CT - Assaulted Baby May Never Walk Or Talk Again

http://articles.courant.com/2011-03...310_1_abusive-head-trauma-baby-arrest-warrant

http://hartford.cbslocal.com/2011/03/09/bristol-mom-charged-with-assaulting-baby-daughter/

http://www.wfsb.com/news/27143975/detail.html

MaKenna Shepard, the 8-week-old abused by her mother may never walk or talk again.

This precious baby was only 8 weeks old!!

The baby was flown to Connecticut Children's Medical Center. Doctors there said the infant was suffering from severe head trauma.

Shepard was held on a $500,000 bond. She is scheduled to appear in court March 17.

She is married and pregnant with another child. :sick:

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/...n-Hospital-For-Drug-Withdrawal-118232024.html

A Bristol baby police said was shaken violently by her mother was also, addicted to drugs,according to reports.The state Department of Children and Families told the Press that Shepard, who is pregnant again, was using narcotics during her first pregnancy.

OMG, this lady worked as an EMT?!

If convicted, Shepard could face as much as 40 years in prison.

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Mom-Charged-in-Assault-of-Infant-117661758.html

I HOPE the father doesn't get custody of the new baby!!!!

In my work with adoptive families, I've probably met and held and cuddled 50 children who have suffered from Shaken Baby Syndrome. They are so tremendously disabled and yet each I've known was precious to their new families. In meeting these children who were either "total care" children or challenged in so many serious ways, it was always such a shock to think that this dear child started out as a healthy vibrant child. So many lost opportunities.

We simply have to work harder to educate our youth and young parents about shaking. "The Period of Purple Crying" video should be shown to every child starting in about 6th grade and again and again each year. A moment's rage and lapse of judgement can literally change a child's life forever.

http://www.purplecrying.info/

And now she is having another baby??? sorry, this just isn't right. :banghead:

Missizzy said:

In my work with adoptive families, I've probably met and held and cuddled 50 children who have suffered from Shaken Baby Syndrome. They are so tremendously disabled and yet each I've known was precious to their new families. In meeting these children who were either "total care" children or challenged in so many serious ways, it was always such a shock to think that this dear child started out as a healthy vibrant child. So many lost opportunities.

We simply have to work harder to educate our youth and young parents about shaking. "The Period of Purple Crying" video should be shown to every child starting in about 6th grade and again and again each year. A moment's rage and lapse of judgement can literally change a child's life forever.

http://www.purplecrying.info/

Click to expand...

While I appreciate the efforts of this campaign, I'm bothered by the need - who needs to be told not to shake a baby or you might damage him/her forever? (Aside from the youngest kids).

I question how much this project helps someone who uses drugs (incl while pregnant) or has such a horrible temper that they could do this to their infant.

I know what I am bout to try to say here, butmaking myself clear is going to be a little difficult. So don't jump on me too hard if I get a little lost.

It seems so unfair that drug addicted babies are born to drug addicted mothers. Obviously, that seems like a stupid statement, since if the mother weren't addicted, baby wouldn't be either. But drug addicts are the least patient people in the world, and drug addicted babies require more patience than I can even put into words. Any adult that has ever tried to stop a drug, even nicotine, cold turkey, knows that it can make you anywhere from uncomfortable to feeling as if you are on death's doorstep. And that is with adult coping skills and ability to express that discomfort. Needless to say, detoxing babies scraem almost constantly, and it's not the normal angry or even hurt baby scream. Ask Missizzy, I'm sure she's heard that cry, it's like no other sound on earth. Fully trained, non drug addicted foster parents often have to take special classes and learn special coping skills in order to deal with drug babies.

There are very few cases where I say across the board, "This class of people should not have children." Hard core addicts are one of those few groups. Even healthy stable parents can snap and shake a baby that won't quit crying, even when they know better. An addict, cut off from support, short on patience, and not really in control of their own functions, stands very little chance of being able to just set the a child down, walk away, take a breath and then go back.

Of course, all MOO.