September 19, 2025

This document is an affidavit from Darian Thomas, dated September 19, 2025, in support of her response to the Director’s proceedings under the CFCSA (Child, Family and Community Service Act).

• Darian Thomas’s Role: She is the mother and primary caregiver of Bennett James Thomas (born December 19, 2018) and has had sole guardianship since May 12, 2020.

• Bennett’s Needs: Bennett is medically vulnerable and neurodevelopmentally complex. He is G-tube dependent, has an ANKRD17-related neurodevelopmental disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, anxiety, ARFID, and developmental delay. He requires a highly structured environment and consistent, trained caregivers.
• Bennett’s Care Team: Darian has assembled a multidisciplinary team for Bennett, including a BCBA, Behaviour Interventionists, a Registered Clinical Counsellor, an Occupational Therapist, and clinicians from BC Children’s Hospital. She has also received extensive parent coaching and training to implement Bennett’s care.
• Fawkes Academy: Bennett is enrolled in Fawkes Academy, a specialized education school, and has been in a home-based learning model due to his needs.
• Safety Concerns with the Father: Darian expresses deep concern for Bennett’s safety with his father, citing his admission of harming Bennett as an infant and historical instances of emotional loss of control and religious delusions. Professionals recommend no increase in the father’s involvement without specific criteria being met.

July–September 2025 Hospital Timeline:

• On July 26, 2025, Darian was hospitalized due to gallbladder complications.
• On July 27, 2025, Bennett was admitted to BC Children’s Hospital to ensure his safety and continuity of care, with his established care team providing 24-hour coverage.
• On August 27, 2025, Darian executed a Standby Guardianship form appointing her brother, Dylan Stoppler, as Bennett’s guardian, but MCFD rejected it.
• On August 28, 2025, MCFD removed Bennett from Darian’s care while she was still hospitalized, despite professional warnings against separation from trusted caregivers.
• On September 2, 2025, the Supreme Court of British Columbia granted Dylan Stoppler interim guardianship of Bennett.

MCFD Conduct and Consequences

MCFD characterized her decision to place Bennett in hospital as “neglect” and disregarded the family-led discharge plan. She also states that MCFD disclosed her brother’s personal address to the father, removed Bennett’s trusted care staff from the hospital, prohibited her from visiting Bennett, and authorized restraints without de-escalation experts present.

Professional Opinions

Multiple professionals (including a psychiatrist from BC Children’s Hospital, Bennett’s Registered Clinical Counsellor, his BCBA, and Bennett’s prior Public Health Nurse) warned against disrupting Bennett’s care team and emphasized the importance of stability, predictability, and consistent familiar staff. They stated that placing Bennett with unfamiliar caregivers would be “highly detrimental” and could lead to medical and behavioural risks. An incident where unfamiliar nursing staff caused Bennett’s G-tube to fall out is cited as evidence of these risks.

Darian’s Readiness

As of September 7, 2025, Darian is ready to resume caregiving, and professionals support reunification as the best plan for Bennett’s stability and safety.

Further Materials

The document references numerous exhibits and affidavits to support Darian’s statements, including letters from professionals, court orders, and transcripts of the father’s testimony.

Q&A

What are the specific medical and neurodevelopmental conditions Bennett has, according to Darian Thomas?

Bennett has the following medical and neurodevelopmental conditions:

• Medically vulnerable and neurodevelopmentally complex.
• G-tube dependent for the majority of his nutrition and hydration.
• ANKRD17-related neurodevelopmental disorder.
• Co-occurring Autism Spectrum Disorder (with language impairment).
• ADHD.
• Anxiety.
• ARFID.
• Developmental delay.

Who is Bennett Thomas, and what is his date of birth?

Bennett Thomas is Darian Thomas’s son, and his date of birth is December 19, 2018.

What significant legal order was granted to Darian Thomas regarding Bennett’s guardianship?

By a Final Order dated May 12, 2020, Darian Thomas was granted sole guardianship of Bennett with all parental responsibilities.

Can you list some of the key members of Bennett’s multidisciplinary care team?

Bennett’s multidisciplinary team includes: BCBA; Behaviour Interventionists; Registered Clinical Counsellor; Occupational Therapist; Junior Behaviour Consultant/Senior BI; and clinicians in Pediatrics, Gastroenterology, Psychiatry, Dietetics, OT, and nursing at BC Children’s Hospital. His uncle Dylan also provides frequent contact and support for the family.

What is Fawkes Academy, and what kind of programming does it provide for Bennett?

Fawkes Academy is a designated Special Education School that provides intensive, trauma-informed, and neuro-affirming programming. Bennett was placed in a highly specialized kindergarten classroom with 1:1 support and BCBA/SLP oversight.

What happened to Darian Thomas on or around July 26, 2025, and what was the immediate consequence for Bennett?

On or around July 26, 2025, Darian Thomas suffered a sudden medical deterioration (gallbladder complications) and was admitted to Eagle Ridge Hospital. To ensure Bennett’s safety and continuity of care, he was admitted to BC Children’s Hospital on July 27, 2025.

Who was appointed as Bennett’s interim guardian on September 2, 2025, and under what legal act?

On September 2, 2025, Bennett’s uncle, Dylan Stoppler, was granted interim guardianship of Bennett pursuant to s.51 of the Family Law Act.

What concerns did professionals raise regarding the failure to implement the family-led care plan for Bennett?

Professionals warned that failure to implement the family-led plan (Dylan + trained team + RN oversight) would create foreseeable and preventable risks, including G-tube mismanagement, medication/bowel protocol errors, behavioural destabilization, and trauma-related regression. They also stated that placement with unfamiliar caregivers or in an unfamiliar setting is expected to be “highly detrimental.“

What actions did MCFD take after Bennett’s removal from Darian’s care, according to hospital records?

According to hospital records, after Bennett’s removal, MCFD: prohibited all in-person visits between Bennett and Darian; barred Dylan and Zoe from G-tube training; removed Bennett’s trusted care staff; and authorized restraints upon escalation without the presence of de-escalation experts.

What is the current status of Darian Thomas’s ability to resume caregiving for Bennett?

Since September 7, 2025, Darian Thomas is ready and able to resume caregiving with Bennett’s established network across educational, behavioural, medical, and advocacy domains. Professionals also support reunification with her as the plan that best protects Bennett’s stability, continuity, and safety.

What are some of the specialized care and training Darian Thomas has received to manage Bennett’s needs?

Darian Thomas has received ongoing parent coaching and training from BCBA, and Bennett’s team since January 2022. This training has included:

Extensive coaching on sensory regulation, transition scripting, safety planning (elopement/self-injury), and feeding supports.

AAC/TouchChatmodelling

Visual schedules and timers

Toilet-training protocols with in-home, community, and follow-up coaching (September 2–6, 2022)

Crisis-planning and Mandt releases/restraints training (August 11, 2023)

Functional assessment work (PFA/IISCA, November 18, 2023)

What happened on August 28, 2025, regarding Bennett’s care?

On August 28, 2025, while Darian Thomas remained hospitalized, MCFD removed Bennett from her care. This occurred despite Bennett being safe and fully supported in the hospital by nursing staff and his established care team 24/7, and despite professional warnings that separation from family and trusted caregivers would be “highly detrimental.” However, on August 28, during a scheduled session with Bennett at BC Children’s Hospital, (Bennett’s BCBA) was approached by MCFD social workers and instructed to leave the premises immediately, despite being an integral member of Bennett’s clinical care team.

What did the May 12, 2020 Final Order establish regarding Bennett’s father?

The May 12, 2020 Final Order established that Bennett’s father, was granted biweekly supervised contact for four hours. This structure was put in place due to safety concerns and to maintain Bennett’s stability.

What did BCBA state about MCFD’s handling of Bennett’s care in her professional and ethical concerns?

The BCBA from Bennett’s team stated the following regarding MCFD’s handling of Bennett’s care:

• “This is not just a lack of planning—it’s a complete disregard of the input from his medical and behavioural team. You gave them every opportunity to follow the safest plan, and they ignored it.“

Additionally, in an excerpt from a recording, BCBA asked the MCFD social workers if they had reviewed letters from Bennett’s pediatrician, psychiatrist, and behaviour team, and they stated they hadn’t. They stated they “had the gist” but didn’t think it would change their decision. When reminded that the hospital could not safely discharge Bennett without RN oversight, they said they were prepared to escalate it but had no actual plan, and they didn’t know who would be taking over medical tasks, or if the new caregivers had been trained. The BCBA also stated that the social worker told her Dylan wasn’t an option to care for Bennett, even though a Standby Guardian form had been signed and submitted the day prior.