Before I begin Luke's story, I just want you to know how painful and devastating this is to for me to write. I will ignore the tears rolling down my cheeks and write this, in hoping that my Sons story will help someone. The nightmare all began on the evening of November 9th, 2000, when Luke was just 10 weeks old. That night I had to go baby-sit my dads kids and I left Riley and Luke in the care of Luke's dad. I left home at 7pm and returned at 10 pm. I noticed right away that Luke "looked" different although I didn’t know how or why. He just looked really listless and pale. I asked Luke’s dad if anything happened when I left and he answered no. I decided to give Luke a bath and see if his demeanour would change, but it didn’t. By that time Luke was starting to worry me. He looked dazed and limp. He didn’t even cry. Or eat for that matter. It was about midnight when Luke started to cry, not a loud demanding cry, but a soft “ I’m hurt ” cry. By then I could tell something was definitely wrong . I told Luke’s dad that I wanted to take him to the hospital, but he refused to let me go. He took the car keys and the phones away so I couldn’t go anywhere or phone anybody. It wasn’t until 6 am that I finally got the phone and called my dad, who lives 20 minutes away. He knew right away there was something wrong and told me he’d be here in a few minutes. He arrived shortly after my call. Right away he noticed to that Luke didn’t look well and told me to take him to the hospital. He still hadn’t stopped crying from the night before and little did I know that he wouldn't stop crying until 12 noon the next day.. Luke’s dad and my dad got into a verbal altercation, and it soon turned physical. That is when I started having a nervous breakdown with Luke in my arms. I feel to the floor and started crying because my whole world was falling apart right before my eyes. I also at that point called 911, because Luke’s dad wouldn’t leave the house. The police came and escorted him and his belongings out of the house. I knew at that point , that wed never be together again. He would be out of my life forever. I finally got Luke to the Doctors office and right away the Dr sent me and Luke to the local emergency room. Luke’s eyes at that point were rolling into the back of his head and was very sleepy. At the emergency room Luke was assessed by the paediatrician and within minutes we were being transported to Children’s hospital by air ambulance. Right around that same time, Luke’s dad had admitted to the police that he had shaken Luke the night before, then threw him into his crib. In the air ambulance they tried to get an iv started on Luke but unfortunately it took them 10 tries to succeed. All Luke did was look at me and cry, probably wondering why I , his mother, would let people do this to him… I was so scared. When we reached the hospital they whisked him away for testing to see if there was any damage done to his body or brain. The tests came back with no good results. Luke had suffered bleeding on the brain, a fractured skull, three broken ribs, and a fractured leg, not to mention a black eye. I was totally devastated. I could not believe he did this to my baby. As the weeks past, Luke’s recovery went pretty quick. The doctors told me that someone above must have been watching over my baby that night. They told me it was a miracle that he didn’t die or suffer severe brain damage. They said most babies that come in with SBS usually suffer severe physical /mental damage. We don’t know what kind of long term effects Luke will have from being shaken. The Doctors told me to expect some mild developmental delays when Luke is in school . Physically, he is doing pretty well, thankfully all his tiny bones healed over . Emotionally, I am still a wreck but I thank the lord above that my baby boy is still with me. As for Luke’s dad, he spent 5 months in jail . He went in April 2001 and got out in August 2001. The picture below is of Luke when he came home from the hospital. He is all bruised and swollen up. Poor Boy

I am so sorry this happened to you and your beautiful son. I also want to thank you for sharing your story, as It should help many of us who do not know much about this, or any warning signs of SBS.

I've read your story a couple of times, and every time it gets me in the chest. I am so glad that your wee boy survived relatively unscathed, but I can't believe that your ex only got 5 months for almost killing his child. How is Luke doing these days? if you don't mind me asking.

Everytime I read your story I go into a homocidal rage. I am so glad that you are doing ok and that little Luke lived through everything. I hope he is doing well, mama. It angers me beyond belief that BD is not still behind bars. Let us know how you & Luke are.....

I know some that this also happened too. If your looking to get involved these people are the ones to talk too. His son was shaken by a live in nanny and killed. Heres their website something definatly worth checking out... http://www.skippervigil.com/ I'm so sorry you had to go thru that mama. And I am glad Luke is okay today... ::hugs::

im very glad luke survived and i cant believe a dad could do that im sorry for all uve gone trhough and hopefully someone reading your story will use it if something ever happens. and sorry to say he should have gotten more time

That is such a sad story...but with a happy ending. I cannot even imagine how someone can treat such an innocent little baby so horribly. No one deserves that!

your story is so sad. It angers me so much that the father only spent 5 months behind bars when Luke had to suffer so much... I cant believe that someone could do that to their own child.

Thank you for sharing your story.. it brought tears to my eyes and makes me angry to think that someone could do this to their own child.. I too cant believe he only served five months in jail for such a horrible thing.. Again thanks for sharing your story; it takes a lot of courage to share something of this nature and I wish you and Luke well in the future.

Hey Lilygrrl- Thank you for sharing your story. I know that must have been hard. I'm soooo sorry about what happened to your beautiful son! I know how hard that must have been to get through. That has always been a big fear of mine. Luckily, I have never really had to leave Jaylina (my daughter) with anyone but my grandma. I wish you the best for the future!

GD. I'm so stupid. I read it again. I just want to hurt that fucker so badly. Dude T, I love you. I'm sorry that you had to deal with this, and are still dealing with this. I'm always here for you.

omg i am in class right now and i almost burst into tears.thank you so much for sharing your story.and im real glad that your son is well

That seriously made me cry. I am so sorry that you and luke had to go through this but Im so happy that Luke made it okay!

I am SOOOOOOOOOO EXTREMELY HAPPY Luke made it. I can understand someone snapping and losing it and shaking a baby (i am not excusing it) but I can understand how someone can LOSE it. I don't understand though how they can ignore it happened. Lukes father acted like a complete ass and shoulda put his fear of getting in trouble aside for his son. You are so extremely lucky he is well, I am soooo sorry your poor little helpless son had to suffer so much. Ah, when I go home tonight I am going to run and hug my lil one, I wish he were here at work with me now. Once again congrats. You are such a strong mama and although u had a breakdown u held together and did what u had to do. May I ask what's up with Lukes dad?

your storie is one that made me cry i am sorry you had to go through that i am glad luke is ok. i want to thank you for having the strength to share your storie with us it must have been hard. thank you

I just read your story and am in tears just thinking about it. I am so sorry for what you have gone through and so happy for you that your son is alright. Thank you for sharing your story.

Wow! I'm glad you had the guts and courage to tell yours and Luke's story for us to read. It really infuriates me that Luke's dad only got a measly 5 months for nearly ending the life of your beautilful son. I'm happy that he survived and is doing well these days, it's a good thing someone was looking out for him that nite. And thank you for sharing your story.

That is an amazing story... What a horrible thing to have to go through. I cannot imagine how a person can feel enough anger to hurt a precious baby like that. His time in jail was not even close to enough. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the comments mamas, SBS is not talked about enough, i need to get the word out more. I plan on being a better advocate soon about SBS. Anna

Luke is doing really good these days. He has had extensive therapies to help him over the past few years since i wrote this story of went he went through. He has worked with physical, occupational and physiotherapists. He is totally caught up in every aspect possible and is now attending French Immersion Kindergarden and is picking up the french language really well!

wow..thank u so much for sharing your story... usually when I think of sbs i think of caregivers such as nannies or babysitters inflicting it...but never the parents..wow... That is absolutely horrible what he did to luke...but im really glad to hear that luke is doing GREAT and picking up french no less! lol! I just wish that lukes father got more time...5 months is not enough...not compared to what luke had to go through...but im so happy that hes okay! <3