By Erin K. Costello  Spending time lurking in the anti-vaccine/anti-science community for 3 years, I can’t tell you how many posts/comments/stories I have learned about where parents abuse or even kill their autistic children. They all have the same story to tell before they reach this point. They all became overwhelmed with caring for their autistic child, they all sought help for their situation, and they all fell victim to charlatans. I suspect many experienced mental health issues to various degrees though I don’t have the degree to speak to such things. The ones who became frustrated the most when the help they sought failed to deliver are the ones who, sadly, resorted to murder. I don’t have to explain this for some people though. Katie, for example, knows exactly what I’m talking about. She’s covered many of these stories herself. In fact, she’s written about the Schofield-Cabana kids, parents who tried to or did give their kids bleach to treat autism, and even about one little girl who was murdered by her mother on August 3, 2018. That little girl was Je’Hyrah Denson. Her mother is Shakayla Denson. Katie wrote about this story three times. In one article on August 7, 2018, Katie gives a timeline of events but also points out that the police make no statement as to the mental health of Shakayla at the time she killed her daughter. In an August 3, 2018 article Katie says, “My thoughts are running wild trying to imagine under what circumstance a mother could do this to a child. Parenting a child with a disability poses challenges and increased stress. These stresses can impact the overall well-being and mental health of the caregiver. Once the caregiver reaches burn-out, there is an increased likelihood of violence.” She goes on to give advice and a number to call for care givers who reach the point of burnout. In an August 4, 2018 article Katie wrote, “Anytime a child is diagnosed with a disability; there is a period of adjustment for families. Most parents struggle in the beginning to understand the disability. Many mothers go through a period of grieving as they attempt to make sense of the new reality. For many parents, this period can create extra stress and anxiety.” Katie then goes on to talk about her experience coming to terms with a special needs child as though she can relate to this mother’s turmoil. She then suggests CPS missed an opportunity (yes, she used that word, opportunity) to help the mother with any mental health issues she may have been dealing with. Katie clearly identifies with this mom, and sounds as if she’s giving this mom a pass for drowning her autistic daughter. Katie knows first hand how trying it can be for a parent raising a special needs child. She has been writing about dealing with these obstacles for over 5 years. There are countless blog posts by her on her wordpress site, on her old website (though only viewable now through Wayback Machine), as well more recent articles on Patheos (again, only through Wayback Machine). In a January 11, 2019 Patheos blog post titled Why Mothers of Children with Special Needs Are Not Strong and Need to Cry, Katie says, “When you have a child with disabilities, you are the sole voice and advocate for your child. There are only two choices you have – you either take on the fight, or you abandon your child.” Katie clearly says that abandoning a child is an option. I’m sure she means it to be a last resort option and not at all an acceptable option, but it’s an option nonetheless. The alternative to abandonment is often abuse, neglect, and sometimes murder. In the case of Je’Hyra I have no doubt that everyone who read that story said “Why didn’t the mom just give the child up? Why did she have to murder her own kid?” Well, how can we expect overwhelmed parents to ask for help, a way out, or to give up their child before harming them if we punish, harass, and bully the parents who do just that? I don’t know if Myka would’ve abused or killed Huxley. I do know that I’m happy we will never have to find this out. Myka should NEVER be able to adopt a child again. This isn’t something we should all be allowed a “do-over” at if we don’t succeed the first time. Maybe in extremes situations but I don’t even know what one would look like, but I do know it doesn’t look like Huxley. Myka never should’ve adopted in the first place. But I can’t punish her for realizing her limitations and choosing to put that child’s needs first with a family that could meet his needs, regardless of the backlash she would face. Katie has called Myka, and for some reason has only focused on Myka for the most part and not James as well, a monster, disgrace, a liar, an asshat, an abuser, and greedy. She has accused Myka of human trafficking, of selling stolen goods on Ebay, of exploiting her family, of doing anything to be famous, making James do everything for her, and of being evil. In one comment that Katie left on Myka’s IG [9] Katie said, “I hope every sponsor drops you. I hope Huxley and/or his caregiver sues you. I hope charges of abuse and fraud are brought against you.” So, let’s get this straight. When an adoptive mother realizes she bit off more than she could handle and decides to give the adoptive child a life she can’t offer, she is all these things and deserves to lose EVERYTHING. You decide to then make: 38 IG posts, 26 tweets, and 5 Facebook posts in 6 days. And to spend 217.49 minutes talking about this family on YT and IG in 5 days. But, when a mother murders her autistic child, she deserves understanding for whatever mental health issue she MUST be afflicted with. Good to know. Maybe if the mother who murdered her autistic child had a YouTube channel with almost a million subscribers for Katie to show off for, and possibly gain, Katie would’ve made a bigger deal about the child’s murder. Because, if Katie isn’t doing this for publicity, then why this intense rage towards Myka and not Shakayla Denson? Is she jealous of Myka? If so, why? Because Myka is wealthy and famous? At least, I hope that would be the reason for Katie’s jealousy. I’d hate to think she’s jealous of Myka’s ability to find Huxley another home, thus making her life and home less difficult. Of all the things Katie could covet of Myka’s, I’d hate it to be a life without a special needs child. But, I digress. I have no doubt Katie is doing this all for views and subs and feels little to no rage.
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