The metro Detroit mother who was sentenced to seven days in jail for refusing to vaccinate her child called herself a "passionate mother who cares deeply" about her children.
- Family says metro Detroit mom jailed 'out of spite' for not vaccinating son
- Metro Detroit mom sentenced to 7 days in jail for not vaccinating her child
- Metro Detroit mom could be thrown behind bars for not getting son vaccinated
- Metro Detroit mom has court hearing over vaccinating her son, could go to jail
Rebecca Bredow had a hearing in Pontiac Wednesday after refusing to vaccinate her son. She was sentenced for contempt of court after she refusing a court order to get her son vaccinated within one week.
"I take full responsibility for my actions and it was not my intent to disrespect your honor or disobey the court's orders," she said in the hearing.
Bredow's ex-husband wanted their son vaccinated, but she is the primary caregiver for their son. Now, he will have temporary custody to take the child to get vaccinated while she goes to jail.
"I stand here today scared and vulnerable, begging the court to understand that I'm not a lazy parent," she added. "I'm a passionate mother who cares deeply about my children, their health and their well being.
"I am an educated vaccine-choice mother and I have signed vaccine waivers and have been fully compliant with all state laws for both of my children for every school year," Bredow said.
In court, she said vaccinating her son goes against all of her beliefs, saying parents have the choice to make the right decision based on their knowledge of vaccines.
"If my child was forced to be vaccinated, I couldn't bring myself to do it," she said.
Judge Karen McDonald interrupted her plea in court saying that Bredow wasn't telling the entire truth.
"I understand you love your children, but what I don't think you understand is your son has two parents, and dad gets a say," McDonald said.
After Bredow said that she and her ex-husband agreed until recently on not vaccinating their child, the judge said that Bredow acknowledged in her own pleadings that he was up-to-date on his vaccinations when he was a year old.
The judge went on to list a series of things Bredow did without the dad's consent, saying "it's clear to me that you don't care about orders. Even if you agree to them, which you did."
