Two Canadian parents have charged with letting their 19-month-old child die of meningitis. Although the disease is treatable, they refused to use “traditional” medical care and antibiotics. Instead, they opted for home remedies despite their son’s condition getting worse.
David and Collet Stephan tried to cure meningitis, a disease that infects the fluid around the spinal cord and brain, with “medical mixtures” made at home. These mixtures included olive leaf extract, maple syrup, frozen berries and whey protein. When that didn’t work, the parents switched over to another “remedy” of apple cider vinegar, hot peppers, garlic, onion and ginger root. Their son, Ezekiel, continued to suffer for an additionally two weeks until he stopped breathing.
At that point, Ezekiel was rushed to the emergency room but it was too late – the untreated meningitis eventually took the infant’s life.
Ezekiel Stephan (above) died of meningitis. After much time, his parents were charged with failure to provide the necessaries of life. (Photo // Facebook)
The couple claims that they are being targeted and persecuted as a result, posting on social media “Will we ever be free?”
Shortly after the post, David Stephan asked his followers for money. As for the trial, the couple pleaded not guilty on all charges.
The Stephan family also owns a nutritional supplement company called Truehope, which is notorious for what some call “fraudulent marketing”. Truehope has been sued for selling dangerous supplements.
Health Canada, who has sued Truehope in the past, say that one of Truehope’s supplements called EMPowerPlus has actually worsened the “psychiatric symptoms in those patients with serious underlying mental health problems, such as bipolar disorder and depression.”
True hope has claimed in the past that this supplement, despite being just vitamins and minerals, can treat conditions/symptoms related to “Autism, ADD, ADHD, Stress Depression, Fatigue and Anxiety.”
The parents were charged with failure to provide the necessaries of life. The Stephan couple also is known for being “anti-vaxxers.” Medical experts say that anti-vaccination movement has triggered a boom of formerly eradicated illnesses.
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