Bring Elijah Home

Health Freedom Idaho is coordinating a LEGAL, SAFETY and CAREGIVING FUND to help unite Elijah with his loving parents. https://healthfreedomidaho.org/bring-elijah-home

Ari and Diamond are experiencing a horrifying situation after the removal of their son and the loss of bonding time with him. It appears that the State feels this couple is unfit to care for and raise their child due to their vaccination choices and because of Diamond’s diagnosis of cerebral palsy. Many times in cases involving CPS, the hospital staff will refer families with a parental disability to social services, instead of offering ADA resources and accommodations that support the family. The welfare of this infant is not served by breaking up this family. The well being of the family and baby are best served when the mother has access to her child.

Baby Elijah is in desperate need of his loving mother and father, with so much precious time wasted. Please friends, this family needs to be reunited TODAY! While Diamond's local family and friends are providing resources and local emotional support. Families across the state and the country can offer additional support with a donation here. We are raising funds to help provide this family with paid help, with legal costs, and anything else this family will need at this time. Baby Elijah cannot spend another minute in the foster care program, when he has dedicated, loving parents and an amazing community just waiting to embrace him. You can help!!!

(Read their story below).

UPDATE: Baby Elijah WAS NOT RETURNED to his family this Monday, November 27th. His parents have not been allowed to see him since last Wednesday, November 22nd. As you can imagine, Ari and Diamond are completely beside themselves, devastated at the thought of being away from their sweet boy for any amount of time, especially in the first most crucial days of bonding, protection, and love that this baby needs. Diamond continues to prepare and is still determined to nurse this beautiful baby that God has entrusted her with.

Their Story:

On Monday November 20th, 2017, Diamond and Ari Mehlhoff, residents of North Idaho, were waiting in anticipation of their miracle baby, their first born child Elijah. The video of their new baby, their family, community and church rejoicing was posted for all to see. Diamond had dreamed of being a mother and had been waiting for this moment for 5 years. Finally, their beautiful, healthy baby boy was here.

The parents did their due diligence, researched and prayed about medical choices for their child. As a result of that research, they made the decision to opt out of the newborn vaccination. Family reports that this seemed to set off a cascade of unfathomable events for this young couple.

On Wednesday, November 22nd, just 2 days after Diamond’s C-section and baby Elijah’s birth, the baby was taken away from his loving and now completely heartbroken parents. Why would the State do this? Do people feel that this couple is unfit to care for and raise their child because of Diamond's diagnosis of cerebral palsy (a non-progressive movement disorder)? Or are they discriminated against for their choice to avoid newborn vaccinations?

As you can imagine, Ari and Diamond are completely beside themselves, devastated at the thought of being away from their sweet boy for any amount of time, especially in the first most crucial days of bonding, protection, and love that this baby needs. Diamond continues to prepare and is still determined to nurse this beautiful baby that God has entrusted her with.

Their story is egregious and also very puzzling. After all, it is not illegal in the State of Idaho to opt out of vaccinations (although HFI has received reports from fellow Idahoans being bullied into this decision, including the threat of CPS). And we know that people with disabilities are afforded the same God-given rights as everyone in their community. But what is unclear is why the hospital and State decided it was their right to take this child. While Diamond receives care, she lives with her husband Ari, and Ari's father. Her husband Ari is a doting and loving husband, who has been anxiously awaiting the birth of his son. And Ari's father is a respected member of the community, an ex-teacher, ex-sheriff. Both very capable of caring for a child. If this weren’t enough, the parents have an incredibly caring and devoted church community who have committed to setting up specific times in caring for this baby and family.

At this time, the Mehlhoff’s don’t want to give the judge any reason to deny them even a minute away from their precious, newborn son, Elijah. Diamond and Ari’s community has set up an ongoing 24 hour care calendar for the next several months. Optimally, they would like to have the option of hiring a paid staff in place of this, anticipating that this would bring baby home sooner.

As is often the case, the child protection proceedings are lengthy, thus extending the time away from the baby (causing more suffering) and increasing legal fees. The parent’s legal counsel is EXCELLENT and doing everything to support the family and set precedent in court for other families dealing with similar situations.

Baby Elijah is in desperate need of his loving mother and father, with so much precious time wasted. Please friends, this family needs to be reunited TODAY! While Diamond's local family and friends are providing resources and local emotional support. Families across the state and the country can offer additional support with a donation here. We are raising funds to help provide this family with paid help, with legal costs, and anything else this family will need at this time. Baby Elijah cannot spend another minute in the foster care program, when he has dedicated, loving parents and an amazing community just waiting to embrace him.

The initial Court hearing was on Monday November 27th, 2017 @ 8:00am.

The next hearing is Wednesday November 29th, 2017 @ 8:00am and Friday at 8:00 a.m.