Appeals Court rules against paraplegic mother

The Iowa Court of Appeals has ruled a paraplegic mother in Linn County should lose custody of her kids. Five-and-a-half years ago, Kimberly Kay Shook was paralyzed in an auto accident. A couple years later, her husband, Matthew, divorced her. Two years ago when he re-married, Matt asked for custody of the kids, as he said Kim was allowing the kids to run wild. A district court ruled Kim should retain custody of her eight-year-old boy and six-year-old girl, but the Iowa Court of Appeals has ruled that “Kim’s physical condition seriously impacts her ability to minister effectively to the daily needs” of her kids, as she often stays in bed all day long. The justices called Matt a “hard worker and a good parent” and ruled the kids should live with him. One of the justices, though, wrote a dissent, saying the court didn’t cite any authority proving a paraplegic parent is less capable. The judge also said Kim’s living conditions have improved, as she’s moved out of her trailer and into her mother’s house and is taking better care of the kids.