Meet Darryl and Kierra Buchanan, loving parents to two children. They welcomed the birth of their son on October 14, 2024, after an emergency C-section was performed at UF Health Shands in Gainesville, Florida.

During her pregnancy, Kierra had very low vitamin D and iron levels. Their son’s labor was long and difficult; a resident doctor struggled to deliver the baby’s head, and a vacuum extractor was used. Kierra stayed on the operating table for about two hours. An X-ray was taken shortly after birth without the parents knowing.

In the days that followed, the baby developed a large, unexplained bruise on his right cheek that was not documented or charted, and no clear explanation was provided to his parents. He spent eight days at the NICU for hypoglycemia; a heart murmur was also observed.

Over the next several weeks, the baby saw multiple medical providers for unrelated concerns, including constipation, respiratory illness, and a cardiology appointment. During these visits, his parents noticed that he was handled roughly and showed signs of discomfort.

On November 23, 2024, Kierra observed swelling and bruising near her baby’s right shoulder and collarbone. She sought medical care several times. An initial ER visit revealed no issues. Concerned that the bruise was worsening, she took him to UF Health Shands for a second opinion on Thanksgiving.

This time, imaging revealed an alleged fracture of the right clavicle. At that point, DCF and law enforcement were contacted, and Kierra and Darryl were not allowed to leave the hospital with their children.

In the weeks that followed:

• Additional scans later revealed alleged healing rib fractures.
• The baby developed complications after routine vaccinations, including a knee infection.
• He experienced episodes of febrile seizures.
• A subsequent medical emergency uncovered a small brain bleed, infection, and other findings that multiple specialists later assessed.

Despite ongoing medical issues and repeated attempts by parents to seek care, both Buchanan children were seized by the state. Their older child was placed in foster care with strangers.

The baby was later placed in medical foster care. And, eventually, both children were placed with kinship care, where they remain today.

DCF has filed for termination of parental rights; the Buchanans’ trial, originally scheduled for January 13, 2026, has been continued to the week of April 20, 2026

Multiple independent medical experts have reviewed the medical records and concluded that the injuries and symptoms are consistent with underlying medical conditions rather than abuse. Genetic testing has shown that their son has a gene variant of uncertain significance related to Pyle’s disease, which can cause thinner bone ends, with him just being a carrier.

Throughout this entire process, Darryl and Kierra have:

• Denied all allegations of abuse
• Sought medical care appropriately and repeatedly for their son
• Followed professional guidance
• Cooperated fully with investigators
• Continued advocating for their children

Carol Lily, the Florida CPT director, stated during her deposition that some of the baby’s injuries were developmentally related, and she could not rule out medical staff mishandling him. Another state’s witness, a doctor, said that organic causes cannot be ruled out; that a Pyle’s disease variant can still affect bone health. When questioned by defense counsel about whether a developmental condition capable of causing the baby’s right wrist to appear fractured could also impact overall bone development or mineralization, the doctor said that he could not definitively confirm or exclude that possibility but stated that the reasoning was valid.

The Buchanan family is still separated — not because of proven abuse — but because they have a medically complex son, and cases like theirs are not thoroughly and properly investigated, leading to the premature removal of a child, and the fracturing of an innocent family.”

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Email Those Involved

If you believe families deserve Human Respect, we ask you to take a moment today to respectfully contact the Florida DCF attorneys listed below. 

This is not about attacking individuals or interfering with the court. It is about asking for Human Respect, for fairness, due process, and a complete medical review before irreversible decisions are made for a medically fragile infant. 

Your voice matters. When agencies know the public is paying attention, it can help ensure decisions are made carefully, transparently, and with respect for human dignity. 

Please keep your message calm, factual, and respectful. Personal attacks and speculation only harm families and undermine accountability. 

Below is a short message you may copy and send as written, or adapt in your own words. 

You can also simply click or tap on the email addresses to generate a pre-filled and addressed email, simply add your name to the end.

• Brianna Hall – DCF Children’s Legal Services
  Brianna.hall@myflfamilies.com
• Maxine Henry – DCF Child Welfare Legal Services
  Maxine.henry@myflfamilies.com
• Jennifer Hill – Guardian Ad Litem
  jennifer.hill@gal.fl.gov

Email Template

Dear [Name],

I am writing to respectfully request reconsideration of the decision to pursue termination of parental rights in the case involving Kierra and Darryl Buchanan and their two children.

After reviewing the documented medical history and timeline, I am deeply concerned that this family continues to face permanent separation despite substantial evidence pointing to medical complexity rather than abuse. Equally concerning is that critical decisions appear to have been made without fully honoring the principles of human respect — including clear communication, careful consideration of medical explanations, and meaningful recognition of the parents as partners in their child’s care.

This case involves a medically fragile infant with a traumatic birth history, multiple hospitalizations, infections, and documented complications identified and treated across several medical systems. Throughout this process, the parents sought medical care appropriately and repeatedly, followed professional guidance, and cooperated fully with all investigations. Their actions reflect concern and advocacy, not neglect or harm.

Multiple independent medical experts have reviewed the records and concluded that the child’s findings are consistent with underlying medical conditions, infections, and complications — not non-accidental trauma. Even testimony from professionals involved in the case has acknowledged that organic and developmental causes cannot be ruled out. In cases of medical uncertainty, human respect requires caution, humility, and restraint — not the most extreme intervention available.

The children are now placed together with a trusted family member and are reportedly doing well. This demonstrates that safety can be maintained while preserving family bonds and strongly supports a path toward reunification rather than permanent severance.

Termination of parental rights is irreversible. Given the presence of credible medical explanations, the absence of prior child welfare history, and the parents’ consistent advocacy for their children, I respectfully urge you to reconsider whether pursuing TPR reflects the best interests of these children. I ask that the pending TPR petition be withdrawn and that efforts shift toward reunification and family healing.

Families should not lose their children because complex medical cases are treated as child welfare cases rather than medical ones. Upholding human respect means listening carefully, weighing uncertainty responsibly, and ensuring that irreversible decisions are reserved only for situations where abuse is clearly established.

Thank you for your time, consideration, and commitment to decisions that protect both children and the integrity of the child welfare system.

Respectfully,
[Your Name]