The story of my son up till December 20, 2023

Davis Lim’s Affidavit On Behalf Of Theo Lim - Short Version

My family has left the Okanagan to be with my son Theo Nowel Lim at BC Children’s Hospital since his birth on April 14th, 2022.

He was just discharged Jan 29, 2025, which means he has been a patient and mojority of the days kept as a prisoner in the hospital for

1021 Days

2 Years, 9 Months, and 15 Days

He was suddenly put into foster care ahead of the schudule they gave us. Even though MCFD told the judge that he would be put in a home close to our community in Armstrong BC, he was put in a home in Vancouver.

Based on research I have done online on Facebook groups, Children with VACTERL can usually go home in 3 to 5 months. We have also met another boy with VACTERL, just a year older than Theo, by the name of Nicholas, who lives an hour from us in Mabel lake. We want to go home when Theo is stable, strong and healthy and would have chosen to go home sooner if we could. Theo also has Traf7, a chromosome defect that was discovered in 2018 in seven children and only about 50 cases have been described in medical literature, worldwide.

Unfortunately, we have had a nightmare experience with the Ministry of Child and Family Development (MCFD), which has chosen to arbitrary weaken families, and several doctors who have made false accusations. Doctors who do not want to respect parents’ method of medical treatment get MCFD involved, to get their way. My son has been victimized, abused, tortured, kidnapped, butchered and kept hostage at the hospital so they and not the parents can maintain control. Theo is overfed and given a drug named domperidone that can cause cardiac arrest. The respirologist and medical team refused to collaborate with the parents, nor would they permit us to obtain a second option.

We begged for factual information and some degree of support and collaboration, but our family values and sacred family circle has been frequently violated. We hope there can be change, to have families supported and encouraged in their life-changing journey. We have been by our son's side since he was born, observing every step forward, along with every setback with our son and with other families who have been similarly victimized. We saw what was helpful in his treatment plan and what wasn’t. Theo’s 1 vitality and ability to thrive has been thwarted. The doctors misused forced flu & childhood vaccinations. Domperidone, a black-box label drug, has been given to him against our wishes and with our very vocal and documented protests. We gave MCFD and the doctors printed evidence for the reasons we do not want these drugs, yet the response is, “the Ministry is the legal guardian, and they make all the decisions, not you.” Their disregard for our religious convictions is discrimination and violates our Charter rights.

The protection hearing started May 31st, 2023, but is delayed until January 9, 2024, for a 6-day trial. To be presumed guilty and suffer such a delay of justice before a judge is criminal. The threats from MCFD to put Theo into foster care has caused undue stress to us as parents. We want our family to be united and have our human rights honoured, all for Theo’s wellbeing and development.

In our personal experience, the care has not been exceptional, but at times ineffective and tyrannical, with threats that the care of our son will be removed and given to medical professionals and associated staff. Instead of truth and reconciliation there is lies and oppression. Our son’s fullest potential has been botched by MCFD and his fullness of health will take years to recover after their exploitation.

In a meeting, Dec 6, 2022, we were told by the medical team that two choices were before us. Either withdraw care and send Theo to palliative/end of life care or do a tracheostomy.

Exhibit “A”

How inadequate, inhumane, cruel and unprofessional to only give us two options. These bigots are harmful, uncaring tyrants, instead of concerned, healing physicians that work and respect parents for the child’s best interest. My wife and I love our son dearly and would do whatever we can to help him live a joyful, rich life. Theo has been a loving inspiration for our family and we cherish this amazing journey we have had with him. Though trials and obstacles have increased our stress levels, we have hope that love will prevail and the arbitrary abuse of the innocent will stop at BCCH when they team up MCFD. There needs to be a check and balance of powers. Power corrupts but absolute power corrupts absolutely in this fallen world we live in.

Timeline and journey

April 14, 2022 – successful natural birth@ Vernon hospital @3:13am. Airlifted to B.C Children's Hospital 9:30am

April 17, Easter Sunday, surgery for TEF repair (surgically disconnect esophagus from Trachea and reattach to stomach) – was deferred one day because parents are SDA, Sabbath keepers.

After recovering from surgery, Theo is able to breast feed and breathe on his own without difficulty. He does not have tracheomalacia (floppy airway caused by weak cartilage in trachea)

May 14, respiratory distress, tested Covid positive

Sept 1, 2022 Anterior Aortopexy surgery to stabilize trachea – sternum left open for several days, and closed Sept 3rd. Theo did well for 1 week but infection set in and he had cardiac arrest and had to be intubated.

Sept 23, Postoperative infection and mediastinitis –required reopening wound for 3 days, start of 6 weeks of IV antibiotics (cloxacillin)

Nov 3, 2022 - Sick again, tested positive for bacterial infection in lungs and blood. Coagulase Neg Staph Sepsis - 10 days of antibiotics to Nov 13 (blood culture positive on Nov 8, negative on Nov 10–treatment recommended for 7 days after negative blood culture, however parents refused treatment after Nov 13)

Nov 13, 10pm, nurse could not flush his IV line because he had developed another clot. Father did not want to wake up child as he was sleeping to start another IV. Father called mother and found out Theo has very few good blood vessels left for IV lines. She witnessed Theo getting poked multiple times and no IV was successful. Ultrasound was then used to find a blood vessel and a successful line was placed. Father made a choice to end antibiotics a few days prematurely because a negative culture was given 3 days before and he had already been on cloxacillin since Sept 23. Father reasoned that Theo needed his sleep after 10pm and should not be awaken and have to go thru the painful experience of having an IV inserted. Father remembered the day before on the 12^th, when they took blood for diagnostic and saw how much Theo cried due to the pain. Father also remembered doctors saying infants do not like pain and how it affects their development, that is who opiates and sedatives are used to ease their pain. Dr. Leah Halpenny, threatened the father the ministry will get involved if I don’t listen to professional advice. I told them I will sign the paperwork and release them of their liability. Theo did not have reoccurring infection after but I got a earful from infections control, ethics and the pharmacologist.

November 29, 2022 – Theo is fully weaned off Lorazepam, a very addictive benzodiazepine used in hospitals for sedating infants. Was warned that Theo might get seizures if he is weaned off to fast or if stopped suddenly.

Dec 2, 2022– Theo has 12 seizures from midnight to 10am the next day. Medical reports say “coincident with rapid wean of lorazepam at parents’ request”. Note it is the doctor that sets the wean rate, and not parents.

Seizures treated with lorazepam, ironically the same drug he was weaned from. PubMed reports that if there is no fever or rash, it is extremely rare or non-existent for a child can have meningitis. Father did not give consent to start on antibiotics for meningitis. He felt very strongly it was withdrawal from Lorazepam. Father asked if they did not see the ELEPHANT in the room? Medical team still wanted to push through with antibiotic treatment. Father signed form to take full liability. ***Case opened with MCFD because father, supposedly put son at risk by withholding meningitis antibiotics.

December 9, Father asks Dr Anne Antrim if Theo has meningitis, Doctor said “no”. Father asked if he had made the right choice, Dr Antrim, responded “yes, you did make the right choice”.

December 20, Theo is sedated, and Bronchoscopy is done along with CT scan. Father had asked if they could skip the CT scan, Doctor Chilvers said “no”. Meeting was held a few days after the scan and father asked, what the CT scan showed, Dr Chilvers, said not much, it just confirms what we saw in the Bronchoscopy. A few days later, Cardiac team requests for a 2^nd CT scan. Father is concerned because the respirology and cardiac did not coordinate to reduce number of CT scans and thus reduce radiation exposure. Theo is doing well on NIV pressures of 18/10

December 21, Theo is having difficulty breathing and NIV pressures of 18/10 is increased to 20/10. Father is in full agreement due to how hard Theo is working in his breathing. Dr Wilson advised that a pressure wean be delayed by 1 week if trialed again (instead delayed for 3 weeks)

Dec 23, medical team agreed to Trial pressure of 18 next week, a drop of 2 for pressures, not a big change. *doctor’s own words, see attached notes.

Since then, over 5 months have passed and it has not been altered or lowered from 18/10 or 20/10. Father has made multiple requests, and also gave a letter January 27, 2023. Medical team has totally ignored parent’s requests. Since parents are told dropping pressures by 2 is not a big change, why don’t they drop pressures?

February 15, 2023 5:30pm - Dad gave Theo bath by himself with cpap mask on. Nurse was on break during that time. Father saw bedside nurse coming into room after her break and he moves baby from bath tube into his bed and place him on a towel. Nurse is in room when mask comes off and together the mask is taken off and his hair is dried and the wet face mask bands are taken off. Father asked nurse to call a doctor to observe Theo as he was breathing very well on his own without the cpap mask. Dr. Antrim arrived 5 to 10 mins of when his mask was first taken off and suggested to try 30 minutes and he tolerated well. Father asked nurse to take a video with hospital camera to share footage with team the next day. Family so thankful to God for this positive outcome and is excited Theo might go home soon.

February 16, 10am, father is chastised severely for having son's mask off. Rumors spreading, he was alone when mask came off and video that was shared to the team that morning was done by himself. MCFD report said Theo was about to die due to signs of suffocating in the video (turning blue, gasping for air). This is simply not the case, and if Theo was in any sort of distress, me, the nurse or doctor Anne Antrim would put the mask back on and not make him suffer. Father had asked nurse to take the video with hospital camera to share with the team as Theo was scheduled to have a mask off time the previous day, Feb 15 at 1pm but he fell asleep prior and respirology team did not wake him up for the trial off.

March 8^th The bedside nurse Magen on put in her report I was hesitant to put on Theo’s mask after his bath and after cleaning his nose around the nasal feed tube. I noticed yellow secretions forming around his nose around the nasal feed tube and asked her if I can clean his nose. She told me the swabs on the stick was in the drawer and to use that to clean his nose. She told me on the phone later I did not put Theo in distress. My hesitancy is not because I didn't want to put on his mask. My hesitancy is because of mistrust that has been created. I am not hesitant to do what is right for my son and his mask was put on quickly and in a safe, reasonable amount of time right after his nose was cleaned and his wet head gear had to be changed after the bath. A day later, Brianne Lande from MCFD called my wife and I, and told me they will proceed forward with legal action because of what the nurse had reported the previous day. I asked her on what reasonable grounds? and she said due to a report from the nurse and how I had hesitated to put on my son’s mask.

March 13 MCFD and hospital remove custody from parents. Father is limited to two supervised visits, 2 hours per visit.

March 15, first court date. I oppose the order and next court date is set for following week.

March 22, Issac Hill, a lawyer thru legal aid, followed my decision to oppose the order. He highly recommended to me before, many, many times not to oppose as it is highly unlikely I will win the presentation hearing due to its nature and it can cause a long delay to get custody of Theo back. Will find out when next court date is....

April 5, Father’s lawyer responds via email, The earliest court date that counsel were both available for is June 23, 2023. That is 3 months down the road.

That is well past the 6 week ICO that they are seeking. If we would have consented we would only have to wait 3 more weeks to get back into court and challenge the TCO when parents actually have a chance at winning.

April 5, I decide not to contest the presentation hearing and just want to get to the protection stage. Father is in distress after being limited to supervised visits only 2 days a week.

April 19, lawyer attended court today on parents behalf and consented to the ICO. (intern custody order) Father did not know prior to this, that it gives full power to MCFD to make medical decisions without parental consent.

next date in court for protection hearing is May 31, 2023

May 1st, Me and my wife have meeting with medical team and MCFD. Hospital will proceed with tracheostomy with assisted pressures and with G-tube because they now have ICO. Parents do not consent to procedures and give reasons that Theo can tolerate having the mask off but no opportunities have been given since Feb 15, and pressures have not been lowered at all since March. We protest, and refuse to consent and tell the team the procedure is highly unnecessary.

We are told by Doctor we are wrong and to trust professionals and are told he is in ministry’s care and will get the G-tube and tracheostomy very soon even if we do not consent.

May 2nd, Theo has mask off for approximately 2 minutes with mother and nurse. He is able to breathe very well while his hair is dried and combed and older sister took video of it. Some other nurses have also allowed a few minutes off mask during some bath times, just like how thing were before the February 15 incident.

May 5th, Jennifer the social worker from MCFD that takes over from the intake social worker tells us over the phone the surgery for the tracheostomy will be on May 9^th. Parents are very upset and ask to reconsider or delay until an unbiased 3^rd party can help make a wise decision. Jennifer said the MCFD director has signed off on it and will proceed with the medical team’s recommendations.

May 5^th, Father calls the hospital and shares the situation and recommends to have another surgery on standby so if Theo does not have the operation due to court injunction, another child or neonate could have a life saving surgery.

May 25 – G tube surgery done. Parents requested to have a swallow test done first before the procedure is done and medical team refuses.

June 27, Tuesday: I seek out and find Dr. Ian Johnston, a head physician. He is shocked Theo has not had any changes in feed quantity and duration since surgery. He will look into it. (Theo is on a 3.5hour feed with a 30 minute rest, then the feeds start again)

29th June, Thursday: I talk to Dr Saleme Razack. He cannot make any changes at the PICU but will look into my son's situation and my request.

July 4, Tuesday: I spoke with Dr. Ian Johnston again and he has said the whole medical team agrees Theo needs a GI tube procedure to stop his vomiting. No changes can be made. He will put a request again but has no power to change the feeds, even if I request again the team has decided and it is highly unlikely they will change their mind. To not allow the digestive organs to rest is absurd. No normal infant has a 30 min break and fed 3.5hrs continuously for 24 hours. We request to go to 1 hour feeds and 3 hour breaks but medical team refuses. They orchestrate his vomiting artificially so they can do a GJ- tube procedure.

August 17, Jennifer Donnelly * MCFD did not respond to my calls or text messages regarding the start of the black box label drug Domperidone. Theo has an overworked heart due to their forced excessive feeding and an unnecessary GI-tube procedure. He also has a double-outlet left ventricle. Theo is transferred to another room to be hidden from his family. His parents and 3 sisters cannot visit him for over a month starting August 18. No medical updates are shared even when parents call in to request.

Theo's Craniosynostosis (fused skull) should have been operated on at 6 to 12 months of age. He is many months overdue and with delay there is neurosurgical concern he has increased cranial pressures.

The increased pressures can prevent the pituitary gland from releasing growth hormones. The medical team is negligent in not checking low-growth hormone due to brain damage from delayed neurosurgery AS THE CAUSE OF LACK OF WEIGHT GAIN.

Domperidone is no longer licensed for use in children younger than 12 years or those weighing less than 35 kg. Results from a placebo-controlled study in children younger than 12 years with acute gastroenteritis did not show any difference in efficacy at relieving nausea and vomiting compared with placebo.
https://www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/domperidone-for-nausea-and-vomiting-lack-of-efficacy-in-children-reminder-of-contraindications-in-adults-and-adolescents

Domperidone is not yet approved for legal sale or use as a prescription in the United States. The FDA has issued a warning that using domperidone can cause an uneven heartbeat called cardiac arrhythmia. It can also cause cardiac arrest, which is a heart attack, and even sudden death.

We get punished for bringing in a second opinion from a doctor and for caring about what drugs goes into his body and his well-being.

They refuse to treat him to get him discharged and have him returned to his parents. They want to keep him in critical care to put him into foster care and retain him in the hospital till the court date of Jan 9-17, 2024.

**How common is TRAF7-related disorder? First described in seven children in 2018 and since then, about 50 children/people have been described in the medical literature worldwide.

Photos & Video Link:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1RRCeg4-OuUYaamwvQkBhZdCxIPgRka6w

and https://www.facebook.com/davislimster