Two-Year-Old Girl Suffers Brain Damage & Partial Blindness From 2007 Shaken Baby Incident

A 29-year-old man whose daughter suffers brain damage and partial blindness from a 2007 shaken baby syndrome incident was recently sentenced to eight years in prison, according to the Vindy website.  The site reports that Jeremy Hendrex was living with the girl's mother at the time of the incident, when the baby was only 10-weeks-old.  His daughter is now 2 years of age, but suffers permanent damage.

The symptoms and effects of shaken baby syndrome (also called abusive head trauma) are serious and can result in permanent or even fatal injuries.  If you believe that your child may be suffering from abusive head trauma, seek medical care for your child immediately.  Symptoms are not always evident at first, so do not wait for them to manifest before taking action.

If you have questions regarding shaken baby syndrome, contact child injury lawyer Chris Keane online or by phone at 1-888-592-KIDS.

Shaken Baby Syndrome Facts from ABC Action News | California Abusive Head Trauma Lawyer

Shaken baby syndrome has caught the attention of the ABC Action News crew, who just posted an article on their website stating the facts of the condition as well as how frustrated parents can find help before they take those frustrations out on their children.  Among the highlighted facts on the site are the following:

• Formally referred to as abusive head trauma, shaken baby syndrome is a serious condition that often results in fatality.

• According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, shaken baby syndrome, by definition, is: "a form of inflicted head trauma" that occurs "when a parent or caregiver violently shakes a baby."

• Survivors of abusive head trauma often suffer long-term consequences, including problems in behavior, difficulty learning, seizures, and even blindness.

• Although symptoms of abusive head trauma range from mild to severe, with some of the more mild cases never being diagnosed, the more common symptoms include difficulty breathing, loss of appetite, lethargy, and irritability.

• The most common reason a caregiver shakes an infant or young child is a baby's inconsolable crying.

As a shaken baby syndrome and child injury lawyer, Chris Keane devotes his practice to representing injured and abused children.  If you have questions for a legal advocate for injured children, feel free to contact Chris Keane at the Keane Law Firm.  He will provide you with the resources your child needs and consult with you for free regarding your unique situation.  1-888-592-KIDS.

Relevant Link:

ABC Action News:  "The Facts about Shaken Baby Syndrome"

Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury (PABI) from Shaken Baby Syndrome | Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

Traumatic brain injury results from a traumatic event that injures the brain of an accident or abuse victim.  Although the leading causes of traumatic brain injury are car accidents and falls, shaken baby syndrome--now formally called "abusive head trauma" to describe more vividly what occurs when a baby is shaken--can result in a form of traumatic brain injury referred to as Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury (PABI).  A number of traumatic events can lead to Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury, such as car accidents or other accidents, falls, assaults or child abuse.  Non-traumatic causes of the injury include strokes, brain tumors, infection, meningitis, and pediatric AIDS.  When the serious brain injury is caused by shaken baby syndrome, the results can be severe, permanent, or even fatal.

In the case of Sarah Jane, the inspiration for the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation, PABI resulted from rapid shaking:  a nurse shook 5-day old Sarah Jane so violently that she suffered a serious pediatric brain injury and broken bones.  Now, three and one half years later, the toddler cannot eat solid food, speak, or walk.  Through the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation and other efforts, however, her family is confident that she will recover one day.

If you believe that your child may have suffered a traumatic brain injury, seek medical care as soon as possible.  Symptoms may not be apparent immediately following an accident and, instead, may manifest themselves gradually.  Victims of traumatic brain injuries may even fail to notice some of their serious symptoms while being preoccupied with others.  Among the symptoms commonly experienced, however, are loss of consciousness, nausea or vomiting, slurred speech, weakness in the body, amnesia, trouble swallowing, convulsions, and respiratory problems.  Many other symptoms can occur following a traumatic brain injury (this is not a comprehensive list), and it is also important to know the symptoms of shaken baby syndrome if the brain injury resulted from shaking.

For more information and helpful resources regarding pediatric traumatic brain injury, Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury, or shaken baby syndrome, contact child injury and child abuse attorney Chris Keane at the Keane Law Firm.  If you would like a consultation, he will compassionately and professionally answer your questions for free regarding your unique situation.

Click here to contact Chris Keane online or call 1-888-592-KIDS.

Chris Keane is on the National Advisory Board for the Sarah Jane Brain Project.

Symptoms of Abusive Head Trauma | California Child Injury Lawyer

Although certain factors may increase the likelihood that a child may become a victim of abusive head trauma (also called shaken baby syndrome), shaken baby syndrome can occur in any place, at any time, and under the care of any person.  As a result, it is important to know the common signs and symptoms of abusive head trauma and seek medical care immediately if you believe that your child may have suffered from any kind of serious injury.  While the list here is not comprehensive, it includes some of the common signs and symptoms of abusive head trauma:

• Poor feeding


• Weakness and/or a change in overall muscle tone


• Vomiting


• Trouble breathing or sudden cardiac or respiratory arrest


• Pale skin coloring


• Cool skin temperature


• Failure to thrive


• Irritability


• Decrease in alertness


• Seizures


• Swollen fontanelles (the soft spots on an infant's head)

If your child has any of these symptoms, seek medical examination as soon as possible, and remember the following facts about shaken baby syndrome when caring for your child:

1. The symptoms of shaken baby syndrome may appear together; only one symptom may be present; or no symptoms may be apparent at first.


2. In some instances, no outward signs of physical trauma, such as bruising, scrapes or other injuries, will be visible, although caregivers may notice a change in the baby's behavior.

No matter what, victims of shaken baby syndrome should receive medical treatment promptly following their injuries.  At the Keane Law Firm, child injury lawyer Chris Keane devotes his practice to ensuring that injured children receive the compensation they require to get proper medical care and heal from injuries as soon as possible.  If your child has been injured or has suffered from abusive head trauma, feel free to contact Chris Keane for free answers and information regarding your questions and unique situation.  The Keane Law Firm will compassionately and professionally work to help you in finding the right doctors and treatment for your child.

Contact Chris Keane via the web, or call 1-888-592-KIDS.