A Cochrane woman has taken it upon herself to be a voice for neglected children in the wake of the starvation death of an Alberta teen.
A Cochrane woman has taken it upon herself to be a voice for neglected children in the wake of the starvation death of an Alberta teen.
Sandy Wong, currently living in Cochrane, was a former teacher to Alex Radita, the 15-year-old boy who died in Calgary in May 2013. Radita, who was in the care of his parents - Emil Radita, 59, and Rodica Radita, 53 - weighed 37 lbs at the time of his death.
“I think this is something that shouldn't have happened. Alex's death was a tragedy, ” Wong said.
“He was a chubby, happy, healthy kid when he was in school … it came as a shock when I found out he died. I recognized the photos of him from my kindergarten class but when I saw the photos from his 15th birthday, I was heartbroken. It didn't look like him and I knew something needed to be said. ”
Wong taught Alex in 2004 when he was attending kindergarten in Port Coquitlam, B.C. He was in foster care at the time. Wong only learned of the “heart-breaking ” news the day before Emil and Rodica went to trial in Calgary. Both are charged with first-degree murder and accused of neglect.
It was the last kindergarten class Wong ever taught, and most of the children from that class graduated from high school this year.
“It is hard to believe something like this happened in Canada, did nobody know he existed? ” Wong said.
Wong wrote a letter to the British Columbia's Ministry of Children and Family Development, and copied it to Alberta's Ministry of Children and Families in response to Alex's death.
“I remember a chubby little boy with a sweet smile, a chatty and inquisitive little fellow, ” Wong wrote in her letter.
“We never did meet Alex's parents or any of his eight siblings, but we were aware that he did have regular, supervised visits with them. When a judge made the decision to return Alex to his parents, we were concerned for his wellbeing. ”
Wong said she was aware of Alex's situation before he was placed in foster care. He had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and his parents withheld his insulin, which caused him to be hospitalized in life-threatening condition before he was taken away from his family.
After Alex was returned to the care of his parents, he never attended school and it is alleged that during his five years in Alberta, he also never saw a doctor.
“We live in a broken world and we're all flawed individuals. Mistakes were made. I believe that Alex was failed on so many level by so many flawed people, ” Wong wrote.
“I hope that Alex's tragic death will bring about necessary changes regarding follow-up and monitoring in serious cases of neglect, when once apprehended children are returned to their parents. His life story of suffering and premature death demands that greater, more open sharing of information between provinces be implemented. The most vulnerable must be protected! ”
Emil and Rodica are currently in the third week of their trial.
“I will probably attend the trial again, in memory of Alex, ” Wong said.
“I just think changes need to be made to protect other children … (and) I haven't heard back in response to my letters but it doesn't matter if I do or not, it is about Alex and his story, so that his story won't be forgotten. ”
Wong signed her letter, “In sadness. ”
“I will never forget Alex's sweet face and the privilege it was to teach, support and encourage him during his kindergarten year, ” Wong wrote.
“He is free of his suffering now and resting in peace. ”
