Octomom says no thanks to free 24-hour care for her children

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I don’t think Octomom Nadya Suleman has gotten one single bit of good press. I’m not saying she’s necessarily deserving of any, but you’d think she’d be able to get someone to say something good about her at least once. Unfortunately for Nadya, she’s making some really bad decisions – one right after the other. Actually, I don’t think she’s made a single good decision – which explains the lack of any good press.

It’s long been theorized that Nadya wants a reality show. Some people speculate that’s how she plans on supporting her hefty brood of 14, while others have even theorized that’s WHY she got implanted with so many embryos in the first place.

Now to further add to the negative publicity, Nadya has very stupidly turned down an offer for free 24-hour nursing care. The nonprofit group that made the offer says Nadya lost interest in taking them up on their incredibly good deed once a reality show was no longer on the table.

The mother of the California octuplets has let an offer for free, 24-hour nursing care by a nonprofit group lapse.

The founder of the group Angels in Waiting said Nadya Suleman seemed to lose interest in the offer after her request to do a reality show was ruled out.

The lawyer for the nursing group, Gloria Allred, said she has filed a request for an investigation with Los Angeles County Child and Family Services into how Suleman would care for 14 children. Suleman is unmarried, unemployed, lives with her parents and receives food stamps and other government assistance.

Suleman’s new volunteer spokesman, Victor Munoz, was interviewed by TV’s Dr. Phil McGraw on CNN’s “Larry King Live” show Friday night and sounded open to considering the offer.

Munoz said he didn’t know what was offered because he has been too busy dealing with preparations for the release of the infants from the hospital, which could begin in less than two weeks.

[From KFOX14]

I’m guessing Angels in Waiting wouldn’t let their nurses appear on a reality show, and that’s when Nadya decided to decline their offer. The story’s phrasing was a little ambiguous on that detail, but they obviously don’t have the authority to rule out a reality show for Nadya, though they can refuse to participate in one.

I’ve tried to show a bit of empathy for this woman, although she makes it very, very hard. It’s like she’s trying to give the public as many reasons as possible to hate her. And she is so utterly and completely clueless. Not just in terms of reality – her Pollyanna complex is astounding – but in terms of her public image. As long as Nadya keeps behaving this way, she is ensuring that any remaining goodwill will be quickly drained. And considering she’s going to have to rely on others to pull her through this – whether it’s the kindness of strangers or the government – I think she’s further ensuring that the state will take her kids from her sooner rather than later.

Here’s Nadya Suleman outside her home with her mother and father. Nadya fights through the media crowd before going to the hospital to visit her eight babies on February 24th. Images thanks to BauerGriffinOnline.

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57 Responses to “Octomom says no thanks to free 24-hour care for her children”

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  1. Chiara says:

    Linda West who owns Angels in Waiting has openly stated, in repeated conversations with Ms Suleman she wants a, “reality show,” not the full time nurses.

    Munoz appears pleasant, yet inexperienced, and any attempt to, “spin,” this woman with good motive and intent will fail. We’re just not buying the lies she’s selling.

    I’ll take it from Howard Bragman, well experienced PR who says, “Without her being fully open and accountable,” the public isn’t interested in supporting her.

    The likelihood of her taking repsonsibility for the plastic surgery, possible exploitation of her children …well I’m not betting on it.

    I keep sayin’ … we need financial accountablity from her, 1M and counting billed to Medi-Cal.

  2. Kayleigh says:

    I can’t think of one good logical reason they can make up and use as their public explanation for turning down a FREE 24-hour nursing service. I vow I will not watch her reality show if she gets one. It sucks because her kids are the one that are suffering because of her ego-driven ideas. Why would you turn down free help?
    So what if you don’t get this imaginary show right away, exploiting your children is one thing, but pretty much endangering them for not accepting care is another.

  3. anon says:

    I get that she really needs the help, but in this regard I feel that if she had taken up the offer for the free child care ppl would harp on about how she’s taking advantage and is undeserving.
    Not that i’m taking her side, just in this particular case I see how she would lose either way, her taking the help would further cement her as an opportunist in everyone’s minds.

  4. Ophelia says:

    @ Anon- I agree, I watched that thing on Larry King with that rat bastard Dr. Phil, and I kept thinking that if she accepts any help everyone will attack her for that, and if she doesn’t then she’s not caring enough for the kids. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. But I’m not going to defend her either. It’s just irresponsible to have that many kids and just expect it to work out somehow. I tend to think she’s mentally ill, as she doesn’t seem outright mean or anything. Ugh, what a mess.

  5. Luz says:

    Yeah. She needs help. Psychiatric!

    This “woman” is insane. She LOOKS like Angelina and I don’t care what she say about it. Obviously on top of all she is a pathological lair as well.

    She knew EXACTLY what she was doing with this invitro fertilization. She have a litter not for the love of children!

    I hope the Social Services take those poor children away from her. If not I’m moving to Puerto Rico. I wont pay a dime for this idiot.

  6. DD says:

    this lady is just bad news… this situation is not going to end well for those involved.

  7. Shay says:

    I really don’t care for Nadya in any way shape or form. Especially after seeing the way she talks to her mom. But I’d have to question anything involving Gloria Allred. If Gloria is the lawyer for the group then that might be another reason why she turned them down.

  8. TinaWithPom says:

    I wonder if fundamentalist Mormon husbands are jealous.

    She’s crazy. She needs help, and NOT a reality show. A reality show would only feed the crazy in her.

  9. NotBlonde says:

    I think if she had released a statment saying that she took full responsibility for being so irresponsible in the first place and was now accepting the free help because she really needs it and won’t be doing a reality show but just wants what is best for her kids, no one would have a problem with it.

    There would still be naysayers, but I think the vast majority of people just want her to say she was wrong for what she did, that she was being selfish and now she just wants her children to be happy and healthy and well taken care of.

    Besides, it’s not like the non-profit group is supported by our taxes. They would be doing it out of the kindness of their hearts and personally I would have no problems with it.

  10. miscellaneous says:

    If she truly cared for the children, she would have taken the offer from Angels in Waiting. She doesn’t care what the public thinks. She doesn’t even care what her parents think. She is so selfish, that she got acrylic nails despite the frailty of the skin of her newborns.

  11. sissoucat says:

    I have to side with Shay: why Gloria Allred ?

  12. minx says:

    My first child was very premature (under two pounds).. I KNOW how much care those babies need, even if none of them has any developmental and health issues. There is NO WAY she will be able to give them appropriate care unless she has at least 2-3 nurses on hand. Someone please call Social Services and take those kids away from her before it’s too late!

  13. Leandra says:

    She can’t take care of eight babies by herself plus the other 6. By refusing help she’s sabotaging her chance of being able to take them home. The hospital has said they will release the first baby to her soon…?!

  14. boomchakaboom says:

    I’m sure Gloria Allred ran like a cheetah to get on board this case – the woman cannot resist publicity.

  15. RAN says:

    Ahhh…everyone’s jumping on the bandwagon to have the state take the kids from her, but who wins there? The foster care system is not a save all – in fact it’s a nightmare for many of the children involved. Abuse that’s not publicized, people in it for the money alone, the children will definitely be separated, etc. And on top of all of that, the state STILL has to pay for the health and care of each of those children.

    I’m not defending this woman, in fact I have a distaste for the person she is, but let’s not punish the children by having a ‘lynch’ mentality regarding their mom and the choices she makes. She needs help, not ire.

    And just for the record, we as a nation have glorified this behavior in the past. Look at the success of that dreadful show ‘Jon and Kate plus Eight’. I absolutely despise that couple and the way they treat their children (although he’s not NEARLY as bad as she is), yet they have a reality show that pays for their multi million dollar lifestyle. A lifestyle that wouldn’t have happened without those kids.

  16. Ash says:

    Minx,

    You are exactly right. Even if there are no developmental/physical problems now, who is to say that there won’t be down the line? She already has 3 special needs children, so the odds are at least some of these children will as well.
    I have talked about how my daughter was born premature. She also has short gut syndrome, and as a result we have a home nurse come once a week to draw blood, change her central line dressing and weigh in. Yes, I am her primary caregiver for 23 hours out of the day, but I’m not a selfish fool to tell the nurse she can’t come and treat my daugter.
    I think she also wants to have a martyr complex. “Look how hard it is for me to take care of all these kids by myself” as some way to garner sympathy. Once again, she is thinking only about herself and not what could benefit the children.

  17. Ash says:

    Oh and sadly Chiara, that 1 million that has been billed to Medi-Cal isn’t even the beginning. Granted, my daughter required some special surgeries, etc but the bill for her treatment alone was 345,0000 with another 200,000 in charges pending. So half a million for one child. Thank God my fiancee’s insurance pays for everything.

    I wouldn’t be surprised to see another couple of million tacked on to that bill when it’s all said and done. And I am sure some of the kids will need home nursing, etc which also is not cheap.

  18. caribassett says:

    That’s really too bad. Those babies would have really benefited from the care.

  19. Wow says:

    Good post, Ran and others. Taking the children and placing them in foster care is not the answer. They’d be worst off doing that than having them with their own Mom. And there’s no guarantee they’d be placed with truly loving parents. Even if they were placed with families who could take care of them, who’s to say they would be safe. Some foster parents and even those who adopt are nightmares. There are those who molest children too. So I am not feeling the whole take them away from their Mother. A mother who’s only “crime” at this point is having a lot of them.

    I can see why she’d be “iffy” with wanting to have any connection to that Gloria woman who went on TV proclaiming she would try to have her children taken away from her if Nadya didn’t have a place for them or something similar to that effect. Nadya probably thinks that this is a cover for her to try to take her kids away. Who knows? I don’t get Nadya, but I can’t say I blame her for not wanting any entanglements with those who are associated with the woman who wants to the court to take my children away.

    Besides, if that Gloria is so concerned about children, why isn’t she trying to help with the Mountain children and families that that Diane Sawyer did a special on 20/20 about. Those families could truly use free help too.

    Sorry, but Nadya isn’t the only shady one here. Gloria seems to only want to help high profile people where major publicity is involved. Shady.

  20. Wow says:

    Also, @ RAN – The Kate lady from that show was actually on Dr. Phil giving advice to Nadya. She actually had good advice about how hard it is etc… but at the same time I couldn’t help but think “hey you already got your reality show, house, van etc…so who are you to try to give advice?”

    Nadya is annoying and arrogant, and I write her off as mentally ill too. I do understand why people are so passionate about this. With the way the economy is, some of us may not be able to take that vacation we wanted to this year, some people will have to pass on college because they can’t afford it, some will have to cut back on even the small luxuries and yet you have the Nadya’s of this world getting a free ride. We don’t see companies offering to clothe our children for a year, no one is building a house for us or offering nannies to take care of the children of the mothers who have to go WORK. People like Nadya (and for even even peole like those Kate and 8 family) can be annoying.

    However I may be a hypocrit on this point because I absolutely love the Home Improvement show where Ty and crew makeover houses. Maybe that would be an option. Make her house bigger? Oh wait, they’re in the process of losing their house right? Never mind.

    This is a mess.

  21. cara says:

    @ shay…took the words right out of my mouth.

  22. jess says:

    i’m in no way defending this woman or her actions but i’m really tired of people using her being ‘unmarried’ as a weapon.

  23. Lina says:

    Why would she turn down free round-the-clock care so that she can go out and be seen amongst her adoring fans (aka the paparazzi)?

    I’m glad that Gloria Allred is one of the only people actually not just talking about the octomom but actually taking some action.

  24. kelly j says:

    It’s not the welfare tab that bothers me, it’s the idea that anyone who has obviously made incredibly poor parenting decisions (6 kids age 7 and under, limited/no income, inadequate housing, no partners) would be allowed to take home EIGHT medically fragile premature newborns. It’s a recipe for disaster. The new babies should be adopted out immediately upon discharge.

  25. OXA says:

    Healine News had story this weekend.
    Nadya was offered housing for All of her children, fulltime qualifide high risk paediatric nursing staff, breathing, eating, physical, speach or whatever therapist as needed, all for free and she turned it down.
    The agency said preemie babies like this need to be protected from germs, bacteria etc as many of their defense systems are under developed. Having a production crew, camera crew, all of the equipment it takes to film a show, with all kinds of people in and out would be detrimental to the babies health. Nadya still chose to decline the offer of care for the kids, which they said would cost upwards of $135,000.00 a month, THIS PROVES SHE IS NUTS

  26. OXA says:

    I also forgot that they said Ndya has 2 nannies already for the 6 she has.

  27. hatsumomogirly says:

    Well, i don’t like her as much as anyone else does. but you have to stop and think for a moment when that group headed by Gloria Allard entered the picture. That woman is a damn snake in the grass if you get my meaning. Even if Nadya accepted their help, don’t except something good to come out of it. I wouldn’t put it past that woman to go the moment they entered that house and run to the press about their dirty house, lack of rules, lack of child care experience etc…I honestly believe Gloria Allard did it for the press because she knew she would be turned down so publicly….

  28. Kate says:

    “Gloria Allred, said she has filed a request for an investigation with Los Angeles County Child and Family Services into how Suleman would care for 14 children. Suleman is unmarried, unemployed, lives with her parents and receives food stamps and other government assistance.”

    FINALLY. Whether it’s headed by Ms. Allred or not, at least someone is taking the initiative to call child services.

  29. Todd H says:

    2 words: Poor Kids!

  30. MissSmilla says:

    The offer for free child care is Angels in Waiting, a non profit that places medically at risk children with foster parents who are pediatric nurses. Check out their website, it seems like a good nonprofit. I wonder if Ms. Allred’s ploy is to have the children put in the care of the state, so then Angels in Waiting can have them legally placed in foster homes with pediatric nurses. Seems like the best solution, and that this group is really interested in the well being of the children.

  31. CB Rawks says:

    Proof positive that she does not love or care about those babies.

  32. Carrie says:

    Does anyone agree with me that this thing should be turned on its head and Octomom should be required to PROVE she has the means and ability to care for the eight babies BEFORE they are released into her care.

  33. CB Rawks says:

    “They’d be worsE off doing that than having them with their own Mom. And there’s no guarantee they’d be placed with truly loving parents.”

    But it IS guaranteed that their actual mother is insane and completely incapable of caring for them!
    And she is a completely self-absorbed narcissist. She only feels love and concern for herself, not any of those babies, that’s why she’s not even the primary care-giver of her original flock.

    Therefore, foster care is automatically an improvement.

  34. lrm says:

    Hey,I read a quote on here at one point that she didn’t want a reality show b/c it would be ‘exploiting’ the children.
    Anyone recall this?
    Hilarious,anyway,b/c there she is with one of the newbies,on the cover of a mag that she was paid for.
    I think it’s celebrity-dom she’s after,not money,but she needs the money anyway….I’m not sure which intention would be creepier to have 14 kids for.
    She’s nuts.literally.imo.

  35. she is seriously disturbed

  36. Trillion says:

    I wonder if there will be some changes in the IVF candidate process now, other than being able to shell out tens of thousands of dollars for the procedure.

  37. Leo P says:

    So she turned down free 24hr child-care. It’s not as if she needs it, right?

  38. elisha says:

    I hate to side with Octomom on this, but that non-profit sounds sketchy. THEY HIRED GLORIA ALDRED! SOunds like they were looking for some free publicity. Who are they to whine to the press about her turning them down? Why should we even believe them that it’s because she wants a reality show? Who are they to hire GLORIA ALDRED to start sniffing around how she’s going to care for the kids? This story was actually just what Octomom needed to finally get some sympathy from me.

  39. anastasiabeaverhausen says:

    OMG she’s insane for turning that down. Seriously: girlfriend is all about publicity and money. NOT those kids. If she were all about her kids, she’d have jumped at all that free care. I know I would have! I’d have cried with joy and thanked them profusely.

  40. I used to be a social worker and kids were yanked from their bad parents based on my reports. (I have an MA in Psychology)
    Considering this selfish loser obviously has a serious psychiatric disorder(probably more than one) I think its only a matter of time until her kids are yanked from her, after going through the legal channels.

    She brought it on herself because many of these situations fall through the cracks. But due to her publicity seeking behavior, she opened herself up to scrutiny.

    She’ll get whats coming to her and those kids will be with better parental figures..eventually.

  41. Jill says:

    yeah, i don’t think it’s that she’s “unmarried”, just that she’s the only parent to those kids.

  42. Caryn says:

    i don’t like anything about this woman. That being said Gloria Allred has her own agenda. She came out publically saying that if she did not agree to this “free care” under her terms she would file for Childrens Services to investigate – thats sounds like blackmail to me.
    And while we are talking about Nadya and a reality show – I dare you to go one night without seeing Gloria Alred on the news. I can’t say as I completely blame Nadya for not wanting to be permanently under her thumb and a part of her television career.

  43. dovesgate says:

    I’m not going to defend her decision to have so many babies at once but if someone came to me and asked me to put my babies into foster care so Angels in Waiting would help, I would say no too.

  44. Maritza says:

    The only reason she didn’t accept was because Angels in Waiting said they would help but not be willing to be included in a tv reality show if Nadya was offered one. That is what she really wants, a show. Guess it would solve her problem in a long term. I think would’ve been interesting to see a show that not only involves a mother with that many kids but to see volunteers helping also. The kids are already in this world, the woman has to look for someway to sustain herself and those babies. Besides, it’s better some network take the bill than the government.

  45. CB Rawks says:

    dovesgate, you are completely confused. That’s not even what happened. Sheesh.

  46. Persia says:

    Did you hear about the new Denny’s menu item? The Octomom Omelet…eight eggs, no sausage and the guy next to you gets the bill. Personally, I think she’s just waiting for the best deal (you never take the first offer).

  47. Caryn says:

    Let’s not forget she is gettign help from others besides her Mom. Neighboring parents and teachers have been helping her. Not to mention she employs a nanny- where she get the money I don’t know.

    As much as I don’t like this woman she does have the rigt to Gloria Allred she does not want her help. And she should be able to do so without retaliation. While Gloria Alred is an attorney she is private attorney taking on cases that garner her mega attention and ratings. She is not an attorney with the State of Ca. social services dept. What makes her any more entitled to act in the way she is acting than my husband who is a well meaning attorney?

  48. Caryn says:

    By the way this si copy and paste from the Angels in Waiting web siteOur Mission

    Angels In Waiting (AIW) is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) established in 2005 to meet the needs of the most vulnerable population of America’s foster children, the forgotten medically fragile preemies, Infants and children. Our mission is “to move medically fragile foster care infants and young children into private residences under the care of Registered and Licensed Vocational nurses as their foster parents.” AIW helps to save a child and ensure a childhood by ending the child’s time in the Foster Care System, finds permanent homes for them, and paves the way to better lives with continued resources for these vulnerable little ones.

    Why would any mother want to give up their kids for this type of help. Unless they were in drug rehab maybe.
    Like I said I don’t like the woman but I respect her right to get help from someone other than Angels in Waiting/Gloria Alred without penalty.

  49. the original kate says:

    she’s giving up the offer because if she takes it her problems will be solved and media interest will die down and she will not be in the news. but if she holds out for a tv show she will be famous for a longer period of time. i hope angels in waiting gives the care to someone who is actually grateful to have it instead of this selfish twat.

  50. Nudgie says:

    I think we ALL need to take a CeleBitchy oath NOW…

    ANY media outlet that gives her a show – we will boycott your NETWORK….we will BOYCOTT your advertisers…we will boycott…the OctoMom action figures… 😉

    I’M SERIOUS – get ready to write to the Producers (hear that, Seacrest??????)

  51. papadoc says:

    Amazing how many people can make a psychological diagnosis of abnormality based on news reports from journalists who have never seen the babies or the mother. How many of these people would arbitrarily snatch away the litter of puppies, kittens, or piglets before giving the mather and the babies a chance to prove themselves. Back off, and let Nadya have her chance. If she fails, then do your damage.

  52. Michelle B. says:

    Jess: Nobody has anything against single mothers, it bothers people that anyone, single or married, would keep having babies they haven’t the means or a plan to take care of.
    Persia: Awesome analogy!!!
    Papadoc: Do you seriously not have any doubts whatsoever about this woman’s sanity? She has issues…

  53. the original kate says:

    @papadoc: an unemployed woman who lives with her parents in a 3 bedroom house and already has 6 kids via IVF goes out and has 8 more kids. she still has no income, no savings, and no plan on how to take care of them…does that sound stable to you? she is a hoarder, plain and simple, but instead of hoarding cats or dogs she hoards babies.

  54. john says:

    I’ve read alot of comments on this blog, and ANY way you cut it… This woman is as narcisstic as they come and WAY out of line. I’ll debate this with anyone on here, and sure as hell have NO reason to defend her. AT ALL.
    I’m RIGHT there with boycotting any network who endorses her (and her behavior). As for angels in waiting, of course she turned them down. They would’ve had control of her finances for the kids!!! It has a hell of alot less to do with the possibility of her kids getting adopted out, than it did with the dollar signs in her eyes.
    Did it ever occur to anyone, that there are over 300,000,000 people in the U.S.???? If one in five hundred people donate ten bucks, that’s six million dollars. This doesn’t include books, tv offers, product endorsements, or any other godawful way that she plans on exploiting these kids. It also doesn’t include donations from additional organizations.
    Nadya suleman is the epitomy of selfish. I hope to god that those kids get placed into loving homes. Even when she’s done raping the taxpayers, and the money quits shuffling in, anyone with a half a brain could see that she’s not fit to care for these kids. This has been proven from her lack of commen sense and her acts of self entitlement. Unfortunately, chances are she’ll be able to “buy” her way around all this, even though there’s not a chance in hell that she’ll pick up the hospital bill for her litter.

    The worst part about all of this, is that Science officially beat out darwinism. That woman wasn’t meant to procreate, she sure as hell shouldn’t have, and unfortunately she was able to.

  55. Sharon says:

    Otto Mom, what a joke. My son @ I own a 2,786 Sq.Ft. home in Arkansas .4 bed 2 bath full Basement where I have a 1200 sq.ft.appartmen.So I have a place of my own. My son his wife and one daughter !!!!that live in the 2786sq.ft. @ if they think 2700 + sq ft .4 B. 2.is enough for 14 Kids some one is nuts!!!not even close to what they need. And as far as round the clock help ,when is some one going to give her house keeping help so she can keep her nail done @ her meetings she will be going to ,to market her Kids pic’s and stuff. She likes what money can buy @ she will not stop now she knows how to get it..Because with a house like that some one will give her the fruitier that it take four 14 kids 2+ adults. She is a cash cow ,a cows calf’s are sole every fall so the farmer can survive.She gets to keep her kids and the money, witch will be coming in year around along with close food and so on.She did good for herself.

  56. Sharon says:

    It makes me sick to see octo mom. Yesterday she was on Doc Phil I turned it off and have done so to every show with her on it after about the first week. I would like to know if every soft hearted person that can hardly do for there selves send her 10.00 how soon she will be rich ,if one million send 1.00 ? Would she help you ? She did this her self and wants the American people to bail her out.And we will for the sake of the children.

  57. MARIE says:

    I’m a single poor mom with one child and cancer, so I would if I could but I cant! Octomom needs an atty to protect her from gloria aldred. I was so sickened to see gloria on headline news the day after the first babies came home, to find out gloria was inside that home the entire time, she could have called police, long before babies drove into garage, she never came outside with her big mouth she could have threatened tresspassing ect. but instead she stayed in the home then went on national tv the next day and basshed octomom and expresses her grave concern over the safety of those babies.
    EVERY PERSON IN THAT HOME THAT DIDN’T CALLL POLICE SOONER SHOULD BE SUED!
    And if I may add a blonde reporter from headline news also sat with jane talking about how horrible the mom was, well she would know, in that stations very own video she can be seen the first on the right side of car guiding it into the garage, then exiting the garage to bash everyone for doing what she did first.
    AND AND LASTLY: cnn/headline news saying that octomom is looking for that mob scene and how they’d love not to have octo pushing herself in front of their cameras, can we please note the cameras are in her yard. the press is hunting her not the other way around, she has a right to go on dr phil for help and chance to defend herself, and you can’t gripe she is on welfare then gripe she sells photos in order to support her children. I beg any atty not looking for publicity like aldred to please step in and protect octomom before aldred takes those babies and separates them. You can be sure aldred is documenting how long each baby is in a wet diaper.