Scott Juceam: The Advocate

Scott Juceam is a Southern California businessman and a leading advocate for the prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome (also known as abusive head trauma). Scott has dedicated a large portion of his life to spreading awareness about Shaken Baby Syndrome, so that the risks it poses can be minimized. The syndrome occurs when a child or infant is shaken to the point of sustained physical harm, and in the most extreme cases, death. Oftentimes this type of abuse is carried out by trusted caregivers or family members.

In addition to his dedication to the prevention of abusive head trauma, Scott Juceam is also outspoken about ensuring that Shaken Baby Syndrome is correctly identified in the court system. In recent years, there have been several cases of false “expert” witnesses who have taken the stand in courtrooms, and stated in testimonies that Shaken Baby Syndrome is not real. These testimonies have allowed potentially guilty people to get off freely, and contradict the majority of the scientific community’s opinion on the matter. Juceam has played a key role in promoting justice in these cases involving abusive head trauma.

Scott’s passionate advocacy stems from his personal experience in the matter. In May of 2006, Juceam’s infant daughter went unconscious while under the care of a nanny. The nanny reported shaking the baby in order to wake her, but sadly, the child passed away in the hospital shortly after. The nanny spent two years in custody for charges of murder and child abuse and the case eventually went to trial, where the jury ruled 10-2 in favor of guilty. However, in the re-trial, a medical “expert” was brought in that claimed Juceam’s child had existing brain damage, which was the reason for the child’s passing. This testimony allowed the nanny to walk free. This experience is what led Scott to dedicate his life to preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome, and to fight for justice in cases involving Shaken Baby Syndrome.

With more cases involving Shaken Baby Syndrome showing up every month, and with more doctors denying the existence of the syndrome, it has never been more important for thorough vetting of “experts” who testify in court. Scott Juceam is active in promoting the thorough vetting process of court “experts” so that everyone involved can be assured that the testimony provided is backed by sound science.

Defying the Odds: Stories of SBS Survivors

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is one of the most horrific things a child/baby can endure. It is often fatal, as 1 in 4 infants die from their injuries. Studies show that up to half of infant deaths caused by child abuse are due to Shaken Baby Syndrome. SBS is difficult to identify because it usually doesn’t involve any visible signs of trauma. Despite the odds, some children survive SBS. However, most of these babies suffer through challenging disabilities for the rest of their lives.

Here are a few stories from the surviving victims of SBS:

Will Hayes

Four-year-old Will Hayes surprised the world when he burst into song in class one day, letting the world hear his voice for the first time. It was a moment that surprised everyone who knew him, as none of the doctors ever expected him to speak. Will was shaken when he was just 2 months old. He would have frequent seizures and doctors warned that he may stay in a vegetative state for the rest of his life. However, that didn’t stop the Hayes family from taking Will into foster care (after he was removed from his abusive family). They took him to every medical appointment that he needed, and underwent training to learn how to deal with Will’s special needs. Soon, Will learned to walk, and the Hayes family started to see the fruit of their dedication to the child. After Will’s biological mother plead guilty to child abuse, the Hayes family could finally adopt Will. Although Will’s speech is still limited to indiscernible vocalizations, his family believes that he will continue to make progress.

Warren and Ashley O’Brien

Baby Warren was only 7 months old when his life was dramatically changed. Ashley’s now ex-fiancé called one day and told her that Warren was unconscious and hadn’t been breathing for 45 minutes. After being rushed to the hospital, the doctors determined that Warren had been the victim of shaken baby syndrome. Warren suffered bleeding behind the brain, visual impairment, delayed mental capacity, and inability to walk. He now must spend hours in physical therapy every week. However, Warren continues to beat the odds against him, and survive. To celebrate his one-year survival, the family held a celebration where they collected stuffed animals and blankets to donate to the children’s hospital where Warren was diagnosed. His mother Ashley is using the tragedy that happened to their family as an outlet for advocacy against SBS.

Kolton Jones

Kolton Jones was violently shaken as a baby just one month after he was born. He suffered so much brain damage that doctors didn’t think he would survive his injuries. However, Kolton did survive. Kolton, now 17-years-old, is a major player on his high school basketball team. He used to watch every game the school basketball team played, and instantly accepted the opportunity when he was offered a position on the team himself.

“He’s come a long way, you know. From a baby that wasn’t supposed to live to see him at 17-years-old out there running back and forth playing basketball. It’s really awesome! You know? It’s great!” says James Birman, Kolton’s stepfather. Kolton’s teammates and coach all love the spirit that Kolton brings to the game, and say that the team wouldn’t be the same without him.

Amanda Moral

When Amanda Moral was just a baby her father violently shook her. However, she survived her injuries and showed no major signs of damage until she had her first seizure at four-years-old. Now Amanda is 29 years old, and while she survived her injuries as a child, the effects of her abuse have gotten worse over time. Now Amanda suffers up to 60 seizures per-day along with heart issues. Up until recently Amanda was an honor student at Central Piedmont Community College, but she was forced to dropout due to her medical conditions. However, Amanda is currently undergoing stem cell treatment to alleviate her medical burdens, and she is hopeful for the future.

Even though all of these kids survived their injuries, they have to live life with incredible hardship. The brain damage caused in just 5 seconds of shaking has altered these people’s lives forever. It’s important to remember NEVER to shake your baby. Babies cry and it can be frustrating, but the solution is not found in shaking your baby. Educate your family and the people around you on how to care for your baby gently, and inform them of the dangers involved with SBS.

How to Keep Your Baby from Waking Up Too Early

The primary mission of this blog is to educate people on the dangers of Shaken Baby Syndrome and provide them with the information necessary to prevent it. Shaken Baby Syndrome occurs when parents become frustrated with their newborn’s crying, and resort to shaking the child. No parent should EVER resort to violence no matter how frustrating the situation may be. However, by knowing how to keep your baby on the same sleep schedule as you, you can avoid the frustration of waking up to crying altogether.

Determine if your baby is actually waking up too early

When your baby wakes up– is he restless and irritated, or energized and awake? For most newborns, a wake-up time around 6:00 AM or later is perfectly normal. However, if your baby often wakes up before this time and cries a lot in the morning, they may not be getting enough sleep.

Determine the cause of the early-rising

There are several things that can cause a baby to wake up too early including: teething, growth spurts, transitioning from a crib to a bed, illness, etc. In the summer months, early-rising can also be caused by long days. Check to make sure that there isn’t too much sunlight coming into your child’s room in the morning, and if the early-rising continues, you may have to adjust your baby’s sleeping schedule. In the worst case scenario, your baby could be waking up early due to pain caused by some form of illness, so it’s recommended to consult your doctor if the child continues to wake up exceedingly early.

Evaluate the baby’s sleeping schedule

If your baby isn’t getting enough sleep during a nap, they could be fatigued. Although it seems counterintuitive, fatigue will actually cause your baby to get less restful sleep than they would otherwise. On the other hand, their naps could also be too long or too short. Consider adjusting the amount of time you let your little one sleep until you find the sweet spot. You want to ensure that your baby is napping at strategic times throughout the day, spaced out evenly enough that they don’t interfere with their night sleep. The perfect schedule can be tricky to lockdown at first, but overtime you will get the hang of it.

One common mistake that parents make is trying to keep their baby up for longer so that they will sleep longer. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like this. When babies stay up for long periods of time, they become over-tired and wake up even earlier. If you’re having trouble pinpointing the perfect amount of time that your baby needs to sleep, try checking out this sleeping schedule.

Shift the baby’s sleeping schedule

If your baby is waking up at 5 AM every morning, and you allow them to stay awake throughout the day, you are reinforcing 5 AM as a fine time to wake up. Eventually, 5 AM will become the standard time your newborn wakes up and that can be challenging. The best way to readjust their schedule is by treating early wake-ups as night-waking. Instead of getting the baby dressed and ready for the day when they wake up too early, try gently lulling them back to sleep instead. Reassure them that it’s the time to sleep, and then leave the room. If your baby is distressed by you leaving, you can stay in the room while remaining silent. Eventually, they should slowly fall back asleep. Remember, you are trying to reassure them that it’s sleeping time.

When it finally comes time to wake up, you can perform a dramatic “wake-up” routine to create an association in child’s mind. Throw back the curtains, sing a good morning song, and turn on the lights! Overtime, your baby will get used to this behavior as the signal for when it’s time to really wake up.

These tips should help you adjust your baby’s sleeping schedule to your own, and eliminate a lot of frustration that comes with waking up to crying. Frustration is inevitable when raising a newborn baby. It’s part of the parenting process. However, it’s important to learn how to stay calm in every situation!

Scott Juceam

Scott Juceam is a Southern California businessman and a leading advocate for the prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome (also known as abusive head trauma). Scott has dedicated a large portion of his life to spreading awareness about Shaken Baby Syndrome, so that the risks it poses can be minimized. The syndrome occurs when a child or infant is shaken to the point of sustained physical harm, and in the most extreme cases, death. Oftentimes this type of abuse is carried out by trusted caregivers or family members.

In addition to his dedication to the prevention of abusive head trauma, Scott Juceam is also outspoken about ensuring that Shaken Baby Syndrome is correctly identified in the court system. In recent years, there have been several cases of false “expert” witnesses who have taken the stand in courtrooms, and stated in testimonies that Shaken Baby Syndrome is not real. These testimonies have allowed potentially guilty people to get off freely, and contradict the majority of the scientific community’s opinion on the matter. Juceam has played a key role in promoting justice in these cases involving abusive head trauma.

Scott’s passionate advocacy stems from his personal experience in the matter. In May of 2006, Juceam’s infant daughter went unconscious while under the care of a nanny. The nanny reported shaking the baby in order to wake her, but sadly, the child passed away in the hospital shortly after. The nanny spent two years in custody for charges of murder and child abuse and the case eventually went to trial, where the jury ruled 10-2 in favor of guilty. However, in the re-trial, a medical “expert” was brought in that claimed Juceam’s child had existing brain damage, which was the reason for the child’s passing. This testimony allowed the nanny to walk free. This experience is what led Scott to dedicate his life to preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome, and to fight for justice in cases involving Shaken Baby Syndrome.

With more cases involving Shaken Baby Syndrome showing up every month, and with more doctors denying the existence of the syndrome, it has never been more important for thorough vetting of “experts” who testify in court. Scott Juceam is active in promoting the thorough vetting process of court “experts” so that everyone involved can be assured that the testimony provided is backed by sound science.