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Community rallies to help Luverne native fighting to regain custody of baby amid abuse allegations

Subhead
Online group #bringherhome garners support, similar stories of false accusations
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By
Lori Sorenson

Child abuse charges against a Luverne native in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, are gaining national attention after an NBC News investigation last week referenced 15 medical experts who say there’s no proof.
Dr. John Cox, a 1999 Luverne High School graduate, is a pediatric emergency room physician who accidentally fell asleep with his one-month-old adopted daughter in his arms last May.
When he woke up to her cries, he brought the infant to the hospital where he worked after fearing she might be hurt.
What transpires after that, he said, can only be described as a nightmare.
The lengthy NBC story details what was reported to be an overzealous child-protection worker relying on medical assessments that were later determined to be inaccurate and misread.
Despite more than a dozen medical experts urging the case be reversed, Cox and his wife, also a doctor, lost custody of their baby as the matter heads to trial.
The full story can be found at https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/er-doctor-was-charged-abusing-his-….
The national discussion is raising questions about child protective services and methods used to reach findings of suspected abuse.
Meanwhile, Cox, 39, resigned from Children’s Wisconsin Hospital, and prosecuting attorneys recently issued a gag order on the Cox family — including John’s parents, Mike and Cheryl Cox, Luverne, preventing them from discussing the case.
“We are allowed to publicly support John, but not much more, as we have been involved in this whole tragic ordeal from just short of the beginning,” they shared on Facebook.
But others, including Cox’s LHS classmates, are now speaking for them.
For example, Evan Burmeister reached out to the Star Herald Wednesday, two days after the NBC story broke.
“This is so atrocious,” Burmeister told the Star Herald. “We’re trying to get everyone to know about this, because it’s not right.”
LHS classmate Eric Dinger soon after that posted a video warning other parents about protocol used by some hospitals to determine abuse.
“A child under 1 can’t have a bruise twice for any reason other than child abuse,” he points out in the clip that’s been shared and viewed more than 1,000 times.
“It scares the crap out of me to think that if you’ve been to the hospital once that you have to decide [before returning to that hospital] whether you want to risk being reported for abuse or go get the health care you think you need for your son or daughter.”
The online conversation quickly turned into a private Facebook group that now numbers more than 1,000 members called #bringherhome.
The page has been a place for friends of the Cox family to express support, but it’s also drawn stories from several others around the nation who had experienced similar legal trauma after medical misdiagnoses.
 
‘283 for Coxy’ Tuesday in Luverne generates publicity
The group organized a live event Tuesday in Luverne called “283 for Coxy.” It featured a Sioux Falls Dakota News reporter, Carleen Wild, who has Wisconsin ties, interviewing local #bringherhome supporters.
“She intends to push this out in Wisconsin if she is able,” Dinger wrote Friday in the event invitation. “It would be great to have a big turnout. … Tell a friend. Let's show the world how we take care of our own.”
An open mic format allowed supporters — who were encouraged to where pink — to speak, and it was streamed live on Facebook for those not able to be there.
Cox supporters are encouraging written correspondence to Wisconsin officials who are in positions of power to get the charges dismissed.
LHS grad Bill Schneider provided contact information for correspondence.
“Thank you to all of our friends who are following along in hopes to help our dear friends,” Schneider shared on Facebook.
“Many of you have asked how you can help. Here’s how: Write an email or send a letter to the hospital’s board of directors. Our hope is the volume of concerns will gain attention.”
Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Chairman of the Board Mark Witt can be reached by e-mail at mwitt@gklaw.com.
Milwaukee County District Attorney John T. Chisholm’s e-mail is milwaukee.da@da.wi.gov and his postal address is 8915 W Connell Ct. Milwaukee WI 53226.
The #bringherhome group also lists contact information for Wisconsin legislators and others who may be able to help.
The Cox family expressed on Facebook (with legal clearance to do so) appreciation for the support.
“We are so grateful for all of the letters being written, the research being done, and all of the love, concern and prayers that are being directed towards our family, but especially towards John and Sadie,” Mike and Cheryl Cox posted over the weekend.
“Our hearts are heavy, the stress level is more than high, yet we believe that truth and justice will someday prevail. Our hope is that this group continues as long as the injustices continue. “
Pretrial arguments are set to begin Feb. 12. The Cox family is seeking to have the case dismissed.

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