Mom Charged For Subjecting Adopted Black Daughter To ‘Unnecessary’ Medical Treatments

A Washington mom faced charges for making her adopted child go through medical treatments she never needed.

Sophie Hartman adopted two little girls — sisters — from Zambia. She claimed that one of the girls was born with a rare neurological disorder, called alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC). At the time, she was raising money for a vehicle capable of transporting the little girl and her wheelchair.

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Now it seems everything the 6-year-old was put through was for nothing. From 2017 until 2022, she'd been subjected to unnecessary medical treatments, despite an investigation determining she's a completely healthy child. The shocking story leaves many questioning why someone would do this to a child.

Sophie Hartman was first introduced to her community as a mom in need. The 31-year-old adopted sisters from Zambia years ago. One of the two little girls was allegedly born with alternating hemiplegia of childhood, or AHC, which is a rare neurological disorder. For years, the little girl has undergone medical treatments for the condition, none of which were apparently necessary.

Charging documents show that Hartman has been charged with one count of second-degree assault against a child and one count of attempted domestic violence assault against a child in the second degree for subjecting her 6-year-old to unnecessary medical treatment.

The documents state that the little girl has had more than 474 medical appointments since 2016. In 2017, Hartman had a gastronomy tube inserted in her daughter's digestive system, claiming the little girl couldn't eat.

The following year, the little girl had surgery to get a cecostomy tube. This tube is put in the intestines so that liquids can be flushed through to flush the bowels for those who cannot use the bathroom on their own. Investigators discovered that after this procedure, increasingly invasive procedures have been performed.

The little girl has had total parenteral nutrition, which bypasses the gastrointestinal tract and provides fluids directly to a vein. Hartman was also trying to secure a hormonal implant that would suppress puberty.

The little girl was removed from Hartman's care in March 2021. She underwent a 16-day observation at Seattle Children's Hospital, where it was found that many of the functions she supposedly was unable to do medically she could perform on her own. She could eat and digest, and she could walk and run without the use of the leg braces and wheelchair she'd used for so long. Investigators determined Hartman has known the little girl didn't need the mobility aids since mid-2019.

The investigation also revealed that Hartman had looked into palliative care for her daughter. Hartman told a paraprofessional at her daughter's school that the little girl could "leave us at anytime."

A review of Hartman's search history added to concerns. She searched for things such as "best songs for cancer patients," "funeral songs," "songs for sick kids," and "how to get paid to take care of a family member with a disability."

"This is not based on one investigator," King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office spokesperson Casey McNerthney told King5 News.

"It's not based off of a quick investigation. This was months of investigation by police and several experts who weighed in."

However, attorneys for Hartman say the medical professionals consulted by authorities are ill-informed.

"Ms. Hartman's child was diagnosed with a rare neurological disease, alternating hemiplegia of childhood, by one of the few expert pediatric neurologists in the world from Duke University and by a neurologist at Mary Bridge Hospital in Tacoma. The child has been evaluated and treated by the doctors at Duke for three years," said a statement from attorneys Adam Shapiro and Jessica Goldman.

"Contrary to the allegations of the King County Prosecuting Attorney, the child's diagnosis was made by more than one doctor, is legitimate, and is based on a substantial record beyond the reports and information provided by Ms. Hartman."

Hartman has collected thousands of dollars in donations toward her daughter's alleged health complications. Over $15,000 was pledged in a GoFundMe campaign for a wheelchair. Another fundraiser organized by Hartman's church raised over $30,000. In 2018, the little girl was granted her wish by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, to spend five days with her mother and older sister at an Oregon horse ranch.

"We are deeply saddened and dismayed to learn about the alleged child abuse case involving one of our former wish families," Make-A-Wish commented in a statement.

"This is a very serious allegation and any threat to the well-being of a child is not in alignment with the child-centered focus of our mission. We hope this matter is quickly remedied in the best interest of the child."