Week 8: Don’t Shake Your Baby!
Disrupted by Disruptions in Development this week still, I decided to make the most out of it since everyone (except the four that decided now is a good time to start skipping class) was in the same boat with me. Let me tell you, class from 8am – 6pm wears you down very quickly. If it were not for the promise of a two week block selective coming up I don’t know how I would survive it. That’s one thing about Mayo’s curriculum that I really enjoy – it’s a lot in six weeks, but at least in six weeks it’ll be over and you’ll have a break for two weeks. I don’t know how I could do 12 classes for a year vs. two classes in six week blocks, six times a year.
Aside from frantically whipping together a team presentation of the endocrine system for histology, we had our standard fare of genetics and histology. Something of note from our studies this week came from disruptions in development in our discussion of a case of shaken baby syndrome. The moral of the story is to not shake your children even for a minute! It makes me paranoid as to whom I leave Mikey with. Here’s what happened to the kid over his development. Names, dates, and location have been fictionalized.
May 1982: Nowhere, New Hampshire
Massachusetts General Hospital PICU
George is brought in by paramedics thinking he has meningitis/meningococcemia. He has bruises on his extremities in the shape of fingerprints on the child’s arms. He also has retinal hemorrhages and a broken femur. George has the markings of shaken baby syndrome – bruises over bony parts is not indicative of abuse.
July 1982 – George can’t see, won’t eat, and has seizures. Katie, George’s mother who didn’t do it is nevertheless charged with neglect – “poor judgment of boyfriend,” Katie’s mother (George’s grandmother Lucy had temporary custody of George). Peter (Katie’s boyfriend) is convicted as he admits that he “shook George for 1 minute.” George is on phenobarbital through a year.
December 1982 (14 months) – Peter is indicted and a warrant is out for his arrest. George has a hard time seeing, his eyes are bothering him. He sits up at 11 months (normal 6 months)
At 16 months 1983 – Peter is arrested, but out on bail – working as a security guard
At 17 months (Easter) George on top of table – taking some spills
At 21 months – Peter is now saying John, his gay roommate did it; George has delayed speech, physical therapy, therapists, eyes drifting, can’t see well out of both eyes – eye floats out and can’t focus
At 2 years – George’s neck still on shoulders, left side obvious still has problems, attached to mother
At 2 years, 4 months – 1990 – Peter is found guilty, waiting for sentencing, DA had 22 witnesses, trial of 3 days. Operation on eyes George, falls all the time. George’s left side is disabled. Peter is sentenced 1.5-5 years state sentence. Peter offered money to Greg, parole officer, judge recommended prison – no remorse. Katie gets married to an older man and George loses state help. George goes to school with speech therapist
At 6 years old – caught up, but has trouble holding pencils, left side not better – hard time dragging leg and has trouble breathing
At 7 years old – civil suit filed – “shaken baby victim gets 1.55 million,” George has IQ 76 – many learning disabilities
At 8 years old – bratty
At 9 years old – Visits Shriner’s hospital, goes to special classes. George has a hard time grasping words but can’t read. Does well with math
At 10 years old – still in special education
At 11 years old – 5th grade, can’t read, can’t write – rides bike
At 12 years old – much difficulty in school, 6th grade – don’t know what they are doing, can’t read
At 16 – Greg doesn’t have many friends
At 18 – Greg made cake, made plans for birthday party – no one showed up
So seeing that this boy’s mother’s boyfriend shook him for 1 minute and basically destroyed this kid’s life – if you would like to baby sit Mikey, be sure to bring your criminal background check with you.
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