Caregiver describes "broken system" after childnear-death and urges predictable supportive policy

Dina Draper, who identified herself as a member of the Parent Partnership Board and a single working mother of two adopted children from Oklahoma's foster-care system, addressed the commission during public comment.

Draper described a medically complex son who was born with a congenital heart defect, underwent three open-heart surgeries before kindergarten and required ECMO life support during a hospitalization after private-duty nursing services were cut. She said her son experienced life-threatening complications after those services were removed and that she had to fight with insurers and systems to obtain necessary care. "Caregivers across our state are literally hanging on by a thread and I'm living proof," Draper said.

Draper also described taking foster placement of a baby girl who later exhibited serious behavioral-health needs; she adopted the child after two years in the child-welfare system. She recounted personal health consequences (a mini-stroke in her early 40s) and noted that her ability to navigate the system was helped by education, a professional network and family support. She used her story to argue that public policy must be predictable and equitable so families do not survive only by luck or privilege.

The commission thanked Draper for sharing her story. There were no immediate agency commitments tied to the public comment item on the meeting agenda.