The House of Gort from Steve Tatzmann on Vimeo.
The above documentary titled “The House of Gort” is an eye-opening look at the daily struggles faced by parents with special needs children. It shows the love, devotion and patience that binds the family together, along with the daily routines unique to children with cerebral palsy. It also exposes the medical negligence that caused the family’s lifelong struggles.
Tim and Gina Gort live in Marquette, Michigan. They have three daughters: Gwen, 9; Violet, 3; and Eliza, 2. Both Gwen and Eliza have cerebral palsy, and all three children were born with jaundice. Complications at the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids caused Eliza to go into cardiac arrest, causing brain damage and cerebral palsy.
‘Pushed Over the Edge’
“We felt like we were pushed over the edge once we realized the magnitude of Eliza’s brain injury,” Tim says about the moment he heard about Eliza’s incident. “Her care and the amount of care that she would require would change the whole family dynamic.”
Gina says she felt little compassion from the hospital’s attempts to apologize. She said the physician left an apology letter that was “just a form” that “didn’t say anything that meant anything” to her. She says the head of nursing told her: “We’re very sorry, we’re a teaching hospital and sometimes we miss our mark.”
Seeking Justice
Spectrum Health, the company that owns the hospital, stopped providing support to the Gort family once they moved to Marquette to enjoy a serene, peaceful environment. In response, the Gorts filed a lawsuit seeking lifelong medical care for Eliza.
If you know someone who suffered an injury during a traumatic birth that lead to a lifelong condition, talk to us. Medical professionals should be held accountable for their errors. Call us at 1-800-460-0606, or submit a contact form. There is no charge to tell us your story.
Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP – cerebral palsy attorneys
