Chapter 1: The Illness of Ezekiel Stephan

On February 27, 2012, in Alberta, Canada, 18-month-old Ezekiel Stephan fell seriously ill. He began to refuse food, struggled with swallowing, and most alarmingly, faced difficulty breathing.

Instead of seeking medical assistance, his parents, David and Colette Stephan, who lacked any formal medical training, self-diagnosed their son with croup, a typically mild condition known to cause a distinctive cough in infants.

Firm adherents of the Mormon faith and strong proponents of alternative medicine, the Stephans opted to treat Ezekiel with natural remedies. Their unconventional treatments included smoothies made from ginger root, hot pepper, onion, and horseradish.

Additionally, they sought religious blessings as a form of healing. A family friend, who was a registered nurse, urged them to take Ezekiel to the hospital, expressing concern that he might be suffering from viral meningitis. However, the Stephans disregarded this advice and instead consulted a naturopath.

Despite clear warning signs, the parents only contacted emergency services after Ezekiel had stopped breathing. When they finally chose to drive him to the hospital, his condition deteriorated further.

In desperation, David Stephan made another call to 911, requesting that an ambulance meet them on the highway. Unfortunately, when paramedics arrived, they found that they did not have the necessary child-sized intubation equipment. Tragically, they discovered that Ezekiel had no pulse. He was quickly airlifted to Alberta Children’s Hospital.

Once there, doctors were unable to detect any significant brain activity, as Ezekiel had suffered seizures. Although he had endured a grave ordeal, he survived long enough to reach proper medical care.

One week later, on March 16, 2012, Ezekiel succumbed to bacterial meningitis. An autopsy revealed he had a Hib infection, and he had not been vaccinated against this disease.

The death of this infant sparked public outrage, prompting many to question whether his passing could have been avoided. Was there a failure to intervene sooner? Who bore the responsibility for Ezekiel’s tragic fate?

In the days leading up to the emergency call, Ezekiel had reportedly stopped eating and drinking. The Stephan family's response was to administer fluids using an eyedropper, alongside a supplement called Empower Plus, which was marketed by True Hope Nutritional Support—co-founded by David’s father, Anthony Stephan.

In June 2016, a jury found both David and Colette Stephan guilty of neglecting to provide essential care for their child. David voiced his concern that the case might lead to increased governmental control over parenting choices.

Judge Rodney Jerk sentenced David to four months in prison while Colette received three months of house arrest. The disparity in their sentences was attributed to David's perceived lack of remorse.

During sentencing, Judge Jerk remarked that David would give anything to have Ezekiel back. Colette expressed her sorrow, stating, “My children are everything to me and I’m everything to my children. I am incredibly sorry I did not take him to the hospital. I just loved him so much.”

Following the verdict, the couple appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada, which overturned their conviction. They then claimed financial incapacity to hire legal representation and sought reimbursement of four million U.S. dollars for legal fees, but their request was denied.

At a retrial in 2019, David and Colette were acquitted after arguing that the absence of child-sized equipment in the ambulance was the primary reason for Ezekiel's death. The defense maintained that had the proper supplies been available, their son might have survived. The prosecution countered that Ezekiel had already been without breath for around 11 minutes when help arrived.

Throughout both trials, the Stephans contended that they believed Ezekiel was suffering from flu or croup and treated him with home remedies. The court discussed the smoothies they prepared, emphasizing that they contained garlic, onion, and horseradish.

In March 2021, a third trial was ordered against the couple, but by June, Crown prosecutors concluded that the evidence no longer met the necessary standards for prosecution, as nine years had passed since Ezekiel's death, leading to the deterioration of crucial evidence.

None of the surviving Stephan children have received vaccinations, and David has reportedly become even more opposed to them since Ezekiel's death. He is also said to subscribe to conspiracy theories, including the idea that vaccines cause autism.

In 2011, David Hardy, a co-founder of True Hope, departed due to disagreements over business practices. Allegations surfaced that Anthony Stephan promoted a new product, Empower Plus Advanced, which was claimed to be more effective but was essentially the same as the original.

Regarding Ezekiel's death, Anthony Stephan alleged that the charges against David and Colette stemmed not solely from their child's passing but from the government’s efforts to disband True Hope Nutritional Support.

Public opinion remains divided; some argue the parents should be held accountable for Ezekiel's death, while others point to the healthcare system's failings. Though it may appear that the Stephans suddenly embraced modern medicine when they called 911, it was a desperate attempt to save their son.

Ultimately, the stark reality remains that an innocent life was tragically lost far too soon.

Chapter 2: A Different Perspective

The video title is "Dealing with the tragedy of infant deaths as Mormon parents - Martine & Stuart Smith Pt 2 | Ep. 1741 - YouTube." In this episode, Martine and Stuart Smith discuss their experiences as parents coping with the unimaginable loss of an infant. They explore themes of grief, the challenges of faith, and the impact of community support during such a tragic time.