Washington City Paper: Contents for Feb. 8

Sticks & Bones
Alice and Miguel Velasquez couldn't explain the bump on their daughter's rib cage to themselves or to their doctor. How, then, could they explain it to Alexandria's Child Protective Services?

Cover Story

Alice and Miguel Velasquez couldn't explain the bump on their daughter's rib cage to themselves or to their doctor. How, then, could they explain it to Alexandria's Child Protective Services?

Photographs by Pilar Vergara

On Feb. 3, 2000, Alice and Miguel Velasquez took their daughter Liliana for a routine well-baby visit at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. They were concerned about a lump on the left side of their 4-month-old's rib cage.

Alice, 22, an Army medical-lab technician, had discovered a slight protrusion while handling Liliana a few days earlier. The lump was not visible to the eye but could be felt by running a hand across the child's ribs. She thought of calling Liliana's pediatrician, but the child didn't seem to be in pain when the spot was touched.

Alice's husband, Miguel, 30, a flooring contractor from El Salvador, wasn't home at the time, so she called her grandmother in Indiana to ask for advice. "Liliana is just fine," the older woman assured her. When Miguel returned, he also felt the lump. Unconvinced that it was nothing, he told his wife that they should definitely show it to the doctor when Liliana went for her checkup. ... Continued

Issue of Feb. 8 - 14, 2002

News and Features

Sticks & Bones
Alice and Miguel Velasquez couldn't explain the bump on their daughter's rib cage to themselves or to their doctor. How, then, could they explain it to Alexandria's Child Protective Services?
Cover Story By Sarah Godfrey
Nimby Tribunal
The City By Dave Nuttycombe
The Chain Gang
With empty stores in Dupont Circle and Cleveland Park, Starwood Urban Investments is redefining window shopping.
The City By Brian Montopoli
Phantom of the Opera
A graffito at Wolf Trap scandalizes police.
The City By Paul Fain
Bouncing Back
The Mail By Eric Isaac
Quality In
The Mail By Robert Casey
Class Action
The Mail By Benjamin Edelman
Less Is More
The Mail By Jocelyn Taylor
Movie Madness
The Mail By Philippe Chabot

Columns

Soft Money
Cheap Seats By Dave McKenna
Barry Watch
City Desk By Elissa Silverman
Check's in the Mail
City Desk By Annys Shin

Eats

Movies

Ball of Confusion
Film Review By Mark Jenkins
Teenage Wastelands
Film Review By Joel E. Siegel
Czech Mates
Film Review By Arion Berger
Plane Dealers
Talking Pictures By Mark Jenkins
The Debut
Film Review By Mark Jenkins
Collateral Damage
Film Review By Arion Berger

Music

Slay Tracks
Music Review By Brent Burton

Theater

Mouthing Off
Theater Review By Robert Lalasz
Old Haunts
Theater Review By Bob Mondello
The Gimmick
Theater Review By Pamela Murray Winters
Talking With...#
Theater Review By Pamela Murray Winters

Arts and Events

Batchelor Boys
Art Review By Glenn Dixon
A Dog's Life
Jimmy Stallings has made remembering FDR's best friend his pet project.
Arts By Robert Lalasz
Does Springfield Have a Prayer?
Books By Glenn Dixon
Gauze for Concern
Artifacts By Shauna Miller
Moving Pictures
Artifacts By Mark Jenkins