Xavier’s Honor
We would like to thank everyone in our community and beyond for their never-ending support!!!!
In December 2010, our first PSA was launched with a billboard to help raise awareness.
On January 26, 2011, Xavier’s 2nd Birthday, the Never Shake A Baby PSA first aired on CBS affiliate WIFR 23, Rockford, Illinois.
On Wednesday February 9, 2011, the State of Illinois General Assembly, designated April 18-24th, 2011 as Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week.
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 43
WHEREAS, The month of April has been designated “National Child Abuse Prevention Month” as an annual tradition that was initiated in 1979 by former President Jimmy Carter; and
WHEREAS, The most recent National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) figures show that almost 900,000 children were victims of abuse and neglect in the United States in 2004, causing unspeakable pain and suffering to our most vulnerable citizens; among the children who are victims of abuse and neglect, nearly four children die each day in this country; and
WHEREAS, Children age one and younger accounted for 45 percent of child abuse and neglect fatalities in 2004, and children age three and younger accounted for 81 percent of all child abuse and neglect fatalities in 2004; and
WHEREAS, Abusive head trauma, including the trauma known as Shaken Baby Syndrome, is recognized as the leading cause of death of physically abused children; Shaken Baby Syndrome is a totally preventable form of child abuse, caused by a caregiver losing control and shaking a baby that is usually less than one year in age; it can result in loss of vision, brain damage, paralysis, seizures, or death; and
WHEREAS, A 2003 report in the Journal of the American Medical Association estimates that, in the United States, an average of 300 children will die each year, and 600 to 1,200 more will be injured, of whom two-thirds will be babies or infants under one year in age, as a result of Shaken Baby Syndrome, with many cases resulting in severe and permanent disabilities; and WHEREAS, Medical professionals believe that thousands of additional cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome are being misdiagnosed or not detected; and
WHEREAS, Shaken Baby Syndrome often results in permanent, irreparable brain damage or death to an infant and may result in more than $1,000,000 in medical costs to care for a single, disabled child in just the first few years of life; and
WHEREAS, The most effective solution for ending Shaken Baby Syndrome is to prevent such abuse, and it is clear that the minimal costs of education and prevention programs may prevent enormous medical and disability costs and untold grief for many families; and
WHEREAS, Prevention programs have demonstrated that educating new parents about the danger of shaking young children and how they can help protect their child from injury can bring about a significant reduction in the number of cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome; and
WHEREAS, Education programs have been shown to raise awareness and provide critically important information about Shaken Baby Syndrome to parents, caregivers, daycare workers, child protection employees, law enforcement personnel, health care professionals, and legal representatives; and
WHEREAS, Efforts to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome are supported by advocacy groups across the United States that were formed by parents and relatives of children who have been killed or injured by shaking, such as the National Shaken Baby Coalition, the Shaken Baby Association, the SKIPPER (Shaking Kills: Instead Parents Please Educate and Remember) Initiative, the Shaken Baby Alliance,
Shaken Baby Prevention, Inc., A Voice for Gabbi, Don’t Shake Jake, the Kierra Harrison Foundation, the Cynthia Gibbs Foundation, Reagan’s Rescue, the Hannah Rose Foundation, and the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation, whose mission is to educate the general public and professionals about Shaken Baby Syndrome and to increase support for victims and victims’ families in the health care and criminal justice systems; and
WHEREAS, Child abuse prevention programs and “National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week” are supported by the National Shaken Baby Coalition, the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome, the Children’s Defense Fund, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Child Welfare League of America, Prevent Child Abuse America, the National Child Abuse Coalition, the National Exchange Club Foundation, the American Humane Association, the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, the Arc of the United States, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, Children’s Healthcare is a Legal Duty, Family Partnership, Family Voices, National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds, United Cerebral Palsy, the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and related institutions, Never Shake a Baby Arizona/Prevent Child Abuse Arizona, the Center for Child Protection and Family Support, and many other organizations; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that in honor of survivors of Shaken Baby Syndrome like Kristina Simmons of Decatur, non-survivors like Taylor Nicole (Pinkas) Rogers of Edwardsville, Reagan Williams of Danville, Gabriella Manzardo of Naperville, Brynden Tyler Gibson of Herrin, Xavier Delgado of Sterling, and Ben Fitton of Paxton, and in honor of all the other precious children that did or did not survive, we hereby designate April 18-24, 2011, as “Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week” in the State of Illinois; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we commend those hospitals, child care councils, schools, and other organizations that are working to increase awareness of the danger of shaking young children and educate parents and caregivers as to how they can help protect children from such injuries; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage the people of Illinois to remember the victims of Shaken Baby Syndrome and to participate in educational programs to help prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the National Shaken Baby Coalition.
Source: http://www.ilga.gov/senate/journals/97/2011/SJ097005R.pdf
This is a link to a blog that was written by an attorney who fights for children Chris Keane. Rudy met Chris when he spoke in Atlanta at the 11th International Shaken Baby Syndrome/ Head Abusive Trauma Confrence in September 2010.
The releasing of the sky lantern in Xaviers honor.