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Court hears medical updates for infant Chloe Condit as reunification plans stall
Summary
At a review hearing, the guardian ad litem and a caseworker described repeated hospital visits and a neurologic diagnosis for infant Chloe Condit and recommended leaving her in current foster care while treatment continues; attorneys pressed the court on whether the child could be reunified with her mother given medical needs and placement barriers.
At a review hearing in Lenawee County Probate & Juvenile Court, the guardian ad litem and a foster-care worker reported that infant Chloe Condit has experienced serious neurologic episodes and frequent hospital visits, and they recommended maintaining her current foster placement while medical treatment proceeds.
Harrison Howard, the guardian ad litem, said he observed the child during parenting time on 01/05/2026 and told the court that "she began to experience, what has been diagnosed as infantile spasms," and that the child had been "in and out of the hospital, and seeing a bunch of doctors." Howard said the placement and medical staff "have done a great job" and that he would not want to disrupt that care while treatment is ongoing.
Caseworker Macy Moore testified that Chloe had a neurology MRI the morning of the hearing and has been referred to physical and occupational therapy, though scheduling those services has been delayed because of recent medical appointments. Moore said the child participates in FaceTime and in-person visits as tolerated, and that family visits occurred on 12/26 and 12/27 "and they're going well. No concerns being reported." Moore described the mother's participation in services as "good," noting ongoing counseling, medication reviews, and enrollment in parenting classes.
Defense counsel Ariel Berger pressed the department on why the agency maintained the foster placement if Moore did not identify an immediate risk of harm. Moore said the primary concern was the child's medical needs and that the placement had been providing necessary overnight care and medical transport. Guardian ad litem Howard reiterated that, given the child's current health needs and the active specialist care, "I do think it's in her best interest to remain where she's at."
The judge did not make a reunification ruling at the hearing. Instead, counsel and the court flagged additional jurisdictional and placement issues for clarification and recessed to consult at sidebar. The court also admitted testimony and noted that objections to the court report packet were reserved for a later hearing.
Next steps: The court paused the hearing to allow attorneys to confer about legal and placement questions; no final reunification or placement order was issued at that time.
