In the face of repeated health crises, personal loss, and what he describes as systemic discrimination, Trevis Hanse works to transform his family’s tragic experiences into advocacy for vulnerable families across America. His story highlights gaps in healthcare access, child protective services responses, and institutional support for families in crisis.
Early Years and Family Formation
After being raised by his great-grandparents in Florida, Hanse worked various blue-collar jobs in his early adulthood. Following his grandmother’s passing in 2014, he relocated to Colorado, seeking a fresh start. There, he met Alice through an online connection, and the two quickly became inseparable.
When Alice shared her significant health challenges with Hanse, including her “double diabetes” — both type 1 and type 2 — he remained committed to their relationship. Though Alice believed she couldn’t conceive, the couple welcomed their first daughter, Chrissy, in 2017, followed by Ayanna in 2019.
Healthcare Struggles and Pandemic Impact
Hanse balanced work with family care, often bringing his daughters to work during the day and taking night shifts while they slept. Like many families lacking adequate support systems, they struggled to navigate Alice’s complex health issues, including circulation problems, neuropathy, and dangerous blood clots, frequently requiring extended hospitalizations.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the family welcomed their third daughter, Pamela. They faced multiple bouts with the virus, including both early strains and later the Omicron variant. Despite taking precautions, the virus severely impacted Alice’s already fragile health, leaving her with lingering symptoms.
A Devastating Loss
While relocating to Nevada for a new job opportunity after recovering from Omicron, the family experienced an unthinkable tragedy. During their approximately 40-hour drive, they stopped at a gas station where Alice nursed baby Pamela, who showed little interest in feeding. Hours later, in Elko, Nevada, they discovered Pamela had passed away.
The family’s profound grief was compounded by what they perceived as inappropriate behavior from first responders, who they reported were “chuckling and laughing” near their deceased child. This interaction marked the beginning of their challenging encounters with various authorities and institutions.
Compounding Tragedies
The family faced additional hardships, including multiple robberies at their residences and severe health complications for Alice. After Hurricane Ian in Florida, Alice suffered a serious foot injury that became infected with the polio virus, requiring surgery and blood transfusions.
During her pregnancy with their son Ezekiel, doctors discovered the baby was developing abnormally. Despite being offered the option to terminate, the couple chose to continue the pregnancy based on their religious beliefs. However, their hospital experience in Colorado turned traumatic when Alice was handcuffed to her bed by child protective services workers.
Final Days and Ongoing Fight
The day after being handcuffed, Alice’s health deteriorated rapidly, beginning with vision loss in one eye. Despite needing critical care, she was discharged shortly after delivering Ezekiel, who required immediate NICU care due to multiple congenital disabilities. Their children were removed from their care, and approximately two weeks later, Alice passed away.
Today, Hanse continues to fight for justice and his parental rights. His experiences have led him to advocate for systemic reform, particularly focusing on how institutions interact with vulnerable families. He is currently working to fund a documentary to highlight these issues and push for meaningful change in how families in crisis are treated by government agencies.
You can learn more about his fight to combat bias and corruption as well as signing his petition here.
