Two women in Rigby are fervently trying to get the word out about shaken baby syndrome after losing a daughter and grand-daughter when they say a worker at a local day care center shook her to death.
Hannah Isabelle Covington was almost 2-years-old when her care provider shook her causing her brain stem to go down her throat and choke her to death.
This is Hannah with her father.
No one in her family ever thought this little girl would have such a short life. On November 26th, 2008 Hannah was at the babysitter's house, and while no one really knows what happened to set off the babysitter….
"Hannah died as a result of having been violently shaken by the daycare provider” said grandmother Karla Covington.
"I never thought that a child that old could be shaken and die” said Hannah’s mother Diana Empey.
Hannah's death has led her family to raise a voice of warning to all who are willing to hear about shaken baby syndrome.
"A lot of times a baby will be shaken, it will cause a small amount of brain injury and then the baby goes to sleep and quits crying, so it almost reinforces to the care provider 'oh I shook last time they went to sleep,' next time they may shake harder and harder” continued Covington.
Shaken baby syndrome can happen to all children from new-borns up to the age of 5, and senior citizens are also at risk.
If you're a mother or father who has to work and can't stay home with your children, Hannah’s family has some advice.
"The one thing I would suggest in looking at whoever is going to be caring for your child is to make sure they have enough supports in place, that if they reach that frustration level they know who to turn to” said Covington.
"I would also make sure there's more than one person is always at the daycare” said Empey.
"I would also open up the rep ore of if you're feeling stressed, if this baby is getting to you, call me, it doesn't matter what I'm doing, I will come and help you” continued Covington.
"I would definitely go on the website for shaken baby prevention; you can get a lot of tips there” continued Empey.
Sometimes when a baby is shaken they won't die, but there will be damaging effects caused by the shaking.
"As with most traumatic brain injuries, people don't come out on the other side the same as when before the injury occurred” said Covington.
You may recall the daycare provider in Hannah Covington’s case entered an Alford plea to involuntary manslaughter charges. That means she maintained her innocence while accepting there was enough evidence that a jury would find her guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If you'd like more information on shaken baby syndrome click on this link.
