Mother Speaks Out After Baby Is Violently Shaken

An eight-month-old baby is at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland. Police say they believe the infant was shaken by her babysitter. The babysitter in the case has been lodged in the Jackson County Jail.

She’s been charged with assault one, but depending on the baby’s condition, those charges could change.

“I’m heartbroken. Completely heartbroken,” the baby’s mother said.

Angelica Cadwallader’s heart sank when she received a phone call last Friday afternoon telling her that her 7-month-old — now 8-month-old — baby was unconscious.

“I never thought in a million years I’d get a 911 call like this… my goal has always been to protect my baby girl,” Cadwallader said.

Cadwallader says baby autumn was being watched by an old friend in Medford while she was at work.

“I trusted her… 110 percent I gave her all my trust,” Cadwallader said.

Medford Police say they believe Autumn was shaken by her babysitter.

“Serious concerns when we have an unconscious 7-month-old child. It raises a lot of red flags and concerns that we have,” Lieutenant Kerry Curtis said.

According to police, detectives determined it wasn’t an accident.

25-year-old Alicia Gunn has been charged with assault one and was indicted by a grand jury on Tuesday.

“Putting your child in the trust into somebody else to take care of your child and then to learn that something terrible has happened… is… I can’t imagine what they’re going through. I’m sure it’s absolutely devastating to them,” Lieutenant Kerry Curtis said.

Cadwallader says she’s trying to remain positive.

“She was like a firecracker. She was so happy and she just learned to crawl… always on the go since she learned to crawl,” Cadwallader said.

And she says she’s doing all she can to stay strong for her baby girl.

“I hope that… I get to bring her home soon,” Cadwallader said.

Police say Autumn is still suffering from seizures and bleeding in the brain.

If you’d like to help the family, you can find the GoFundMe link here.

One of the biggest factors leading to Shaken Baby Syndrome is a caregiver just getting frustrated with a baby’s crying and ultimately shaking the baby.

Educators like Tracy Hanson say it’s important to know how to handle a child going through a period of what is called ‘purple crying’ – a phase in a baby’s development when they cry the most.

“The most important thing is to place your baby in a safe environment and step away if we’re feeling frustrated or if we’re feeling overwhelmed because we know that a crying baby truly is one of the things that can lead to Shaken Baby Syndrome,” Providence Birthplace Educator Tracy Hanson said.

According to the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome, there are around 1,300 reported cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome every year and upwards of 80 percent of survivors suffer lifelong disabilities.

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Scott Juceam is one of the leading advocates against Shaken Baby Syndrome. Scott’s life changed when his daughter Hannah was shaken to death by her nanny in 2006. Since then, Scott has dedicated his life to preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome and child abuse.

To learn more about me, please visit my website at www.ScottJuceam.com or you can click here.

What You Should Know About Shaken Baby Syndrome

Shaken baby syndrome refers to a type of brain injury that happens when a baby or a toddler is shaken violently. More often than not, this shaking is perpetuated by someone who has normal contact with the baby. Shaking can cause bleeding in the brain (subdural hemorrhages) or bleeding in the retinas (retinal hemorrhages).

When a child is shaken, the brain bounces back and forth against the sides of the skull. Infants’ heads are very large and heavy in proportion to the rest of their bodies. This causes swelling, bruising, and bleeding in the brain.

If you see someone shaking or abusing a baby (physically or verbally), don’t wait! Intervene immediately, and call the police.

What are the symptoms of SBS?

A child or baby who has been shaken and has pressure on the brain may have symptoms such as these:

• Extreme irritability
• Vomiting
• Poor appetite or feeding problems
• Breathing difficulties
• Convulsions (seizures)
• Lethargy (extreme tiredness, lack of movement, inability to stay awake)
• Pale- or blue-colored skin
• Bruising, such as grab marks, on the arms or chest
• A forehead that appears larger than usual, or a soft spot that seems to be bulging
• Inability to lift his or her head
• Tremors (the shakes)
• Inability to focus or follow movement with his or her eyes
• Unconsciousness
• Coma

Who is most at risk for SBS?

SBS happens most often in infants up to one year, with infants aged two to four months being most at-risk. SBS does not usually happen after age two, but children as old as five or six can be damaged in this way if the shaking is extremely violent.

Why do people shake babies?

There are a number of reasons that explain why someone might shake a baby, but none of those reasons are valid. It’s a crime to shake a baby, and the consequences could mean the death of a young child.

How is SBS treated?

SBS should be treated immediately. Parents or caregivers need to take the child for emergency medical attention as soon as they are aware that the baby has been shaken. The adults should also tell the healthcare provider that the baby has been shaken. Caregivers who are not telling the truth may say that the child has fallen. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, children may require treatment such as respiratory support or surgery to stop bleeding.

Some symptoms show up right away, but others may not show up until later. Some children may experience attention problems and behavior problems later in life due to being shaken when they were infants.

How is SBS diagnosed?

Health care providers do not always get the truth about whether or not shaking was involved in an injury. Also, babies and very small children cannot tell doctors or nurses what happened or what hurts. Many symptoms of SBS (such as irritability, vomiting, or lethargy) are also common for minor conditions like viral infections.

It has been suggested that doctors should use additional tests when a brain injury appears possible. X-rays can show skull fractures and doctors may suggest magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests or computed tomography (CT) scans. Special attention should be given to evidence of retinal bleeding (bleeding at the back of the eyes).

Is SBS preventable?

Yes. Do not shake babies or children, EVER.

Scott Juceam is one of the leading advocates against Shaken Baby Syndrome. Scott’s life changed when his daughter Hannah was shaken to death by her nanny in 2006. Since then, Scott has dedicated his life to preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome and child abuse.

To learn more about me, please visit my website at www.ScottJuceam.com or you can click here.

You Can Fight Shaken Baby Syndrome

Can you crochet or knit? The Oklahoma State Department of Health is looking for donations of purple, handmade newborn hats for its Click for Babies campaign.

Birthing centers across the state will distribute hats to babies born in November and December, along with information that can prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Organizers want purple for a purpose.

“The Period of PURPLE crying is the period in an infant’s life when they’re going to cry more so than any other time in their life,” Amy Terry, the department’s adolescent health coordinator, said. “And during that period parents need to understand that that’s a normal part of development.”

PURPLE is an acronym that stands for the traits exhibited during the time frame:

• Peak of crying – the Period of PURPLE starts around two weeks, peaks at two months and ends around three-to-four months.
• Unexpected – during this period, crying can come and go and you don’t know why.
• Resists soothing – it can be difficult to get crying to stop, no matter what you try.
• Pain-like face – babies look like they’re in pain while crying, when they are not.
• Long-lasting – babies may cry up to or more than five hours a day.
• Evening – crying is more common in the late afternoon and evening.

“Shaken baby is most often caused by frustration with crying,” Terry said. “So that’s why it’s so important that we educate families and we educate caregivers about this period in time when babies are going to cry more often.”

According to the State Health Department, every year Shaken Baby Syndrome happens to 1,200 to 1,400 children across the U.S. and more than 300 babies die because of shaking.

“Shaken Baby is one of those issues that is 100% preventable and education has shown to make an impact on reducing it,” Terry said.

In order for hats to be distributed in the cold months, donations must come in by October 1. The department will continue to accept donations past that day, but they will not go to hospitals for distribution until the following year.

Terry said the goal is to collect 4,300 hats.

Organizers ask hats be about 14 inches in diameter and at least 50% purple. They must be free of choking hazards like pom-poms and made of soft yarn.

Mail donations to: Oklahoma State Department of Health, ATTN: Maternal and Child Health, 1000 NE 10th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73117-1299.

Scott Juceam is one of the leading advocates against Shaken Baby Syndrome. Scott’s life changed when his daughter Hannah was shaken to death by her nanny in 2006. Since then, Scott has dedicated his life to preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome and child abuse.

To learn more about me, please visit my website at www.ScottJuceam.com or you can click here.