Ep 10 - Kari Egerbrecht - A Mother Navigates the Trauma of Shaken Baby Syndrome on Her Family

This final episode of our 8-part April Child Abuse Prevention series brings us a conversation with Christine Baker, program coordinator for Seattle Children’s Hospital’s Child Protection Advocacy and Outreach Program.

Christine tells us that Seattle Children’s led a summit to address #ShakenBabySyndrome (SBS) prevention after seeing SBS cases triple during the recession in 2008. The summit resulted in a task force consisting of law enforcement, medical professionals and child protective services officials that ultimately chose the Period of #PURPLEcrying as the state prevention program. 

It took Christine and her team several years to build PURPLE into the state-wide program it was intended to be, requiring support in training and fidelity to ensure the program’s success. Christine feels the joy of success when she hears from new families who benefited from the Period of PURPLE Crying education they received and stays committed to prevention having worked with several families of victims of SBS/AHT in Washington state.

Brought to you by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome (NCSBS).

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the NCSBS.

Follow the NCSBS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: /ncsbs

JoAnn Otten is our guest in this 7th of 8 episodes of our special April Child Abuse Prevention series giving our listeners firsthand experiences into Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) cases. JoAnn Otten is the grandmother of Miley, who was shaken by her biological father when she was just 7 months old. JoAnn talks about her suspicion that Miley's father abused her after he initially told investigators that Miley had fallen off the couch. JoAnn describes the intense anger she felt toward Miley's father after confirming the abuse and how that anger consumed her for several years and led her into contacting her local representative in hopes of passing a law that would but child abusers behind bars for longer terms. JoAnn admits to feeling discouraged after her representative tried to re-focus her attention to child abuse prevention but discovering that prevention was the right path after she began working tirelessly to educate her community about SBS and shared Miley's story.

JoAnn tells us about the spiritual awakening she felt that allowed her to forgive Miley's father for abusing Miley and shares how she first came upon the idea for Miley’s Law that would create a public state child abuse offender registry after finding a similar bill that passed in Indiana. She details how she and her community worked tirelessly to build support in the state legislature for Miley’s Law and the relief and joy that overwhelmed her when the bill passed into law by one vote. Brought to you by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome (NCSBS).

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the NCSBS.

Follow the NCSBS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: /ncsbs

In the 6th episode of our 8-part April Child Abuse Prevention series giving you first-hand perspectives into Shaken Baby Syndrome cases we introduce you to Michelle Fishpaw, mother of Claire who was shaken by her childcare provider when she was just 11 months old.

Michelle takes us to the day Claire was shaken and the helpless feeling of uncertainty as Claire lay unconscious for 13 hours  after she arrived at the hospital and spent 8 days under constant medical supervision. Michelle describes having to deal with the uncertainty of Claire's outcome even to the point where doctors had to prepare her with the news that Claire may not survive.

Claire not only survived, but she thrived as her family threw their support around her. Michelle shares the inspiring story of how Claire endured an incredible amount of therapies throughout her life and overcame every obstacle on her way to finding independence and success after high school. And as Claire worked toward recovery, the Fishpaw family dedicated their time for Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) prevention including passing Claire’s Law in Ohio that brought SBS education to new families and tracked SBS cases. Michelle  talks about writing the book, Claire’s Voice, that shares the genuine experiences of the Fishpaw family in their journey to ensure Claire’s recovery. What Michelle had initially intended to be a way for her to share the story in hopes of helping other families who may have gone through similar trauma, became an outlet that brought healing to her and her family. Brought to you by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome (NCSBS).

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the NCSBS.

Follow the NCSBS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: /ncsbs

You’ll meet Greg Williams in Episode 14 of the NCSBS' Attention on Prevention #podcast and the 5th episode in our 8-part April Child Abuse Prevention series diving deep into #ShakenBabySyndrome (SBS). Greg is the grandfather of Reagan, who was shaken and killed by her mother’s boyfriend when Reagan was 2 ½ years old.

Reagan was Greg’s first grandchild, and they shared a special bond, one that continues even after her passing. Greg takes us on his painful journey. From his suspecting that Reagan was being abused to the mismanaged investigation that resulted in a year before charges were even brought upon the perpetrator. Greg anguishes over the guilt he still feels about what he could have done and whether the family’s accepting a plea deal was the right thing to do.

Greg chronicles his relationship with Reagan in the journal he started writing for her since her birth and talks about the outlet it provided when he decided to keep journaling for Reagan even after her death. He describes the healing his family felt after they started the charitable fund, Reagan’s Rescue, that helps to keep her memory alive by providing support for families and children in need as well as educating about the dangers of SBS. His journey through the grief process is something he hopes he can share with others who deal with the grief of losing a loved one, and he hopes his story helps families learn to treasure the time that they have together.

Brought to you by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome (NCSBS).

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the NCSBS.

Follow the NCSBS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: /ncsbs

This is the 4th episode of our 8-part April Child Abuse Prevention series providing access into Shaken Baby Syndrome cases from first-hand experiences. In this episode, we talk with Leigh Bishop, the former Assistant District Attorney and the Chief of the Child Fatality Unit at the Queens County District Attorney’s Office in New York. Leigh discusses her career prosecuting Abusive Head Trauma cases and how her getting out and thoroughly involved with the investigation from the very beginning played a big part of her being able to successfully prosecute cases of Abusive Head Trauma. Leigh describes how communicating with a multi-disciplinary team potentially comprised of first responders, law enforcement investigators, social services, medical staff and expert witnesses is critical to finding the truth when seeking justice for victims. Leigh takes us into the courtroom and explains her strategies in trying AHT cases and the difficulties of trying cases that rely heavily on medical evidence. Brought to you by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome (NCSBS).

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the NCSBS.

Follow the NCSBS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: /ncsbs

This is the 3rd episode of our 8-part April Child Abuse Prevention series giving you first-hand perspectives into Shaken Baby Syndrome cases. Today’s guest is Lee Raschke, Captain at Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in Tampa, Florida. Lee talks about his experiences investigating Abusive Head Trauma cases and the teamwork required among law enforcement, social services and medical staff to ensure a thorough investigation. Lee walks us through law enforcement’s procedure in a suspected child abuse case from start to finish and discusses the challenges they face with finding the clues that ultimately lead them to the perpetrator. 

Lee talks about a frustrating case that remains unsolved and challenges investigators face when there are multiple suspects. Lee talks about the investigator's role as a fact finder, and their commitment to uncovering the truth about what actually happened to victims of abuse. Brought to you by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome (NCSBS).

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the NCSBS.

Follow the NCSBS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: /ncsbs

This episode is the 2nd in our 8-part April Child Abuse Prevention series giving you a deeper look into Shaken Baby Syndrome cases.  We talk to Dr. Debra Esernio-Jenssen, pediatrician and Medical Director of the Child Advocacy Center at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital. You will not find a more thorough explanation of how doctors evaluate infants when they arrive at the hospital and the multi-disciplinary approach used to determine whether the infant was abused. Dr. Jenssen takes listeners step-by-step through the process, the questions they answer, the tests they conduct, the reports they review and the all-encompassing team that provides input into determining a diagnosis of #AbusiveHeadTrauma (AHT). 

Dr. Jenssen discusses the mechanisms and force that causes injuries seen in victims of Shaken Baby Syndrome and the outcomes that these victims experience during recovery.  Finally, Dr. Jenssen explains how normalizing infant crying plays a key role in prevention and educating everyone, including doctors and medical professionals, is critical for prevention to be successful. Brought to you by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome (NCSBS).

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the NCSBS.

Follow the NCSBS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: /ncsbs

This episode introduces a special series to bring attention to Child Abuse Prevention Month, celebrated in April each year. We are releasing 8 podcasts, 2 per week, that will bring you first-hand look at Shaken Baby Syndrome cases. We’ll talk with a doctor, a law enforcement officer, a prosecutor, a prevention specialist and families of victims of Shaken Baby Syndrome to bring you their unique experiences.

Our first guest in this series is Kari Egerbrecht. Kari is the mother of Brynn, who was shaken by her biological father when she was just 6 weeks old. Kari discusses the emotional day that Brynn was shaken, the injuries that Brynn suffered, the challenges Brynn faced on her road to recovery and the devastating effects that SBS has had on their family. Kari explains the challenges navigating the court system and even dealing with custody issues with Brynn's father, the perpetrator of the crime. Kari talks about how she found purpose in a non-profit that she and another mother of a victim of SBS founded called the Blue Ribbon Initiative. Through the Initiative, Kari is able to support families of victims of SBS and plans to bring prevention programs to local areas. Brought to you by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome (NCSBS).

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the NCSBS.

Follow the NCSBS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: /ncsbs

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Beth Russell, Associate Department Head for Undergraduate Studies and an Associate Professor in the Human Development and Family Studies Department at the University of Connecticut. She is also the Director of the Center of Applied Research in Human Development and Co-Director of the Collaboratory on School and Child Health. Dr. Russell talks about her research looking at how parents handle the stress of caring for new babies, specifically looking at how parents manage their own emotions. Dr. Russell discusses the importance of support networks and describes how babies learn how to manage emotions from their parents, how early care can influence their babies’ emotional learning. Brought to you by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome (NCSBS).

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the NCSBS.

Follow the NCSBS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: /ncsbs

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson, pediatrician, Chief Medical Officer of Before Brands, Author of the Book Mama Doc Medicine, and a popular voice for healthcare advocacy online. Dr. Swanson discusses how she became a pioneer in the digital medical world when she started her blog Seattle Mama Doc through Seattle Children’s Hospital, the first-ever pediatrician-authored blog on behalf of a hospital. Dr. Swanson discusses the recent increase in misinformation online, the evidence-based effectiveness of vaccines, the alarming rise of food allergies, normal infant crying and other topics important to families of new babies. Brought to you by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome (NCSBS).

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the NCSBS.

Follow the NCSBS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: /ncsbs