Grieving Mother Speaks Out About Shaken Baby Syndrome

The mother of an 8-month-old baby girl killed by abuse, allegedly at the hands of her boyfriend, is celebrating her daughter’s life and urging parents to be gentle with their babies.

Scarlett Burroughs was pronounced dead on November 17 after being admitted to a hospital two days prior. Authorities ruled her death a homicide that was caused by head trauma.

Scarlett’s mother’s boyfriend, Cameron Toppen was arraigned on November 21 for open murder and first-degree child abuse charges for the infant’s death. The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office says Toppen was watching the child at the time of the incident while her mother, Rachel Burroughs was at work.

In her memory, a Facebook group called “Scarlett’s Hope” was created to raise awareness about shaken baby syndrome (SBS) and provide support for other families who have lost children.

“It’s good that we can come together and do something like this to kind of support each other with everyone that has dealt with it,” Burroughs says. “It’s kinda nice to be able to meet new people and support each other.”

Burroughs says that with help from her family, she is trying to stay strong for her three older children.

“I’m trying to get into a normal routine so I can get, you know, and I got family, friends that are here to help me so I’m trying,” Burroughs says.

When asked to describe what her daughter was like, Burroughs broke out in tears.

“She was a really happy baby. She barely ever cried,” Burroughs says.

Burroughs says that Toppen denied to her that he hurt her daughter but that he admitted to authorities that he committed the abuse.

“I’m to the point where I don’t know what to believe anymore,”  Burroughs says. “I honestly think that he needs to get put away for a while. I feel bad for him a little bit because he just ruined his whole life over something so small as just putting her down and walking away.”

The vigil opened with a pastor reading the names of children who have been lost, followed by a prayer and a moment of silence.

Burroughs’ sister Melissa Yahne offered simple advice for frustrated adults to keep infants safe.

“Put the child down, walk away, go outside, take a breath, then go back to your child. It never killed a baby,” Yahne says.

This article was originally published by Fox17Online.com.

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.

 

Vigil Held To For Victims Of Shaken Baby Syndrome

A small group of people met at a church in Grand Haven Saturday to mourn children who have died of shaken baby syndrome. Three West Michigan babies have died of the severe brain injury over the past month.

The inspiration for the vigil was eight-month-old Scarlett Marie Burroughs, who died on Nov. 17. Cameron Toppen, 19, the boyfriend of Burroughs’ mother, Rachel, is charged with Scarlett’s murder. 

“He just ruined his whole life over something so small as just putting her down and walking away,” a tearful Burroughs said at Second Reformed Church on Waverly Avenue. 

The vigil also celebrated the lives of two other children who died of shaken baby syndrome. The families connected with the Burroughs following Scarlett’s death. 

“It’s amazing that we can do something like this and just come together even if we don’t know each other and just celebrate these babies that passed away,” Burroughs said. 

Melissa Yahne, Scarlett’s aunt, said she will continue raising awareness for shaken baby syndrome. She hopes to stop other parents from making the tragic mistake. 

“It never killed a baby to cry,” Yahne said. “Put the child down, walk away, go outside, take a deep breathe.”

This article was originally published by GrandHaven.com.

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.

 

Mother Continues Advocating For Legislation To End Shaken Baby Syndrome

Over the past couple weeks three babies in West Michigan have died after officials say they were shaken. One mom is working to change that after her baby almost died five years ago.

Viewers may remember Erica Hammel whose son, Wyatt nearly died from Shaken Baby Syndrome in 2013, leaving him with permanent brain damage. Since then, she’s advocated for laws that would create a child abuse registry, which she says could’ve saved a lot of lives over the past several years.

It’s been more than a year since Wyatt’s Law was introduced in the Senate and its creator says it’s necessary now more than ever.

“We have to do something,” said Hammel. “Child abuse is up 30 percent in this state and it’s just increasing every year.”

Erica Hammel’s son, Wyatt was just a year old when his father’s girlfriend abused him leaving him with a brain injury that’ll affect the rest of his life.

“My son was shaken, she literally almost killed him and his case came into the prosecutor’s office as a homicide, but he did survive and after everything happened I found out she had been arrested twice before of child abuse,” said Hammel.

That woman was Rachel Edwards who had been convicted of 3^rd degree child abuse twice, but was given probation and forced to pay fines. Erica says because of that, she didn’t show up when she ran a background check on her. It’s how Erica came up with the idea for a child abuse registry and Wyatt’s Law was born.

“We have worked really hard on this legislation and I think its really well-written,” said Hammel. “It is only convictions. It’s not a life-time registry, so if you’re convicted of first or second degree, you register for 10 years. If you’re convicted of third or fourth degree, you register for 5 years.”

Erica wants the database to be public so she would’ve been able to see those past convictions. With three babies dead in Kent, Kalamazoo and Ottawa counties in the last two weeks, Erica says it might’ve saved their lives, as well.

“Children don’t have a voice,” said Hammel. “Especially those like, my son was 1 and if they’re being beaten and a lot of times abuse is less severe before it becomes extremely severe, they can’t speak up. I feel [we] have a right as parents, as caregivers, as anybody to know what these people, what their crimes were so we can keep our children away from them. Knowledge is power, that’s what I always say.”

Rachel Edwards was sentenced in Wyatt’s case in 2015.

As for those recent cases here in West Michigan, all three suspects are facing murder and child abuse charges.

Wyatt’s Law is currently on the Senate floor, but it hasn’t made it to the House yet. There’s no timeline for when things might move forward, but Erica says she’s not going to stop until working until it passes.

This article was originally published by Fox17Online.com.