COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present: C h i e f J u d g e D e c k e r

, J u d g e s B e a l e s a n d F u l t o n

Argued b y v i d e o c o n f

e r e n c e

R E B E C C A B

. H I L L

MEMORANDUM OPINION * BY

v. Re cord No. 0 0 3 9

- 2 1

- 2 J U D G E R A N D O L P H A

. B E A L E S

DECEMBER 7, 2021

J O H N R

. D e M O T T

FROM THE CIR CUIT COURT OF C H E S T E R F I E L D C O U N T Y

E d w a r d A

. R o b b i n s

, J r

. , Judge

S a r a h J

. C o n n e r ( Rick A. Friedman , II; David G. DeFazio ; Lindsay

G. Dugan ; F r i e d m a

n L a w F i r m

, P

. C

. , o n b r

i e f )

, for appellant.

N o b r i e f o r argument f

o r a p p e l l e e

.

I n th i s c a s e

, R e b e c c a B

. H i l l ( “ m o t h e r ” ) a p p e a l s f r o m a n o r d e r o f t

h e C i r c u i t C o u r

t o f

C h e s t e r f i e l d C o u n t y d e n y i n g h e r m o t i o n t o a m e n d c h i l d c u s t o d y

. M o t h e r a r g u e s th a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t

e r r e d i n f i n d i n g th a t n o m a t e r i a l c h a n g e i n circumstances h a d o c c u r r e d s i n c e t h e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s

p r e v i o u s c h i l d c u s t o d y a w a r d a n d t h u s a l s o e r r e d i n d e n y i n g h e r m o t

i o n t o a m e n d l e g a l c u s t o d y

.

I. B A C K G R O U N D 1

O n a p p e a l

, w e v i e w t

h e f a c t s i n t h e l i g h t m o s t f

a v o r a b l e t o a p p e l l e e

, J o h n R

. D e M o t t

( “ f a th e r ” )

, a s w e m

u s t b e c a u s e h e p r e v a

i l e d i n th e t

r i a l c o u r t

. K h a l i d

- S c h i e b e r v

. H u s s a i n

, 7 0

* Pur su a nt to C od e § 17.1

- 41 3, this op ini on is not de si gnated fo r p ubli c a t ion

.

1 Th e record in t h is case w as sea l ed. N evert he l ess , th is a ppe al nec essitate s un s ea l i ng

releva n t p or t io ns of t he reco rd f o r purpo s e s of resolving the iss u es r aised by the par ties

. Evi de n ce and f

a ctu a l f inding s bel ow th a t are nece ss ary i n o r de r to ad d re ss t he ass ig nm ents of

error on appea l are inclu d e d in this op i nio n. Co nsequentl y, “ [ t] o the exte n t t hat t his opi nion

me nti o n s facts f

ound in t he seal e d record

, we unseal on ly t hose speci fi c fa cts

, f ind i ng them

r eleva nt to th e decisi on in t his ca se. Th e r em a i nde r o f th e previously sealed re cord r emain s

s eale d.” Le v ick v . Ma cDougall

, 2 9 4 Va . 283 , 288 n. 1 (2 0 1 7). UNPUBLISHED- 2

-

V a

. A p p

. 2 1 9

, 2 2 3 ( 2 0 1 9 )

. M o th e r a n d f a th e r w e r e m a

r r i e d o n J u n e 3 0

, 2 0 1 2

. T o g e t h e r th e y h a v e

o n e c h i l d

, E.G.

, 2 w h o m t

h e y a d o p t e d d u r

i n g t h e m a

r r i a g e

. T h e p a

r t i e s w e r e d i v o r c e d i n 2 0 1 9

, a n d

th e t r i a l c o u r t e n t e r e d a n o r d e r i n w h i c h i t a w a r d e d m o th e r a

n d f a t h e r j o i n t l e g a l c u s t o d y o f E.G.

T h e t r i a l c o u r t m a d e w r i t t e n f

i n d i n g s c o n c e r n i n g E.G

. ’ s b e s t i n t e r e s t s p u r s u a n t t o C o d e § 2 0

- 1 2 4

. 3

.

E.G.

, a seven

- y e a

r

- o l d g i r l

, h a s s u f

f e r e d f r o m v a r i o u s h e a l t h i s s u e s f

o r m u c h o f h e r l i f

e

.

B e f o r e t h e p a r t i e s d i v o r c e d

, E.G

. h a d b e e n d i agnos ed w i t h b i l a t e r a l k i d n e y r e f l u x d i s e a s e

, a n d s h e

h a d a l s o r e c e i v e d t

h e r a p y f o r a n x i e t y a n d o t

h e r i s s u e s

. S h e a l s o s t a

r t e d h a v i n g s l e e p i n g i s s u e s a n d

b e h a v i o r a l i s s u e s

.

C o n s e q u e n t

l y

, i n i t s w r i t t e n f

i n d i n g s c o n c e rn i n g E.G. ’ s b e s t i n t e r e s t s i n m a k i n g th e o r i g i n a l

c u s t o d y a w a

r d

, th e t r i a l c o u r t f o u n d

, “ [ T h e c h i l d ] h a s p h y s i c a l h e a l t h i s s u e s

. T h e s e i s s u e s i n c l u d e

b i l a t e r a l k i d n e y reflux d i s e a s e

, w h i c h s i m p l y s t a t e d

, m e a n s th a t u r i n e f l o w s b a c k w a

r d f r o m t h e

b l a d d e r t o t h e k

i d n e y s

. T h i s c o n d i t i o n c r e a t e s a n i n c r e a s e d r i s k f

o r u r i n a r y t r a c t i n f e c t i o n s

. T h i s

i n f e c t i o n r i s k i s m i t i g a

t e d t h r o u g h a r e g i m e n o f p r o p h y l a c t i c a n t i b i o t i c s

. ” T h e f

r e q u e n t a n t i b i o t i c s

th a t E.G. t o o k t o m a n a g e h e r kidney r e f l u x d i s e a s e

, h o w e v e r

, a l s o c a u s e d r e c u r r i n g y e a s t i n f

e c t i o n s

th a t m u s t b e t

r e a t e d w h e n th e y o c c u r

r e d

. T h e t r i a l c o u r t t h u s f o u n d t h a t E.G. ’ s “ a g e

, combined w i t h

h e r m e d i c a

l c h a l l e n g e s

, r e q u i r e s h e r c a r e t a k e r s t o b e p a

r t i c u l a r l y c a r e f u l a b o u t a n d m o n i t o r t h e

c h i l d ’ s b a t

h r o o m h a b i t s

, medication r e g i m e n a n d g e n e r a l h e a l t h

. ” T h e t r i a l c o u r t a l s o f o u n d t h a t

E.G. ’ s “ m e n t a l h e a l t

h a n d d e v e l o p m e n t a

r e

, i n l a r g e m e a s u r e

, a g e a

p p r o p r i a t e a n d o t

h e r w i s e

u n r e m a r k a b l e i n th e c o n t e x t o f b o t

h t h e h i g h c o n f

l i c t d i v o r c e o f h e r p a

r e n t s a n d t h e p h y s i c a l h e a l t h

i s s u e s s h e s u f

f e r s

. ”

T h e t r i a l c o u r t a l s o n o t e d i n i t s written f i n d i n g s t h a t E.G. ’ s p a

r e n t s d i d n o t g e t a l o n g w e l l

.

M o th e r h a d s o u g h t s o l e l e g a l c u s t o d y o f E.G. s i n c e th e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e d i v o rc e p r o c e e d i n g s a n d

d i d “ n o t a g r e e t o s h a

r e l e g a l c u s t o d y w i t

h F a th e r

. ” T h e t

r i a l c o u r t f o u n d

, “ M o t h e r i s n o t a c o

- p a r e n t

2 We us e init i al s t o refer t o th e child in an attempt to bet ter pr otect her p ri v a cy.- 3

-

w i th F a t h e r f o r [ E.G. ]

. M o t h e r d o e s n o t s h a r e c o n t r o l e a s i l y

. ” A l t h o u g h th e t r i a l j u d g e d i d n o t

q u e s t i o n m o th e r ’ s p a

r e n t i n g s k i l l s a n d a t t e n t i v e n e s s t o E.G. ’ s n e e d s

, h e f oun d th a t m o t h e r a t

t e mp t s

t o m a i n t a i n c o m p l e t e c o n t r o l o v e r E.G. “ b y p r e s e n t i n g a s a b e n e v o l e n t d i c t a t o r

. ” I n a n s w e r i n g

q u e s t i o n s f o r a n e v a l u a t

i o n r e l a t e d t o th e i n i t i a

l c u s t o d y d e t e r m i n a t i o n

, m o t h e r h a d s t a t e d

, “ T h e o n l y

o b s t a c l e I h a v e t o s u c c e s s f u l c o

- p a r e n t i n g w i t

h M r

. D e m o t

t i s M r

. D e m o t t h i m s e l f

”

– a n a s s e r

t i o n

th e t r i a l j u d g e s a i d t h a

t h e f o u n d “ b r e a t

h t a k i n g

. ”

I n D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 9

, m o t

h e r f i l e d a m o t i o n t o a m e n d c h i l d c u s t o d y a l l e g i n g th a

t a m a t e r i a l

c h a n g e i n circumstances h a d o c c u r r e d t h a t n e c e s s i t a t e d g i v i n g m o th e r s o l e l e g a l c u s t o d y o f E.G.

S h e a l l e g e d th a t f

a t h e r h a d b e c o m e “ i n c r e a s i n g l y o b s t r u c t i o n i s t ” a s i t r e l a t e d t o E.G. ’ s c a r e

, w h i c h

p r e v e n t e d m o t

h e r f r o m a d e q u a t e l y a d d r e s s i n g E.G. ’ s h e a l t h c a r e a n d e d u c a

t i o n a l n e e d s

. I n M a

r c h

2 0 2 0

, b e f o r e t h e t r i a l c o u r t h e l d a h e a

r i n g o n m o th e r ’ s m o t i o n t o a m e n d

, m o t h e r a l s o f i l e d a

“ M o t i o n f o r E x p e d i t e d H e a

r i n g ” b e c a

u s e E.G. n e e d e d s u r g e r

y t o a d d r e s s h e r b i l a t e r a

l k i d n e y r e f l u x

d i s e a s e a n d m o t

h e r a l l e g e d t h a t f a t h e r h a d d e n i e d t h a t E.G. ’ s “ s u r g e r y i s i m m e d i a t e l y n e c e s s a

r y

. ”

F a t h e r t e s t

i f i e d th a t h e n e v e r o b

j e c t e d t o th e s u r g e r

y b e i n g p e r f

o r m e d a n d t h a t h e n e v e r v o i c e d a n

o b j e c t i o n t o t h e d o c t o r s a

b o u t t h e i r p e r f o r m i n g t h e s u r g e r

y

. 3

On Ju n e 5 , 2 020

, the tri al cour t h e a r d mother ’ s m otion for e xpedited h earing

. Afte r each

party pres ent ed ev i dence , th e trial cour t f o u n d t h a t “ [ i ] t w a s n e c e s s a r y f o r [ E.G. ] ’ s u p c o m i n g

s u r g e r y a n d i t s r e l a t e d c o n d i t i o n s t h a t M s

. H i l l h a v e s o l e

- d e c i s i o n m a k i n g authority

. ” The trial

cour t t h e n e ntered an o rder on J une 10, 2020

, t e m p o r a r i l y giv in g mother s ole d eci s i on

- making

author ity over E.G. ’ s medic al treat me nt “ [a] s it pertains to the minor child ’ s bilat eral kidney

3 Mothe r testifie d t hat E.G. ’s “surgery had be en d elayed for a lmos t a year ” beca use father

had refused to agree to th e surgery . She claimed f ather disagre e d w ith the doctor ’ s dia gnosis and

sought a l ess agg res sive appr oach

. Father testifie d that s urgery had been raised a ye ar pri or as a n

option “ if thi ngs did not g et b et ter

. ” Fat her too k the posi tion that when “lookin g at a fi ve

- year

o ld, tal k ing about goi ng in f or major surgery , if th er e is an o ption to do something no nsurgical,

t hat wou l d be a b etter option

. ” Father test i fied that E.G. ’ s do cto r u lti mately did n o t r e comme nd

surger y at that time

.- 4

-

disea se, surgery, o r post

- s urgic a l re covery ” until further order of th e trial co urt

. T h e t r i a l c o u r t

a l s o s c h e d u l e d the matt er for a final hea ring o n Au gust 2 1, 2020. 4 E.G. h a d h e r s u r g e r y t h e n e x t

d a y

, J u n e 1 1

, 2 0 2 0

.

A t t h e f i n a l h e a r i n g o n m o t

h e r ’ s m o t i o n t o a m e n d

, th e t

r i a l c o u r t h e a r d t e s t i m o n y a n d t o o k

e v i d e n c e o n e v e n t s t

h a t h a d t r a n s p i r e d s i n c e th e e n t

r y o f t h e f i n a l d i v o r c e d e c r

e e

. T h e t r i a l c o u r t

h e a r d th a t E.G. h a d b e g u n t a

k i n g p r e s c r

i p t i o n m e d i c a t i o n t o a d d r e s s h e r s l e e p a n d b e h a v i o r a l i s s u e s

.

H e r s c h o o l a d m i n i s t e r e d a s s e s s m e n t s w h i c h i n d i c a t e d E.G. h a d d e v e l o p m e n t a l d e l a y s a n d s t

r u g g l e s

w i th l e a r n i n g

. A n i n d i v i d

u a l i z e d e d u c a t i o n p l a n ( “ I E P ” ) w a s d e v e l o p e d f o r t h e c h i l d a f

t e r

d i s c u s s i o n b e t w e e n m o th e r

, f a t h e r

, a n d E.G. ’ s s c h o o l

. D r

. M u l r e a n y

– E.G. ’ s p r i m a r y c a r e

p h y s i c i a n

– d i a g n o s e d h e r w i th a t t e n t i o n d e f i c i t d i s o r d e r ( “ A D D ” ) a n d p r e s c r i b e d m e d i c a t i o n f o r h e r

t o a d d r e s s t

h i s i s s u e a s w e l l

.

F a t h e r t e s t

i f i e d th a t

, c o n t r a r y t o m o t h e r ’ s a l l e g a t

i o n s

, h e n e v e r r e f

u s e d t o g i v e E.G.

a n t i b i o t i c s o r m e d i c a t i o n p r e s c r i b e d b y t h e c h i l d ’ s d o c t o r s

. A l t h o u g h h e d i d o b j e c t t o a p a

r t i c u l a r

s l e e p m e d i c a t

i o n D r

. M u l r e a n y p r e s c r i b e d

, C l o n i d i n e

, h e g a v e E.G. th e C l o n i d i n e a n d e x p r e s s e d h i s

c o n c e r n s a

b o u t t h e m e d i c a t i o n ’ s s i d e e f

f e c t s t o D r

. M u l r e a n y

. F a th e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t h e k e p t “ d e t a i l e d

r e c o r d s w h i l e s h e w a s w i t h u s o n h e r n i g h t t e r

r o r s a n d t h e ne gative e f

f e c t s

. ” F a th e r g a v e

D r

. M u l r e a n y t

h e i n f o r m a t i o n

, a n d D r

. M u l r e a n y s u b s e q u e n tl y changed E.G. ’ s m e d i c a t i o n

. F a t h e r

th e n a d m i n i s t e r e d th e n e w p r e s c r i p t i o n s l e e p m e d i c a t i o n t o h e r

.

M o th e r t e s t

i f i e d

, a t th e f

i n a l h e a r i n g

, t h a t f a t h e r f a i l e d t o c o m m

u n i c a t e w i th h e r a

b o u t E.G. ’ s

n e e d s

. F o r e x a

mp l e

, s h e c l a i m e d th a t f

a th e r d i d n o t r e s p o n d w h e n s h e e m a i l e d h i m a s k

i n g i f h e h a d

r e c e i v e d t h e d r a f t I E P th e s c h o o l h a d s e n t th e m

, s o t h e n e x t d a y s h e s e n t a f

o l l o w

- u p e m a

i l a s k i n g

w h e th e r f a th e r h a d a n y t h o u g h t s o r s u g g e s t i o n s

. F a t h e r th e n r e s p o n d e d t o th e f o l l o w

- u p e m a i l a n d

4 T he tria l court referenced t hese actions in its October 3 0, 2020 opinion lette r

, when it

stated, “ On 5 June 2020 , after hearing evidence a nd argument, the Court ordered pend ente lite

relief as se t fort h i n t he 10 June 2 0 20 o rder. ”- 5

-

r e p l i e d th a t th e I E P s e e m e d “ t o b e th e s a m e a s w a s d i s c u s s e d a t th e l a s t m e e t i n g ” a n d t h a t “ i t ’ s [ s i c ]

s e e m s s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d

. ”

O n O c t o b e r 3 0

, 2 0 2 0

, t

h e t r i a l c o u r t i s s u e d a n o p i n i o n l e t t e r r e g a r d i n g m o th e r ’ s m o t i o n t o

a m e n d c h i l d c u s t o d y

. T h e t r i a l c o u r t found t h a

t E.G. “ c o n t

i n u e s t o h a v e sign if

icant h e a l th i s s u e s ”

a n d th a t s h e “ h a s e m e r g i n g d e v e l o p m e n t a l a n d e d u c a t i o n a l d e f i c i t s a s w e l l ” b u t f

u r th e r f o u n d t h a t

th e “ h e a r t o f th e p a r e n t [ s ’ ] d i s p u t e ” w a s th e p a r e n t a l d e c i s i o n

- m a

k i n g p r o c e s s

. T h e t

r i a l c o u r t f o u n d

th a t “ M o th e r ’ s t e s t i m o n y w a s n o t s o p e r s u a s i v e n o r F a t h e r ’ s s o d e f i c i e n t t h a t M o th e r h a s p r o d u c e d a

s u f f i c i e n t quantity o f e v i d e n c e t o m e e t h e r b u r de n o f p r o o f o n t h e m a t e r i a l c hange in c i r c u m s t a n c e s

q u e s t i o n

. ” A s s u c h

, th e t

r i a l c o u r t s t a t e d

, “ S p e a

k i n g t o t h e i s s u e u p o n w h i c h t h i s c a s e t u r n s

. H a s

th e r e b e e n s u f

f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d o f a m a t e r i a l ch ange in circumstances i n v o l v i n g t h e

p a r e n t a l d e c i s i o n

- m a

k i n g p r o c e s s o r i t s c o n s e q u e n c e s f o r t h i s c h i l d i n t h i s f

a m i l y ? T h e C o u r

t f i n d s

th e r e h a s n o t

. M o th e r ’ s m o t i o n i s t h e r e f o r e

, D e n i e d

. ” T h e t

r i a l c o u r t e n t e r e d i t s o r d e r d e n y i n g

m o t h e r ’ s m o t i o n t o a m e n d c h i l d c u s t o d y o n D e c e m b e r 1 5

, 2 0 2 0

. M o th e r a

p p e a l e d th a

t D e c e m b e r

1 5

, 2 0 2 0 o r d e r t o th i s C o u r t

.

II. A N A L Y S I S 5

M o th e r c o n t e n d s t

h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t e r r e d i n d e n y i n g h e r m o t i o n t o a m e n d l e g a l c u s t o d y

. I n

h e r f i r s t a s s i g n m e n t o f e r

r o r

, m o t h e r a

r g u e s t h a t “ [ t ] he trial court e rred in finding no materi al change

in circum stance s where the evide nce presen ted established sever al mat eria l changes in

cir cumstance

. ” I n h e r s e c o n d assignment o f e r r o r

, m o t h e r c o n t e n d s th a t “ [ t ] he trial court erred in

finding no materia l change in circu mstances while simultaneo usly listing signif icant i ssues that the

c hild has s uff

ered since the ent

ry of the l ast Order ( ‘ emer ging developmental and educational

deficits ’ ). ” I n he r t

h i r d a s s i g n m e n t o f e r

r o r

, m o th e r a

r g u e s th a t “ [ t ] h e trial c o urt erred in requir ing

Appellant to pro ve ‘ sufficient evid ence p res ented of a mat erial chan ge in circum s tances i nvolv i ng

5 A p p e l l e e d i d n o t f

i l e a b r i e f or present o r a l a r g u m e n t i n t h i s m a t

t e r

.- 6

-

th e paren tal decision

- making process or its consequences for this child in this family ’ in order to

obtain her requested relief

. ” I n h e r f o u r th a s s i g n m e n t o f e r

r o r

, m o th e r c o n t e n d s t

h a t “ [ t ] h e trial

court erred in r

uling that an y material change in circ ums t an ce s doe s not w arrant a change in legal

custod y where the evidence presented raised significant is sues relevant to the issue of

d ecis i on

- making authority

. ” F i n a l l y

, i n h e r f i f t h a s s i g n m e n t o f e r

r o r

, m o th e r a

r g u e s t h a t “ [ t ] h e trial

court erred in den yin g Ap pe llant’ s Mot ion to Amend Legal Custody after finding sufficient

evidence to enter the June 10, 202 0, Order granting the Appellant sol e decision

- making au thority in

cert ain circumst ances. ” 6

I n d e c i d i n g a m o t i o n t o a

m e n d c h i l d c u s t o d y

, th e t

r i a l c o u r t “ m u s t a p p l y a t w o

- p r o n g e d t e s t :

( 1) whether there has been a [material] change in ci rcumstances since the most rec ent custody

award; and ( 2) whether a change in custody woul d be in the best int erests of the child. ” O h l e n v

.

S h i v e l y

, 1 6 V a

. A p p

. 4 1 9

, 4 2 3 ( 1 9 9 3 ) ( a l t e r a t i o n i n o r i g i n a l ) ( q u o t

i n g Visikides v. Derr , 3 Va. App.

69, 70 ( 1 9 8 6 ) ) ; see also K e e l v

. K e e l

, 2 2 5 V a

. 6 0 6

, 6 1 1 ( 1 9 8 3 )

. A s a th r e s h o l d m a t t e r

, th e t r i a l c o u r t

m u s t f i r s t d e c i d e “ ‘ wheth er there has b een a [materi al] change in circums tances si n c e the most

recent custody award. ’ If so, the trial court m ust next determine ‘ whether a change in custody

would be in the best interest s of the child. ’ ” S u r l e s v

. M a y e r

, 4 8 V a

. A p p

. 1 4 6

, 1 7 1 ( 2 0 0 6 )

( a l t e r a t i o n i n o r

i g i n a l ) ( q u o t i n g O h l e n

, 1 6 V a

. A p p

. a t 4 2 3 ) ; s e e a

l s o K e e l

, 2 2 5 V a

. a t 6 1 1 ; W h e e l e r

v

. W h e e l e r

, 4 2 V a

. A

p p

. 2 8 2

, 2 8 9 ( 2 0 0 4 )

. T h e m a t e r i a l c h a n g e i n circumstance s r e q u i r e m e n t e x i s t s

“ to avoid the bar on relitig ation that w ould otherwise be imposed by res j udicata

. ” P a r i s h v

.

S p a u l d i n g

, 2 6 V a

. A

p p

. 5 6 6

, 5 7 3 ( 1 9 9 8 ) ( c i t i n g Hiner v. Ha deed , 15 Va. App. 575, 5 80 (1 993) ( “ In

the a bsence of a materi a l ch ang e i n circumstance s , recons iderat i on

. . . wou ld b e barre d by

p rinci pl e s of res j udi cata

. ”) )

, a f f ’ d

, 2 57 Va. 3 57 ( 1 9 9 9 ) ; se e also W h e e l e r

, 4 2 V a

. A p p

. a t 2 8 9

.

6 M other included th ree a d dition al assignments of erro r

, but in her brief she expressly

withdrew those three assignments of error

– assignments of error six

, s eve n

, and e i g ht

. Therefore, we do not reach them in th is appea l.- 7

-

F u r t h e r m o r e

, t

h e p a r t y w h o m a

k e s t h e m o t i o n t o a m e n d c h i l d c u s t o d y b e a r s th e b u r d e n o f s h o w i n g

th a t e a c h p r o n g o f t

h i s t e s t i s s a t i s f

i e d

. S u r l e s

, 4 8 V a

. A p p

. a t 1 7 1

. T h e r e f

o r e

, u n l e s s th e m o v i n g

p a r t y p r e s e n t s s u f

f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e o f a m a t e r i a l c h a n g e i n circ umstanc e s

, t h e f i r s t p r o n g o f th e t e s t

,

th e t r i a l c o u r t c a n n o t g r a n t a m o t i o n t o a m e n d l e g a l c u s t o d y

. S e e i d

.

T h e q u e s t i o n o f “ [ w ] h e t h e r a c hange of ci rcumstances e xi sts is a fac tual finding that w ill n ot

be distur bed on appea l if the f

i nding is suppor

ted by credible evidence

. ” O h l e n

, 1 6 V a

. A p p

. a t 4 2 3

( q u o t i n g V i s i k i d e s

, 3 V a

. A p p

. a t 7 0 )

. “ ‘ C h a n g e d circum stances ’ i s a b r o a d c o n c e p t a n d

i n c o r p o r a t e s a b r o a d r a n g e o f p o s i t

i v e a n d n e g a t

i v e d e v e l o p m e n t s i n th e l i v e s o f t h e c h i l d r e n

. ”

P a r i s h

, 2 6 V a

. A p p

. a t 5 7 3 ( c i t i n g K e e l

, 2 2 5 V a

. a t 6 1 1

- 1 2 )

. W h e n c o n s i d e r i n g w h e t h e r a m a t e r i a l

c h a n g e i n circums tanc es h a s occur red

, t h e t r i a l c o u r t m u s t n o t l i m i t i t s d e c i s i o n o n l y t o q u e s t i o n s

c o n c e r n i n g chan g es i n th e p a r e n t s ’ c i r c u m s t a n c e s

. K e e l

, 2 2 5 V a

. a t 6 1 1

- 1 2

. T h e t r i a l c o u r t m u s t

a l s o c o n s i d e r “ changes inv olving the children themselves s uch as the ir maturity , their special

educational needs, and any of a myria d of changes that might exi st as to t hem

. ” I d

. at 612

. W h e n

the trial court b a s e s i t s d e c i s i o n upon an ore tenus hear ing, “ [ i ] ts findings are entitled to the weight

given to a jury verdict and will not be disturbed on appeal unless, upon a review of the whole

record, they are plai nly wrong or without evidence to su ppo rt them. ” Florio v. Clark

, 2 77 Va. 566

,

5 7 0 (2009)

. F u r

th e r m o r e

, “ It is well sett led that issues of credibility and the weight of the evidence

are within the unique provinc e of the trier of fact

. ” P a r i s h

, 2 6 V a

. A p p

. a t 5 7 5

.

A s s i g n m e n t s o f E r

r o r 1 & 2

T h e t r i a l c o u r t f o u n d t h a t n o m a

t e r i a l c h a n g e i n circ umstances h a d o c c u r r e d s i n c e th e m o s t

r e c e n t c u s t o d y a w a

r d

. I n m o th e r ’ s f

i r s t t w o a s s i g n m e n t s o f e r

r o r

, s h e a r g u e s th a t th e t

r i a l c o u r t e r r e d

i n f i n d i n g t h a t n o m a t e r i a l change i n circ umstances h a d o c c u r r e d

. W h i l e t h e t

r i a l c o u r t n o t e d i n i t s

Octobe r 3 0

, 2 0 2 0 o p i n i o n l e t t e r th a t E.G. “ h as e m e r g i n g d e v e l o p m e n t a l a n d e d u c a t i o n a l d e f i c i t s

, ”

E.G. i s a s e v e n

- y e a

r

- o l d c h i l d w h o h a s h a d a c o m p l i c a t e d m e d i c a l h i s t o r

y

. A t t h e t

i m e o f th e e n t

r y- 8

-

o f t h e d i v o r c e d e c r e e

, th e t r i a l c o u r t f o u n d th a t E .G

. a l r e a d y h a d s i g n i f

i c a n t h e a l th i s s u e s i n c l u d i n g

b i l a t e r a l k i d n e y r e f l u x d i s e a s e

, w h i c h m a d e h e r susceptibl e t o f r e q u e n t u r i n a

r y t r a c t i n f e c t i o n s a n d

r e q u i r e d h e r p a

r e n t s t o c a r e f u l l y m o n i t o r h e r h e a

l t h a n d a d m i n i s t e r p r e s c r i b e d m e d i c a t i o n s

. E.G.

s u f f e r e d e a r l y o n f r o m t h i s c o n d i t i o n t h a t f r e q u e n tl y l e a d s t o u r

i n a r y t r a c t i n f e c t i o n s

, w h i c h i n tu r n

c o u l d l e a d t o e v e n m o r e s e r i o u s i n f e c t i o n s a n d p o t e n t i a l l o n g

- t e r m k i d n e y s c a r r i n g

. N o w

, a s b e f

o r e

,

E.G. s u f f e r s f r o m s i g n i f

i c a n t h e a l t h i s s u e s

. N o w

, a s b e f

o r e

, E.G. a l s o s t

r u g g l e s w i t

h a n x i e t y a n d

s l e e p i s s u e s

. T h e r e f

o r e

, a s b e f

o r e

, E.G. ’ s p a

r e n t s m u s t c o n t i n u e t o monitor h e r h e a l t h

, c o n t i n u e t o

a d d r e s s he r h e a l t

h c o n c e r n s a s t h e y a r i s e

, a n d c o n t i n u e t o a d m i n i s t e r h e r p r e s c r i b e d m e d i c a t i o n s

.

F u r t h e r m o r e

, t

h e t e n s i o n t

h a t e x i s t s between m o t h e r a n d f a th e r conc ernin g E.G. ’ s c a r e i s n o t

a n e w d e v e l o p m e n t e i t

h e r

– a s i s e v i d e n t b y t h e trial c o u r t ’ s p r i o r finding t h a

t m o th e r ’ s a s s e r

t i o n t h a t

f a th e r w a s m o th e r ’ s o n l y o b s t a c l e t o c o

- p a r e n t i n g “ i s b r e a t

h t a k i n g

. ” T h e t

r i a l c o u r t h a d e a r l i e r

s t a t e d

, “ M o th e r ’ s a

p p a r e n t l a c k o f a

b i l i t y t o v i e w h e r o w n c o

- p a r e n t i n g c o n d

u c t a n d c h o i c e s a s

a n y th i n g o th e r th a n f

l a w l e s s

, th e b e s t

, p e r f

e c t o r e x e mp l a

r y i n e v e r y r e s p e c t p r o v i d e s a u n i q u e

i n s i g h t i n t o M o t

h e r ’ s t h i n k i n g

. ” T h e e v i d e n c e s u p p o r t s t h e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s f i n d i n g th a t t h e p a r e n t a l

d e c i s i o n

- m a

k i n g p r o c e s s b e t w e e n m o t

h e r a n d f a t h e r h a d n o t s i g n i f

i c a n t l y c h a

n g e d s i n c e t

h e p a r t i e s

d i v o r c e d w h e n t

h e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s e a r l i e r d e c i s i o n o n c u s t o d y w a s m a d e

.

M o th e r l a r g e l y a s s e r

t s t h a t f a th e r ’ s l a c k o f c o o p e r a t

i o n h a s c a u s e d a m a t e r i a

l c h a n g e i n

c i r c u m s t a n c e s b e c a

u s e i t i s h a s n e g a t i v e l y i m p a c t e d E.G. ’ s h e a

l t h c a r e a n d o t h e r n e e d s

. H o w e v e r

,

a f t e r h e a r i n g a l l th e e v i d e n c e a n d d e t e r

m i n i n g th e cre dibility o f t h e witn esse s

, th e t r i a l c o u r t f o u n d

th a t n e i t h e r th e p a r e n t a l d e c i s i o n

- m a

k i n g p r o c e s s n o r “ i t s c o n s e q u e n c e s f o r t h i s c h i l d [ E.G. ] i n t

h i s

f a m i l y ” h a d c h a n g e d

. Fi r s t

, f a t h e r d i d n o t r e f

u s e t o a d m i n i s t e r E.G. ’ s p r e s c r i p t i o n m e d i c a t i o n s

.

E v e n i n i n s t a n c e s w h e r e f

a t h e r h a d o b

j e c t i o n s t o a p a

r t i c u l a r p r e s c r i b e d m e d i c a t i o n

, h e a d m i n i s t e r e d

i t t o E.G. d e s p i t e h i s o b

j e c t i o n s

. F o r e x a mp l e

, f

a t h e r a d m i n i s t e r e d E.G. ’ s p r e s c r i b e d s l e e p

m e d i c a t i o n

– C l o n i d i n e

– d e s p i t e vo i c i n g h i s o b j e c t i o n s t o D r

. M u l r e a n y

, a n d D r

. M u l r e a n y- 9

-

e v e n t u a l l y p r e s c r i b e d a d i f f e r e n t m e d i c a t i o n f

o l l o w i n g f

a th e r ’ s r e p o r

t t h a t E.G. s u f f e r e d s i d e e f

f e c t s

.

S e c o n d

, f a t h e r p a r t i c i p a t e d i n th e p r o c e s s o f c r e a t i n g t h e I E P t h a t E.G. n o w h a s

. T h i r d

, w h e n a s k e d

a t th e f i n a l h e a r i n g i f h e e v e r o b

j e c t e d t o E

. G

. ’ s s u r g e r

y b e i n g p e r f

o r m e d

, f a t h e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t h e d i d

n o t

. A l l o f th i s s u p p o r

t s a f i n d i n g t h a t d e s p i t e th e d i s a g r e e m e n t s a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n i s s u e s b e t w e e n

th e p a r e n t s

, fa th e r h a d n o t a c tu a l l y o b s t

r u c t e d E.G. ’ s h e a l t

h c a r e o r a c c e s s t o s e r v i c e s

– a n d t h a t

E.G. ’ s n e e d s w e r e b e i n g m e t

.

I n a d d i t i o n

, m o t

h e r a r g u e s t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s d e c i s i o n t o g r a n t s o l e d e c i s i o n

- m a k i n g

authority t o h e r r e l a t e d t o th e surgery d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t th e t

r i a l c o u r t h a d f o u n d a m a

t e r i a l c h a n g e

i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s o v e r a

l l

, b u t th a t a

r g u m e n t i s u n p e r s u a s i v e

. T h e t r i a l c o u r t m a d e th a t d e c i s i o n l e s s

th a n a w e e k b e f

o r e E.G. underwent s u r g e r y

, a n d i t e n t e r e d t

h e J u n e 1 0

, 2 0 2 0 o r d e r o n l y o n e d a y

b e f o r e E. G. ’ s s u r g e r

y

. F u r t h e r m o r e

, t

h e o r d e r ’ s n a

r r o w s c o p e t e m p o r a

r i l y g r a n t e d m o t h e r s o l e

d e c i s i o n

- m a

k i n g authority o n l y “ [ a ] s i t p e r t a i n s t o th e m i n o r c h i l d ’ s b i l a t e r a l k i d n e y d i s e a s e

,

s u r g e r y

, o r p o s t

- s u r g i c a l r

e c o v e r y

. ” T h e t r i a l c o u r t a d d r e s s e d th i s p r e s s i n g e m e r g e n c y i s s u e b y

c r e a t i n g a temporary p r o v i s i o n “ u n t i l f u r th e r O r d e r o f th e C o u r

t ” a n d t h e n s e t t h e m a

t t e r f o r a f i n a l

h e a ri n g

.

I n s h o r t

, b o th b e f o r e a n d a f t e r t h e e n t r y o f t h e f i n a l d e c r e e o f d i v o r c e th a t e s t a b l i s h e d j o i n t

l e g a l c u s t o d y o f t

h e c h i l d

, E.G. h a s h a d s i g n i f i c a n t h e a l t h i s s u e s t h a t r e q u i r e h e r p a r e n t s t o m o n i t o r

h e r h e a l t h

, t o a d m i n i s t e r m e d i c a t i on s

, a n d t o o b t a i n n e c e s s a r y t r e a t m e nt s f o r h e r

. B o th b e f

o r e a n d

a f t e r t h e e n t r y o f th e f i n a l d e c r e e

, E.G. ’ s pa

r e n t s h a v e h a d c o m m u n i c a t i o n s t r u g g l e s a n d

c o

- p a r e n t i n g d i f

f i c u l t i e s

. F u r

th e r m o r e

, d e s p i t e m o t

h e r ’ s c o n t e n t i o n s

, c r e d i b l e e v i d e n c e s u p p o r t s a

f i n d i n g b y t

h e t r i a l c o u r t t h a t t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s f

o r E.G. a r i s i n g f r o m t h i s p a

r e n t a l d e c i s i o n

- m a

k i n g

p r o c e s s h a v e n o t r e a l l y c h a n g e d e i t h e r

. F o r a l l o f t h ese r e a s o n s

, w e c a n n o t s a y t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t

w a s p l a i n l y w r o n g o r w i th o u t c r e d i b l e e v i d e n c e i n t h e r e c o r d t o s u p p o r

t i t s f i n d i n g o f f

a c t t h a t n o

m a t e r i a l c h a n g e i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s h a d o c c u r r e d

.- 10

- A s s i g n m e n t s o f E r

r o r 3

, 4

, & 5

I n a s s i g n m e n t o f e r

r o r t h r e e

, m o t h e r a s s e r t s that “ [ t ] h e t

r i a l c o u r t e r r e d i n requirin g

A p p e l l a n t t o p r o v e ‘ s u f

f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d o f a m a t e r i a l change in ci rcumstan ces i n v o l v i n g

th e p a r e n t a l d e c i s i o n

- m a

k i n g p r o c e s s o r i t s c o n s e q u e n c e s f o r th i s c h i l d i n t

h i s f a m i l y ’ i n o r d e r t o

o b t a i n h e r r e q u e s t e d r e l i e f

. ” H o w e v e r

, th e t

r i a l c o u r t ’ s f i n d i n g s r e f

l e c t t h a t th e t

r i a l c o u r t d i d n o t

l i m i t i t s d e c i s i o n a n d c o n s i d e r a t i o n s t o i s s u e s c o n c e r n i n g th e p a

r e n t s a n d th e i r i n t e r

p e r s o n a l

d y n a m i c s

. T h e t

r i a l c o u r t a c k n o w l e d g e d th a

t E.G. h a d “ e m e r g i n g d e v e l o p m e n t a l a n d e d u c a t i o n a l

d e f i c i t s ” i n a d d i t i o n t o h e r c o n t i n u i n g si g n if

ican t h e a l th i s s u e s

. F u r

th e r m o r e

, th e t

r i a l c o u r t ’ s

f i n d i n g i n i t s O c t o b e r 3 0

, 2 0 2 0 o p i n i o n l e t t e r t h a t th e r e h a d n o t “ b e e n s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d

o f a m a t e r i a l c h a n g e i n circumst a nces i n v o l v i n g t h e p a r e n t a l d e c i s i o n

- m a

k i n g p r o c e s s o r i t

s

c o n s e q u e n c e s f

o r t h i s c h i l d i n t h i s f a m i l y

, ” ( e m p h a s i s a d d e d )

, s h o w s t h a t th e t r i a l c o u r t n o t o n l y

a s s e s s e d w h e t h e r t

h e p a r e n t a l d e c i s i o n

- m a

k i n g p r o c e s s h a d c h a

n g e d

, b u t a l s o w h e th e r E.G. ’ s

s i t u a t i o n h a d c h a n g e d a s a c o n s e q u e n c e

. Th e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s f i n d i n g s d e m o n s t

r a t e th a t i t c o n s i d e r e d

th e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f E.G. ’ s c o n t i n u i n g h e a l t

h i s s u e s a n d “ e m e r g i n g d e v e l o p m e n t a l a n d educational

d e f i c i t s

. ” G i v e n th a t t

h e t r i a l c o u r t f o u n d t h a t n o m a t e r i a l c h a n g e i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s h a d o c c u r r e d

,

u n d e r th e S u p r e m e C o u r

t ’ s d e c i s i o n i n K e e l a n d i t s p r o g e n y

, t h e t r i a l c o u r t c o u l d n o t g r a n t m o th e r ’ s

r e q u e s t f o r a c h a n g e i n c u s t o d y g i v i n g h e r s o l e l e g a l c u s t o d y

. Se e 2 2 5 V a

. at 6 1 1 ; W h e e l e r

, 4 2

V a

. A p p

. a

t 2 8 9 ; S u r l e s

, 4 8 V a

. A p p

. a t 1 7 1

.

I n a s s i g n m e n t o f e r

r o r f o u r

, m o th e r a l s o c o n t e n d s t h a t th e t r i a l c o u r t e r r e d i n h o l d i n g t h a t

“ a n y m a t e r

i a l c h a n g e i n circums tances ” d i d n o t w a r r a n t m o d i f

i c a t i o n o f c u s t o d y

. H o w e v e r

, th i s

a r g u m e n t a s s u m e s a s i t s p r e m i s e s o m e t h i n g t h a t i s n o t c o r

r e c t

. T h e t

r i a l c o u r t d i d n o t f i n d t h a t “ a n y

m a t e r i a l c h a n g e i n ci rcums t ances ” d i d n o t w a r r a n t a m o d i f

i c a t i o n o f c h i l d c u s t o d y

. R a t

h e r

, t h e t r i a l

c o u r t f o u n d th a t t

h e r e w a s n o t “ s u f

f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d o f a m a t e r i a l c h a n g e i n circumstance s

i n v o l v i n g th e p a

r e n t a l d e c i s i o n

- m a

k i n g p r o c e s s o r i t s c o n s e q u e n c e s f o r th i s c h i l d i n t h i s f

a m i l y [

. ] ”- 11

-

W h e n a n a

p p e l l a n t “ has ass igned error to a ruling that the circuit court did not make, the circuit

court could not and did not err in the manner alleged by [ a p p e l l a n t ] in the assignment of error.

Thus, w e c annot ta

ke c o g ni zance of the c laimed error

. ” G e o u g e v

. T r a y l o r

, 6 8 V a

. A p p

. 3 4 3

, 3 7 3

( 2 0 1 7 ) ( c i t i n g Culpeper Re g ’ l Hosp. v. Jones

, 64 Va. App. 207, 212 n

. 2 ( 2 0 1 5 ) )

. T h e r e f o r e

, th e t r i a l

c o u r t c l e a r l y d i d n o t e r

r i n t h e m a n n e r m o t h e r a

l l e g e s i n a s s i g n m e n t o f e r

r o r f o u r

.

I n a s s i g n m e n t o f e r

r o r f i v e

, m o th e r c o n t e n d s t h a

t t h e t r i a l c o u r t e r r e d i n d e n y i n g m o th e r ’ s

m o t i o n t o a m e n d l e g a l c u s t o d y a f

t e r h a v i n g e n t e r e d t h e J u n e 1 0

, 2 0 2 0 o r d e r g r a n t i n g m o th e r s o l e

d e c i s i o n

- m a

k i n g aut h orit y i n c e r t a i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s related t o t h e c h i l d ’ s i m m i n e n t s u r g e r y a n d

r e c o v e r y f r o m i t

. H o w e v e r

, th e t

r i a l c o u r t d i d n o t f i n d a m a t e r i a l c h a n g e i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s i n J u n e

2 0 2 0 a n d d i d n o t a w a

r d f u l l l e g a l c u s t o d y t o m o t

h e r

. I n f a c t

, e v e r y t h i n g a b o u t th e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s

a c t i o n s a f t e r th e J u n e 5

, 2 0 2 0 e m e r g e n c y h e a r i n g s u p p o r

t s th e c o n c l u s i o n t

h a t th e t r i a l c o u r t

i n t e n d e d t o a d d r e s s a t e m

p o r a r y e m e r g e n c y s i tu a t

i o n th a t h a d r e s o l v e d i t s e l f b y t h e t i m e t h e t r i a l

c o u r t i s s u e d i t s O c t o b e r 3 0

, 2 0 2 0 o p i n i o n l e t t e r

. T h e J u n e h e a

r i n g t o o k p l a c e ju s t a f

e w d a y s b e f

o r e

E.G. ’ s s u r g e r

y

. G i v e n t

h e e m e r g e n t ma t

t e r o f th e i m m i n e n t s u r g e r y a n d t h e f

a c t th a t th e t

r i a l c o u r t

h a d y e t t o h o l d a final h e a r i n g o n m o th e r ’ s m o t i o n t o a w a r d h e r s o l e l e g a l c u s t o d y

, th e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s

p o s i t i o n a n d w h a t i t n e e d e d t o a d d r e s s i n J u n e 2 0 2 0 w a s m a r k e d l y d i f f e r e n t t h a n w h a t i t n e e d e d t o

ad d r e s s o n D e c e m

b e r 1 5

, 2 0 2 0

, w h e n th e f

i n a l o r d e r w a s e n t e r e d f

r o m w h i c h a

p p e l l a n t n o w

a p p e a l s

. F u r

th e r m o r e

, t

h e t r i a l c o u r t i n J u n e 2 0 2 0 l i m i t e d i t s a c t i o n s o n l y t o t

h e i s s u e s c o n c e r n i n g

E.G. ’ s b i l a

t e r a l k i d n e y r e f l u x d i s e a s e

, th e i m m i n e n t s u r g e r y f o r i t

, a n d t h e p o s t

- s u r g i c a l r e c o v e r y

.

T h i s l i m i t a t

ion o f th a t J u n e 1 0

, 2 0 2 0 o r d e r f

u r t h e r i n d i c a t e s that th e t

r i a l c o u r t w a s r e s p o n d i n g t o a n

e m e r g e n c y s i t u a

t i o n s u r r o u n d i n g s u r g e r

y r a t h e r t h a n d e t e r m i n i n g th a t t h e r e h a d b e e n a c h a n g e i n

ci rcumstan c es m a

t e r i a l t o t h e r e c o n s i d e r a t

i o n o f th e e x i s t

ing p e r m a n e n t c u s t o d y a w a r d

. I n d e e d

, th e

J u n e 1 0

, 2 0 2 0 o r d e r i t s e l f s t a t e d t h a t t h e s e p r o v i s i o n s w e r e i n e f f e c t o n l y “ u n t i l f

u r t h e r O r d e r o f t

h e

C o u r t ” a n d th e n p r o c e e d e d t o s e t m o th e r ’ s m o t i o n t o a m e n d c h i l d c u s t o d y f o r a f i n a l h e a r i n g

. I n- 12

-

a d d i t i o n

, i n i t s O c t o b e r 3 0

, 2 0 2 0 o p i n i o n l e t t e r

, th e t r i a l c o u r t r e f e r s t o th e J u n e 1 0

, 2 0 2 0 o r d e r a s

“ o r d e r [ i n g ] p e n d

e n t e l i t e re l i e f

. ” T h i s s t a

t e m e n t s u p p o r

t s t h e c o n c l u s i o n th a

t t h e t r i a l c o u r t in t e n d e d

th e J u n e 1 0

, 2 0 2 0 o r d e r g i v i n g m o th e r s o l e d e c i s i o n

- m a k i n g authority

– a s i t r

e l a t e s t o E.G. ’ s

b i l a t e r a l k i d n e y r e f l u x d i s e a s e

, s u r g e r

y

, a n d p o s t

- s u r g i c a l r e c o v e r y

– a s m e r e l y t e m

p o r a r y

. A s a

r e s u l t

, t h e r e i s n o t

h i n g i n t h e r e c o r d t o s u g g e s t t h a

t t h e t r i a l c o u r t h a d a l r e a d y earlier f

o u n d a

m a t e r i a l c h a n g e i n cir cum stances s u f f i c i e n t t o r e c o n s i d e r th e t

r i a l c o u r t ’ s p e r m a n e n t c u s t o d y a w a

r d

w h i c h i s a t i s s u e i n t

h i s a p p e a l

.

F o r a l l o f t

h e s e r e a s o n s

, w e c a n n o t s a y t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t e r r e d i n f i n d i n g th a t n o m a

t e r i a l

c h a n g e i n circums tance s h a d actually o c c u r r e d d e s p i t e i t s h a v i n g e n t e r e d t h e l i m i t e d a n d t e m p o r a r y

J u n e 1 0

, 2 0 2 0 o r d e r p r i m a r i l y d e a l i n g w i t h th e c h i l d ’ s i m m i n e n t s u r g e r y

.

III. C O N C L U S I O N

I n s h o r t

, w e f i n d t h a t th e t r i a l c o u r t w a s n o t p l a

i n l y w r o n g o r w i t

h o u t c r e d i b l e e v i d e n c e t o

f i n d t h a t a m a t e r

i a l c h a n g e i n ci rcumstances h a d n o t o c c u r r e d s i n c e t h e e n t

r y o f t h e f i n a l d i v o r c e

d e c r e e

. M o t

h e r h a d t h e b u r d e n o f p r o o f t o s h o w t h a t a m a t e r i a l c h a n g e i n circumstanc es h a d

o c c u r r e d s i n c e th e e n t

r y o f t h e f i n a l d i v o r c e d e c r e e

. D e s p i t e m o th e r ’ s n u m e r o u s a l l e g a t i o n s a n d

t e s t i m o n y a t t e m p t i n g t o s h o w t

h a t f a t h e r h a d r e f

u s e d t o c o o p e r a t e i n E.G. ’ s c a r e a n d s h o w i n g t

h a t

E.G. h a d r e c e i v e d a d d i t

i o n a l d i a g n o s e s a n d p r e s c r i p t i o n m e d i c a t i o n s

, t h e r e c o r d s u p p o r

t s t h e t r i a l

c o u r t ’ s f i n d i n g t h a t s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e h a d n o t b e e n p r e s e n t e d “ o f a m a t e r i a l c h a n g e i n

circumstances i n v o l v i n g t

h e p a r e n t a l d e c i s i o n

- m a

k i n g p r o c e s s o r i t s c o n s e q u e n c e s f o r t h i s c h i l d i n

th i s f a m i l y [

. ] ” E.G. d o e s c o n t i n u e t o h a v e s i g n i f i c a n t h e a l t h i s s u e s

, a

n d h e r p a r e n t s c o n t i n u e t o h a v e

t o m o n i t o r h e r h e a l t

h

, a d d r e s s h e r n e e d s

, a n d a d m i n i s t e r h e r p r e s c r i b e d m e d i c a t i o n s

. H o w e v e r

,

c r e d i b l e e v i d e n c e a l s o s h o w s t h a t

, c o n t r a r y t o m o t h e r ’ s c o n t e n t i o n s

, f

a th e r d o e s n o t r e f

u s e t o

a d m i n i s t e r E.G. ’ s m e d i c a t i o n s o r t o c o n s e n t t o m e d i c a l t r e a t m e n t s f

o r h e r

. F i n a l l y

, t h e t

r i a l c o u r t

d i d n o t e r r i n d e n y i n g m o t

h e r ’ s m o t i o n t o a m e n d c h i l d c u s t o d y b e c a u s e t h e t r i a l c o u r t d o e s n o t h a v e- 13

-

th e authorit y t o a

m e n d a c u s t o d y o r d e r w i t

h o u t f i n d i n g t h a t t h e r e h a s b e e n a m a t e r i a l c h a n g e i n

c i r c u m s t a n c e s

. F o r a l l o f t h e s e r e a s o n s

, w e a f

f i r m t h e r u l i n g o f t h e t

r i a l c o u r t

.

A f

f i r m e d

.