Faith-healing parents win extended in-home visits with ailing daughter

The Beavercreek couple facing criminal charges for failing to provide adequate medical care to their infant daughter will be allowed extended visits at least five days a week with their child, who will remain in temporary state custody.

Timothy and Rebecca Wyland pleaded not guilty to first-degree criminal mistreatment charges Thursday, about four weeks after the state took over the care of Alayna Wyland. The 7-month-old, who is the Wylands’ only daughter, has a mass of blood vessels called a hemangioma over her eye, threatening her vision.

Clackamas County Circuit Judge Douglas Van Dyk approved a custody plan Friday that allows the couple to be with the child for several hours during the day before returning her to a foster parent.

The Wylands are one of four couples from the same Oregon City congregation to be charged with failing to provide medical care to their child in a little more than a year. Members of the Followers of Christ Church rely on faith-healing rather than most forms of medical treatment.

The plan, which begins Monday, includes three mandated daily dosages of medication. The afternoon dosage administered during Alayna’s time with her parents must be monitored, possibly via the online teleconferencing program Skype, the judge ruled. The parents also agreed to contact a doctor for any injuries or concerns about illness.
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