant.
    Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 24, 2008 at 01:45 PM
    I think the bigger issues here are that apparently the medical expert used by the court says these are cigarette burns at all ... and also, the child was residing with a known child porn sex offender. Thank goodness she has somewhere else to go!
    Posted by: Ron on Jul 24, 2008 at 01:27 PM
    I know some of the relatives, and they said that HUD will give her housing assistance for the third time. The other two times HUD was forced to remove her from the program due to friends and boyfriends moving in with her, instead of using for her and her daughter. It became party central. She will end up with her daughter back because the way HHS is run in the state of Nebraska. Instead of doing anything about the abuse she gets a free place to live and party!!
    Posted by: A on Jul 24, 2008 at 12:57 PM
    It's not so discreet, you know when things become infected. Especially when they are sitting on the outer layer of skin, tell me that she's a responsible mother? Tell me she can be taught to do well next time? Prove to me without a shadow of a doubt that this freak of a woman will not kill that baby with the evidence that she had intentionally harmed her already. It cannot be done. Then why would anyone be willing to place that baby back where danger is so close? That woman should be charged and no she should never get her baby back. Furthermore she should be forced to have surgery to insure that she will never have another child that she can victimize. Look in that little girl's eyes and tell me you are willing to risk her life for nothing. Nothing is worth putting that little girl back in harms way, nothing.
    Posted by: Amy on Jul 24, 2008 at 12:22 PM
    Tim and all others who seem to think I'm sticking up for this mother: I agree that this child belongs to be where she is safe until the mother recieves the help she needs to see that this never happen again. I just hate reading the judgemental comments from people who have logs in their own eyes. I haven't questioned where the father is because the authorities have not mentioned the father. And, no I don't know this young woman but I know a lot of people who have smirks on their faces and are not judged by strangers. Lets let the judicial system work to help the mother and Alana by keeping her with her other family members until the mother can learn or prove that she can be the loving mother I'm sure she wants to be. They will see how Alana reacts to her and how she handles cituations in the future during her supervised visits. I still think most of you are making narrow minded comments. My prayers are with Alana and her entire family! They need love and understanding.
    Posted by: l on Jul 24, 2008 at 11:49 AM
    I agree with Jennifer....this was hidden intentionally....infected the size of a lemon????Come on LADY!!!!! Just because you are an idiot , don't treat the judicial systam like they are idiots too???? People like this should't be allowed to have children....they should be steralized & she should never be allowed to have another child.
    Posted by: Tearful on Jul 24, 2008 at 11:35 AM
    This saddens me ! My prayers are with the beautiful little girl. I am not here to judge her mom. My children (4) have all ran into lite cigeretts at one time in thier life however, none of them were ever the size of a lemon. My youngest daughter accidently touched the stove (electic) right after i turned it off and burned the palm of her hand she was rushed to the doctors office and her tiny hand was bandaged however that too was never the size of a lemon. Can't believe that mom didn't relize that it was infected.
    Posted by: Terry on Jul 24, 2008 at 11:24 AM
    It is unbelieveable that everyone wants to jump on the ban wagon. First accidents happen, and if the investagations can't prove otherwise the child should be returned. However, as a mom of 5 I find it hard to believe that common sense did not prevail in taking the child to the doctor. Where is her dad? My Lord these young people need to stop having babies until they can care for them. The relative that stepped up did the right thing. If mom wants the child back she needs to get her life together. I honestly find it hard to believe that she did not take the little one to the doctor because she didn't know it was infected. Take a first aide class and parenting class and work at turning this into something positive.
    Posted by: UPSET on Jul 24, 2008 at 10:41 AM
    Why is EVERYONE talking about smoking. Yes, it's wrong of the mom to smoke in front of the child. The bigger issue is child abuse people. If she wouldn't have burned her with a cigerrete it would have been something else or abused her in another way. The woman would of hurt this poor child regardless if she smoked or not. That is THE MAIN ISSUE HERE.
    Posted by: Kam on Jul 24, 2008 at 10:38 AM
    What the hell?! I would agree that you should not smoke in the car or house with your kids. Big picture people, that burn the size of a lemon was not from a cigarette! NO WAY!!! And not noticing it, give me a break. I think some people should be given a chance to get their kids back but not this girl! I pray to God that they do not give her back no matter what because I fear for her life. What next, stick her in the oven?! I am so glad that her family took notice and took her. I am sorry for your pain because I'm sure it's hard for you to imagine your own child doing this to your grandchild. Double pain for you. Be strong and save your granddaughter; if your daughter wants help she'll get it. You can't help her just Alana. My thoughts and prayers go out to you.
    Posted by: Anastasia on Jul 24, 2008 at 09:42 AM
    I agree that in this case and others like it, the child needs to be protected while the parents acquire the tools necessary to do the job. Many children die each year in Nebraska because the system believes in "reuniting the family" above all else. Training parents will cost money, but so does housing prisoners. Remember the saying, "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world". Parents have great power in the lives of their children and with that comes responsibility.
    Posted by: holly on Jul 24, 2008 at 08:58 AM
    I am a smoker and have two children of my own. I have to agree this is not about the smoking, but about the child being burned by her mother. WAKE UP! Protect this child from further harm and abuse! It is a good thing that she does have family that is willing to do something about it and not afraid to call CPS. Get the mother a lot of parenting classes, she needs it. Parenting is not easy and does not come with instructions. Get this mother help before she gets the child back and does any further harm to her. Alana needs to be protected for now, but should be able to go back with her mother as long as she has gone to classes and has councling. CPS you need to wake up and dig deep into this case, to many children are falling threw the cracks! Don't let this one fall threw too.
    Posted by: Bob on Jul 24, 2008 at 04:02 AM
    To Susan, no need to yell on message boards. You can get frustrationa and anger across in a message without using caps. I know someone wrote that smoking is not the issue but I tend to disagree. The issue is the harm that came to an innocent child. Exposing someone to second hand smoke when they don't have the option to NOT be around it is abuse. If I went somewhere and someone was smoking and I didn't like it, I leave. I don't tell that person to put it out because it is there right. But that little girl didn't have that option, she is force to breathe it, it is harmful to her and therefor it is abuse. You people that smoke around your kids and talk about how they like the smell of your cigars and then wonder why they cough all the time or keeping getting upper respiratory infections make me sick.
    Posted by: deb on Jul 24, 2008 at 01:35 AM
    My father smoked during my entire childhood - I remember several times running into him when he had a cigarette in his hand and getting burned. Never was there a time when it left a mark as big as a lemon! And I don't recall any of those incidents getting infected. I learned to be careful when my Dad was smoking and eventually he quit the habit. This situation is child abuse, not an accident! It's rediculous to assume it's anything else! She should not get her child back.
    Posted by: Susan on Jul 24, 2008 at 12:37 AM
    KEEP THE CHILD AWAY FROM HER MOTHER..REMEMBER THE STORIES IN THE PAPER WHERE THE INNOCENT FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS AND ARE INJURIED...LETS NOT SEE IT HAPPEN HERE, SHE HAS HAD HELP AND HOUSING TWICE BEFORE, AND NOW THE jUDGE WANTS TO HELP HER AGAIN. iT IS TIME TO HELP Alana now
    Posted by: Anastasia on Jul 24, 2008 at 12:35 AM
    In our society, we do not educate people to handle the responsibilities and avoid the dangers involved in child-rearing. Anyone with functional reproductive organs can have a child, but far fewer people have the tools to raise a child. It is a shame that parenting is treated as such a "natural" thing to do. Parenting is the toughest job in the world, and it never ends. Let's help our new parents and expectant parents instead of waiting for them to screw up so we can judge them. This is a cycle that will not end without meaningful intervention. This means people may need to volunteer some time to help young parents learn how to take the right path. Move outside your comfort zone and make a difference. Our foster care system is already an overcrowded, under supervised mess.
    Posted by: Jennifer on Jul 24, 2008 at 12:30 AM
    First off, I don't believe her story, she stated she didn't realize it had gotten infected. HMMM wouldn't you notice something the size of a lemon on your daughter and think hmmm should she go to the dr. That being said, it was intentional because a dr would report something like that to CPS she didn't want done. Im a mother of 2 children taken by the state of Iowa because of domestic issues with their father and I. I had several things I had to do that the court ordered in order to get my children back. July 7 was a year, and my oldest son who is 4 has been returned to me *thier father is no longer in my life one stipulation by the court*, my youngest son 2 will be returned next month because of medical issues. Some parents should be allowed to have their children back if there is no harm to the children in the first place, like mine. But Parents like her, where there is physical or any actual abuse to the child should not. She isn't of those parents who should get her back.
    Posted by: Rae on Jul 23, 2008 at 10:03 PM
    Ok...for one it states "BURNS". To me that means more than one burn. A cigarette burn is a cigarette burn. A child wouldn't accidentally burn themselves to a degree leading to child abuse charges and a child being removed from a household!!! Wake up you blind folks!!!! Sad when people like me and my husband want to have children and are not medically able to, yet this slime is burning her child!
    Posted by: Irritated on Jul 23, 2008 at 09:50 PM
    Do you people seriously believe this mothers story? This is how it always happens, Nebraska HHS is to lazy to investigate, decides the mothers story is legite, gives the child back and a few months later the child is dead. Dont you get it????? Take this child and give her to parents that will not hurt her. The state owes this small child that. Be her voice. Dont sit back and let this crap happen. Or is this Nebraskas way of population control? This states inability to take action makes me sick.
    Posted by: t on Jul 23, 2008 at 09:44 PM
    There are many times when the children are taken away from the biological parents, the idea is not to keep them apart forever, but to put them back together after much needed couciling, and parenting classes. This young woman should be able to have her daughter back after she completes her courses that the court put into place for her, if she does well and proves her parenting has improved, she will have her daughter back, which after all is what we all want to see, a happy well nurtured little girl with her responsible caring mother. This young woman has a long haul and hard work ahead of her, I hope she gets the support she needs to complete all she has gets assigned by the courts and that both mother and daughter have the support so they can be a family again, and bar the child porn grandfather from her, this young woman must have been abused herself, she can't even see when something is wrong. I hope the courts get her into couciling as soon as possible.
    Posted by: jason on Jul 23, 2008 at 09:15 PM
    I don't like the idea of somebody smoking around a baby either. But this is the part that really scares me: The fact that she is choosing to let her two year old daughter live with a freaking sex offender...Busted on child porn no less!! I don't care if its family. After I became aware that somebody in my family had those kind of sick urges, I would NEVER allow them near my child...Let alone live with them!!
    Posted by: Rooster on Jul 23, 2008 at 07:59 PM
    I read through alot of the comments and the consensus seems to focus on the smoking. It is not an issue of smoking, rather an issue of neglect. Millions of people smoke and have children, at some point it is possible that a child gets burnt by a cigarette. That is something for the parent to consider when they light up. Not taking the child to the doctor is negligence and should result in criminal charges. Do not focus on the cigarette, but do focus on the well being of the child. What I see is a young, unprepared, negligent mother with the child not being numbero uno!
    Posted by: Mae on Jul 23, 2008 at 06:28 PM
    To "Concerned", I agree with the earlier poster. You have a duty and are obligated under Nebraska Law to report your information of suspected child abuse to law enforcement or the department of social services child abuse department. If you do not and it comes out after wards that you could have prevented further abuse you could be charged, not to mention the mental anguish you will experience if this child is hurt or killed and knowing you could have prevented it! If you have not already done so ... Do the right thing and call the police!
    Posted by: Bob on Jul 23, 2008 at 06:06 PM
    Get real folks. She may or may not be a bad Mom, but merely smoking around a child is not grounds for public attack. Happens everywhere, happened to many of us and we're normal. I happen to smoke cigars, and my grandkids love the smell in the car! Sometimes I have to yell at them to roll the windows down if my eyes get to hurting!
    Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 23, 2008 at 06:04 PM
    She shows SO many signs of lying in the video. She looks to the left, she shifts around and shuffles her feet when the reporter is asking questions and waiting for a responce, and she moves her hand towards her face at one point (where it ends up rubbing her neck and then holding her shoulder.) And if that's not a giveaway, she smirked a little!! Her story doesn't fit together like how a story that is truthful would fit (she says many 'ands' and is telling a whole story before she gets to the point where she actually says how the burns happened.) And unfortunately, this girl is probably my age (seventeen) or even younger...that's not an age to be having a child or even having sex to begin with. She shouldn't get her daughter back. She seems to spend more money on eyeliner and cigarettes more than clothes or toys for Alana. Let's hope she doesn't get knocked up again and have another child that the same thing may happen to. My thoughts are with the little one!!
    Posted by: to luke on Jul 23, 2008 at 06:00 PM
    wake up dude!!! alot of people smoke and are VERY good parents!!!
    Posted by: Sholyn on Jul 23, 2008 at 05:45 PM
    Most of us can’t imagine what would make an adult use violence against a child, and the worse the behavior is, the more unimaginible it seems. But the incidence of parents and other caregivers consciously, even willfully, committing acts that harm the very children they’re supposed to be nurturing is a sad fact of human society that cuts across all lines of ethnicity and class. Whether the abuse is rooted in the abuser's mental illness, substance abuse, or their inability to cope, the psychological result for each abused child is often the same: deep emotional scars and a feeling of worthlessness. If the court is going to give this poor, helpless child back to its mother, then I do not blame this neglectful mother, I blame our court system. If America would handle situations of child abuse from the start and punish them the way they punish the helpless life of a innocent child then 90% of these neglectful child abusers would not exsist. Omaha Court System....lets get the ball rollin
    Posted by: carol on Jul 23, 2008 at 05:05 PM
    All the time I spent raising my kids and now raising my grandchildren I have smoked but in all those years I also smoked. Not once in all those years did my kids or grandbabies get burned to this degree. Yes, kids run around outside and sometimes when people are smoking kids will run into someone's cigarette but I have never heard of a burn from a cigarette that is the size of a lemon...something else is definately going on here and really needs to be looked into. And, why on earth is she living with a known and registered sex offender? This mother needs to get more than just help...I hope this is a giant reality check for her. I hope the State keeps this baby until she can be raised in a much safer enviourment.
    Posted by: Tim on Jul 23, 2008 at 05:00 PM
    Hey, Amy. Is your real name Dena? Ot was she just sitting next to you as you typed your entry?
    Posted by: DJ on Jul 23, 2008 at 04:53 PM
    This has nothing to do with smoking people. It has to do with child abuse! CHILD ABUSE IS WRONG. Let the woman smoke all she wants. she hurt her daughter on purpose that is what this is about she should be punished for that.
    Posted by: T. on Jul 23, 2008 at 04:49 PM
    To Amy I agree w/ you til a certain extent. Yes feel free to smoke it your life. But don't hurt your daughter that was not an accident. And the Mother shouldn't get her daughter taken away for good. But she does need punishment or education on raising a child. Than maybe she can start a good decent life with her daughter. Think about the little girl she is the one being hurt not anyone else. Just b/c you had a loving Mother doesn't mean everyone does also.
    Posted by: To "Concerned" on Jul 23, 2008 at 04:33 PM
    It sounds like you have a lot of first hand information on this case and this mother. You better do the right thing and bring your concerns to the Judge directly - that's the nice thing about our public court system. If you have valuable information, it is your DUTY to Alana to get this information to the proper authorities - not waste it on some message board. Do the right thing!!
    Posted by: Michal on Jul 23, 2008 at 04:25 PM
    This goes out to Amy, who seems to be on the mother's side of this story. Hellllllloooo Amy, read between the lines. The mother stated she would never hurt her baby. It is apparent she is not watching her child very closely. As far as not hurting her child, I think the hurt has already been done. The woman needs to stop her careless smoking for the benefit of not only her, but her child as well. Can you not read between the lines Amy? The mother needs some serious parenting classes. And, yes, she also should be tested for illegal drug use.
    Posted by: To Amy on Jul 23, 2008 at 03:57 PM
    I sleep perfectly at night because I know the authorties will protect this beautiful baby girl from her moron mother who thinks its "OK" to smoke around her. By the way Amy, help me out, I read the story twice.... Where is the father? Hmmmmmm
    Posted by: Bob on Jul 23, 2008 at 03:32 PM
    Amy,watch that video above once again. This "mother" has a smirk on her face as she talks about the "accident". If she was truly a caring mother or even caring that she has lost her daughter for the time being, tears or sorrow might be present in her face. Instead, she has a temporary set of babysitters so she can go get drunk and maybe harm others.
    Posted by: Amy on Jul 23, 2008 at 03:00 PM
    Why are people so quick to judge this young mother? And why is it that my mother who was a wonderful loving mother is suddenly called a bad mother for smoking cigerettes? I believe that people are too narrow minded these days and that some consistant parenting classes would help them both. This little girl needs her real mother. I'm sure the grandmother and aunt love them both very much and in no way appreciate all the comments made by people who don't even know this young mother. Shame on all of you! Pull the log out of your own eyes before trying to pull the sliver from this young mothers eye!! As long as this mother does everything she can to correct the issue; she deserves to have 'her' daughter. Too many people being judgemental! How do you people sleep at night?
    Posted by: JC on Jul 23, 2008 at 02:02 PM
    First, I'll say that it's very possible that the child ran into the cigarette accidentally. Although I absolutely don't agree with it, it's still not against the law to smoke around a child. HOWEVER, not taking the child to the doctor when the sores became infected is inexcusable! She was obviously not concerned with the well-being of her child.
    Posted by: Terri on Jul 23, 2008 at 12:56 PM
    The child may have a chance at a decent life if she is kept from this type of parent. Don't have kids if you can't and won't take care of them. I think the mom's side of the story is hogwash. If you give her back I bet within a month something more serious will happen maybe even death.
    Posted by: sally on Jul 23, 2008 at 12:41 PM
    Come on Mom.How about playing with your 2 yr old daughter at the park instead of "grabbing her as she ran by". Toddlers need to be attended to with constant adult observation and interaction. That means actually playing with them yourself, not standing there watching them run while you enjoy a cigarette.Becoming a parent means giving up selfish habits--like smoking. Its bad for your health and the child's; its very expensive and, obviously, dangerous around children.You have to put the child first.
    Posted by: CONCERNED on Jul 23, 2008 at 12:12 PM
    The burn, since healing some, is a coil looking burn about the size of a lemon end. THERE IS NO WAY THIS IS A CIGARETTE burn. I have seen it. The police need to look into this further. The courts are not doing anything. Dena has a 2 hour supervised visit today. COME ON JUDGE. TRY DRUG TESTING DENA. Any mother would have noticed a burn getting infected and this is a COIL BURN. Someone look at the childs, shoulder, face and ankle. If the mother gets this child back, only bad will happen. WAKE UP WORLD and you Dena especially. GET HELP.
    Posted by: RM on Jul 23, 2008 at 12:11 PM
    See second hand smoke is dangerous to others peoples health and it looks like this mother is dangerous to her child's health. At least give up smoking for your child's welfare.
    Posted by: Luke on Jul 23, 2008 at 11:51 AM
    Parents who smoke should not be allowed to keep their children anyway. Smoking around small children is harmful to their health and thus I see it as abuse. I would have turned her in a long time ago, I would like to shake the concerned relative's hands. Bottom line, parents who smoke around their children do not deserve them. Parents who smoke around their children do not love them enough to keep them safe from the cancer causing agents found in their putrid, second hand smoke. The fact that smoking is an addiction does not make it an excuse. If you love your children you don't smoke...period.
    Posted by: cece on Jul 23, 2008 at 10:59 AM
    A burn the size of a lemon from a cigarette? Is that possible? And you don't know it was infected? Is anyone really buying the story? I also find it hard to believe this is what really happened.
    Posted by: Yabbut on Jul 23, 2008 at 10:55 AM
    At the very least it's neglect. But, it's kinda obvious this mother is in a world of her own. Intentional, I say. Good job to the family member that notified authorities.
    Posted by: Mary O. on Jul 23, 2008 at 10:53 AM
    Mark "as big as a lemon"? If that's true, it's not an accident. "No idea it became infected"? Assuming mom bathes and dresses her daughter, she should have noticed that immediately. I'm also wondering if Alana winced in pain when the burns were touched. Mom should have noticed that, too.
    Posted by: CONCERNED on Jul 23, 2008 at 10:51 AM
    Two marks with a few weeks. And one of the the size of a lemon WAKE UP PEOPLE! CHILD ABUSE. I definetley would have noticed something wrong with my child even if myu child was older. What a loser mom
    Posted by: Sue on Jul 23, 2008 at 10:45 AM
    There is obviously way more to this story. The fact that the relative who turned Alana's mother, Dena, is afraid of reprisal from Dena's friends is an alarming red flag. I hope CPS and the court system takes a good long look at Alana's mother and her poor choices--careless smoking, neglect of her baby's medical needs and her thug friends. My heart goes out to this beautiful baby. I'm glad that there are relatives who are responsible and caring. It appears Dena needs to grow up.
    Posted by: Brain on Jul 23, 2008 at 10:38 AM
    The fact of the matter is, is that this so called "parent" is so dang irresponsible that she couldn't even take this poor little girl to the doctor after it started to get infected. This is why young teens shouldn't be having babies. Let me burn you with a cigarette Dena and see how it feels. Freakin trailer trash!!!!!
    Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 23, 2008 at 10:29 AM
    Any responsible mother would NOT smoke around their child. The mother's story doesn't seem believeable. I really hope the child is in good hands now. She deserves a proper/happy childhood.
    Posted by: Shell on Jul 23, 2008 at 10:19 AM
    God bless the great aunt and Grand mother. I am sure she is in a better place. Please keep your eyes open.
    Posted by: b on Jul 23, 2008 at 10:07 AM
    How do you NOT KNOW that it became infected?!?!?! Do you bathe this little one?? Do you change her clothes?? Family does not want to be indentified because of the mothers friends?? Good God - pray for this child!!!!!!!
    Posted by: MOM on Jul 23, 2008 at 10:04 AM
    First of all it tells me alot if the relative is scared to say her name b/c of the mom's friends nice friends she must have. Second, the little girl had a mark on her neck first was that an accident to? sounds fishy to me, but who am I to judge. I just hope this beautiful little girl does not end up getting hurt even worse in the future by her mom. It would be so sad to have to see her on the news again.
    Posted by: Jarbeau on Jul 23, 2008 at 09:07 AM
    Sounds like KLynn needs a life and Mary needs hipocrasy training. I'm sure glad my child rearing days are behind me. Our society seems to deserve what it gets over the next several years.
    Posted by: Ronald on Jul 23, 2008 at 08:52 AM
    If you listen to the mother's interview there is no way her daughter got burned the way she said it happened. I hope that child does not get returned to her. She should not be allowed to have any children in her care.
    Posted by: Michal on Jul 23, 2008 at 08:20 AM
    The "Mother" says she would not hurt her baby. Well, smoking around her daughter is hurting her. If the relative does not want to be identified because of fear of the mother's friends, she cannot be much of a mother anyhow. If the little girl did run into the cigarette as the mother states, then the mother should watch her daughter more closely as to where the little girl is running. In able not to harm her child in this way in the future, she should seriously consider giving up smoking. It is harmful to the child in more ways then she realizes. To quit smoking would benefit both of them.She keeps smoking, she may not live long enough to see her daughter graduate from high school. Harsh reality isn't it?!!! Also, some good parenting classes would benefit the mother.
    Posted by: Bob on Jul 23, 2008 at 08:08 AM
    Come on. There is no way that ashes from a cigarette are hot enough to burn a persons skin that badly in two place. Maybe at the point of impact but not in multiple spots. This gal is way too smug. Lock her up!!!!
    Posted by: Chris on Jul 23, 2008 at 07:26 AM
    This is Y you do not smoke around or near your kids, accidents if it was an accident happen to often with smoking around children.
    Posted by: JMS on Jul 23, 2008 at 07:07 AM
    I saw this story last night. My parents both smoked when I was a child. There was a time where I accidently ran into my Dad while he was sitting in a lawn chair smoking BUT I never ended up with a burn the size of a lemon. I find that hard to believe. Also how could the mother not see it was infected? Doesn't she change her daughters clothes everyday? Wouldn't one have the common sense to notice something like this? HMM I think the mothers story doesn't quite add up.
    Posted by: Karen on Jul 23, 2008 at 05:23 AM
    The Mother needs to know that her actions have serious consequences and it is about time the child gets a voice in their own welfare. Accidents do happen but I am tired of those Mothers who think that their actions should not be dealt with.
    Posted by: Mary on Jul 23, 2008 at 12:09 AM
    At the very least, this mother needs to learn that smoking around the children is a terrible idea. It's dangerous, unhealthy, and sets a terrible example to the kids. And no, I'm no militant anti-smoker... and no angel, either. I smoked for many years, gave it up before I had my kids, but have fallen off the wagon a few times since they were born... but they've never seen me smoke, never seen cigarettes in my possession. I may have my weaknesses, but I never endanger my kids. So even if this really was an "accident"... this mother needs some education.
    Posted by: KLynn on Jul 22, 2008 at 11:13 PM
    I bet she gets her back. Just the same way that the moms who 'accidentally' do drugs while they are pregnant and test positive for everything under the sun take home their babies.
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