The Story...

While we are not free to get into really specific details we can share a “brief” summary of why there is a "Jackson Fund".

August 31, 2008, marks the beginning of a trial that God is using to lead myself and John deeper in love with Him. It has also brought hundreds of people together in prayer and even some back together in relationship and fellowship. He has/is using this trial to reveal to us His character, His love, His strength, and that His written word given to us through the Bible is TRUE!

August 31, 2008, at 8pm, Jackson, then 15months, fell off the bed while John was getting his pj's out of the suitcase. We were on vacation in Arizona, visiting my parents and family there. He had a seizure so we called 911 and took him to the hospital. At the hospital a CT showed a subdural hematoma so he was air-lifted to a children’s hospital for further treatment. While at the children’s hospital further testing revealed a retinal hemorrhage.

Miraculously, Jackson was fine medically. The neurosurgeon was amazed at how well Jackson was no deficits at all! The follow up MRI 6 hours later didn't even show the initial bleed, something that doesn't happen in modern medicine.

However, because of the bleed the children's hospital opened up /involved a forensics doctor to evaluate for child abuse. We were told this was "routine and shouldn't worry". Worry, why would we, we never have nor ever will abuse Jackson. So we agreed and cooperated fully with all the additional tests and questions. Little did we know that a storm was brewing at the hospital. The forensics doctor was convinced Jackson's injury was no accident. We spent all the next day, September 1, being interrogated by Sherriff’s detectives and DCFS investigators. That night Jackson was subjected to more X-rays where he had to be held down because he was scared. Jackson was tired, cranky and sleep deprived.

John and I were tired and aching over the hurt of our son and the lies that were beginning to take root.

The night Jackson fell, I called our small group leader from church, at midnight Illinois time, and begged for prayer. He prayed with me over the phone and promised to pass the word along to other small group members. John called his mom and filled her in and she spread the word in Genoa. Our friends were notified and a new wind was blowing and catching speed among God's people to pray for us and the situation. When Jackson was getting evaluated by the paramedics prior to being transferred to the hospital I remember falling to my knees, prostrate before the Lord and begging for God to heal my baby boy. However, I specifically remember surrendering my desire for healing to God's will and sovereignty. I cried out to God that His will be done and that we would walk through whatever He had in store but we could NOT do it alone. He would have to hold our hand and walk with us, carrying us at times.

The three days in the hospital were torture. I couldn't sleep or eat. John was a rock, always reassuring me of God's love and sovereignty. The problem was no longer Jackson's health/head--God healed that. The problem we were now facing was serious accusations of child abuse.

Carolyn, John's mom, flew in from IL, my little sister flew in from Portland OR and my entire family was there. I vividly remember the night of Sept 1. John and I were told to leave the hospital to go to my sisters house and sleep. Kristy, my oldest sister and her husband were to stay with Jackson. As a mom, I could not go but I did, basically being drug out of the hospital by my husband and dad. That night I was hopeless and very afraid. John and I were squeezed together on a twin bed and my baby boy was restless in a hospital crib attached to all sorts of monitors. My heart was broken! John called our small group leader and while I myself couldn't pray I heard Joe and John pray over the situation and pray God would restore our strength and hope. After pretending to sleep for about 4 hours I told John to take me back to the hospital, it was about 4am, I couldn't stand being away from my baby that long.

I remember I carried my Bible everywhere. I slept with it under my pillow and would awake at all hours of the night and read it. It was the only TRUE thing I could cling to. My whole world was spinning out of control.

Monday Sept 2, 2008, Jackson was transferred out of the pediatric intensive care unit to a regular room. I stayed with him that night and sang over him all the old hymns and praise songs I could remember. God's word spoke to me through them. I sang and re-sang "Standing on the promises", it was what we were clinging to, the promises of God!! Psalm 37 to be more specific.

Tuesday Sept 3, 2008, Jackson was to be discharged into the custody of Child protective services who were then allowing my sister Kelly to be the "guardian". Child protective Services in AZ were going to conduct an investigation and they had 72 hours to hold a meeting to determine long-term placement of Jackson. We were losing custody of our son for 72 horribly long awful hours. It was 12:40 when we signed the discharge papers. We were treated badly at the hospital. No doctors even came to talk to us the day we were discharged and almost every nurse looked at us negatively, we were "child abusers"in their eyes. John and I were escorted out of the hospital, hospital policy I suppose, by two security men. I cried the whole way out held up by my husband and our God.

We left the hospital to go pick up my younger sister from the airport and then went to an attorney’s office. We got his name from a friend of Carolyn’s in Illinois, we had NO idea he was the best in the state of Arizona and very difficult to retain. We met with him and he explained the situation. We were not only being investigated by child protective services we were being investigated by the Sherriff’s office in my parents town and a conviction of child abuse in Arizona held a flat sentence of 27 years in prison. We were facing not only the possibility of losing our son but prison as well. After speaking with him, John and I am our family talked and prayed and decided we would trust God to provide the money to retain his services, $30,000. We handed over our credit cards.

Wednesday Sept 3, 2008, John and I got a hotel, we couldn't have physical contact with Jackson until the meeting. We got word that, praise the Lord, the meeting would be Sept 4 at 2pm. My heart ached for my son. How weird that I can work night shift and be okay but one night away in these circumstances broke my heart.

We were praying during all this that God, the God who says He is the Way the TRUTH and the Light would not allow the truth to be hidden from DCFS. We knew God could change any person’s heart and so we prayed for the investigators and people involved that God would direct their minds. We arrived at the meeting, waited for our attorneys and went in. John and I were surrounded by 12 family members, 2 attorneys, 2 child protective workers, a supervisor and third party neutral person, as well as being surrounded around the world in prayer by hundreds. Most importantly we were hemmed in front and behind by God Almighty!!

I won’t forget walking into the room and seeing 4 or 5 posters on the wall depicting the possible outcomes for the meeting. On the far left was, “Child returns to parents”, on the far right was “All parental rights severed, child remains CPS custody”.

I held Jackson as the meeting progressed. Words were spoken much of which I can't remember, I was praying the whole time. I held my breath as the director started to speak her decision. They deemed it was an accident and Jackson could go home, no strings attached! It was 4pm, September 4, 2008, a day marked in Woodard history as a day God gave victory! Praise God for revealing the truth.

I wish I could say that the trial ended that day. But I can't. God saw fit to allow it to continue. We returned home Sept 6. It took Jackson a few days to get settled and recuperate from the hospitalization, flying and such. Then, just as he was adjusting, Sept 11, 2008 arrived. 5pm, DCFS of Illinois knocked on our door and thus begins part two of the journey: a NEW investigation for child abuse by Illinois. We were told that we had to find family members to take Jackson or he would be placed in foster care that night.

John's mom agreed to take Jackson for what we thought would be a few days at the most. It turned into 124 days! DCFS of Illinois had opened up a new investigation that would "most likely" be completed in 30 days but could go on indefinitely. The investigation would include our cooperation in "safety plans" which stated we would not stay with Jackson, he would not return home and we could visit supervised or he would be placed in foster care. He lived with his Grandma for 124 days while we waited for a second medical opinion and decision by DCFS.

To spare the details of the 124 days and investigation I will fast forward to Jan 9, 2009. The investigator called to arrange a meeting to go over the final report. Her investigation was over and she had a decision to give us. The medical opinion stated that it was definitely not an accident and Jackson was placed in foster care, legally now into the hands of his Grandma Carolyn. It was a Friday, and DCFS had 48 business hours to determine long-term placement of Jackson, but being Friday that meant 96 hours. We thought the 24 hours in Arizona was bad. We now had to endure possibly 96hours.

The hearing was set for Jan 12, 2009. We had retained a new attorney here in Illinois and she met us at the courthouse. My parents, 3 sisters, 2 brother-in-laws, John's mom, dad, Aunts, cousins, our friends and small group filled the courthouse. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall outside the courtroom. From what I understand it was a sight to see, our small group kneeling and praying, my family and friends caring for Jackson. After a 2.5 hour hearing the Judge ruled that there was no basis for the accusation of child abuse, and Jackson could go home!!! The courthouse erupted in praise, a bailiff came out to tell us to be quiet and we gave thanks to God. For the first time in 124 days John, Jackson and I drove home, unaccompanied by supervisors. It was another victory!!

February 13, 2009 we received a call from our attorney in Illinois telling us that DCFS had sent a motion to the court for the judge to reconsider his decision. Satan wasn’t giving up on this! We again spent the days leading up to hearing #3 in prayer for the truth to be confirmed and the judge to stand firm in his intial CORRECT ruling. And he did! The hearing lasted about 45minutes and once again God was victorious!!

I wish I could write all the awesome details of all that God did and is doing through this trial. He has proved Himself true. We have tasted and seen that the Lord our God is good! We have lived on His word as our daily bread and our breath of life. When we were hopeless our hope was restored as we fixed our eyes back on Christ and His glory. We received cards, e-mails, text-messages at just the right moments. God's church rallied around us and is still rallying with us we carry the financial burden of this trial.

Jackson is home because God allowed the truth to be revealed. God has defeated Satan but this is his world and God has given him dominion. We were not surprised by the evil acts done against us. We are saddened however, by the number of people who experience these evils apart from God. We want everyone to know that God loves them, has a plan for EVERY single event in their lives and WILL use them for their own good. God is LOVE!! His love is IMMENSE!! His peace DOES surpass understanding. His grace IS enough. We ARE blessed when we pray for those who persecute us. Truly, blessed are they who mourn for they SHALL be comforted. And on and on the promises go that God has revealed to us in His word that are TRUE and worth living your life for. We are not despaired at the mountain of attorney fees we have accrued on account of this event.

There is a Jackson fund because our friends have asked us to create one, because God is providing for our needs through His people and His church. This is the story behind the need for the fund.

The case involving Jackson has been settled. However, we have incurred substantial legal costs totaling almost $40,000. We continue to trust God for the means to pay this and are doing our part as He calls. Please continue to pray for God’s will to be accomplished in and through our lives.

Thanks for caring and may you find the unsurpassable joy and love as we have found in walking hand in hand with God, devoting our lives to Him and experiencing His grace, mercy and blessings, daily!!