I had come to the conclusion that the baby born on April 18, 2008 at Alaska Regional had nothing to do with Babygate but then I had one of those “what if” moments.
What if Bristol gave birth in early 2008 to a premature but otherwise normal child but a baby with Down Syndrome had been expected? Perhaps something like the following occurred.
Sarah said the technician told her the baby’s neck looked a little thick on the ultrasound scan in Going Rogue. She also said that she remembered hearing that was a sign of Down Syndrome. That story could have been true except that it was Bristol having the ultrasound instead of Sarah and that might have been all Sarah needed to hear to convince her that Bristol’s baby had Down Syndrome. She might have considered it Bristol’s punishment for having pre-marital sex.
Sarah decided to send Bristol to live with Heather and fake a pregnancy so she and Todd could raise the special needs child as their own. This course of action would kill two birds with one stone. First, it would save Sarah from the political embarrassment of having it known that she had an unwed pregnant teenage daughter. Second, she could gain political clout by choosing life for a baby she knew would be born with Down Syndrome. She knew that she was under consideration for the VP nomination and keeping her family values image clean was very important; brownie points scored with Christian Evangelicals and right to life groups for not aborting were an added bonus.
But before the plan was even put in motion, Bristol delivered a normal though premature baby. Sarah was upset because she was counting on a baby with Down Syndrome to use as a political prop. Then Sarah had an idea that maybe Bristol’s baby could be swapped for a baby with Down Syndrome.
Sarah asked Dr. Cathy Baldwin-Johnson for help in locating a newborn baby with Down Syndrome whose parents might agree to the swap. CBJ agreed to help her.
CBJ asked other doctors if any of their patients were expecting a baby with Down Syndrome. An OB-GYN who practices in Soldotna, a town over 180 miles from Wasilla, who had privileges at Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage, told CBJ he had such a patient who was due in May. Sarah announced her pregnancy stating she was due in May.
Below are a couple of online reviews of this so-called doctor. Click the dates to view these reviews on the websites where they were originally posted.
During a one-hour initial visit, he spent very little time on why I was there. Instead, he repeated himself multiple times about his book and why I needed it, and how much I would like it. And then proceeded to charge over $370 for the visit, during which I gained nothing. Now I have to start from scratch with a new doctor, hopefully a real one this time.
Very bad experience with this doctor. Very rude. Cold. Unfeeling. Had a procedure done that was the most painful thing I've ever gone through (including childbirth and passing a gallstone!). Dr. only used a local anesthetic for D&C procedure. Local did not work. Was told not to scream. Does not believe in using sedatives or pain killers.
I also found that this doctor has been sanctioned by the medical board for professional incompetence and recording keeping violations. Click the following link for more information.
http://commerce.state.ak.us/occ/pub/2010_Board_Action_Summary.pdf
Evidently this doctor delivered Amber’s baby, possibly by C-Section since the note below indicates she has a post op visit coming up. I came to this conclusion because of this entry in the baby’s online baby book.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Dr.Thompson & Staff
Amber, we just viewed you beautiful baby on line. He is SO precious! Bring him to your post op visit so we can ooh and ahh over him. Thanks, The girls & Dr. T
My theory is that Dr. T contacted CBJ on April 17 and told her Amber, who’s baby had Down Syndrome, was in labor. By this time Bristol’s preemie was a couple of months old and weighed over 9lbs. Sarah and Todd hurried home from Texas so Sarah could fake giving birth the next morning. Sarah’s fake birth was staged in the early AM when few people were at the hospital. None of the hospital staff was allowed in Sarah’s room. Amber required a C-Section when her labor failed to progress. Amber’s baby was born in the afternoon and the switch was made. Amber’s baby was secretly smuggled into Mat-Su Regional in time for the picture with the Heath’s that afternoon.
Amber may or may not have been in on the switch. The prospect of raising a baby with Down Syndrome could have been too much for her. Money plus a normal baby could have been tempting enough to get her to agree to the swap.
It’s also entirely possible that the switch was made without her knowledge when Amber was sleeping after having a C-Section. Imagine her relief if she was told to expect a baby with Down Syndrome and then the baby turns out to be normal.
Either way Dr. T laughs all the way to the bank.
The above is just a theory but it would explain why Amber’s baby looks so much like Tripp if they are in fact, brothers.
Pictures on the left are Jeremiah. Tripp is on the right.
I have removed the other pictures of Amber’s baby out of respect for their privacy.
Email me if you would like the link to the pictures.
To summarize: I think Bristol gave birth prematurely to the baby now called Jeremiah. Amber gave birth to the baby now called Trig. Bristol, upset about having to part with her first baby, got pregnant again and gave birth to Tripp who bears a remarkable resemblance to Jeremiah.
As always please be frank with your opinions about my latest theory. Arguments for and against this scenario being possible are welcome. If anyone has any info to share please email me, especially pictures of Tripp that I may have missed. Thanks!
Blade
