One shake can last a lifetime

SURVIVOR: Shaken baby syndrome survivor Jaysha and her mum Vicki Hei. Photograph John Stone

Jaysha was born a healthy baby, but at four weeks old she was shaken by her father, and from that moment her life changed forever.

Jaysha suffered from Shaken Baby Syndrome - the result of a single shake. A single shake can cause brain damage, blindness, paralysis, deafness, seizures, broken bones and delays in normal development, even death.

To help protect potential future victims, the Northland DHB has launched an education programme aimed at empowering parents and caregivers with the skills needed to safeguard their children.

All caregivers who visit the DHB's Special Care Baby Unit, the children's ward and antenatal services will now receive the Shaken Baby Prevention 10-minute education session as part of learning lifelong skills, such as CPR and safe sleeping.

Jaysha's mum, Northland DHB staff member Vicky Hei, was alerted to the difference in her daughter as soon as she returned from work that day and heard her high-pitched cry.

"As soon as I got to Jaysha I knew something was wrong. She had no colour, was limp, and her eyes had diverted to one side and were flicking," she said. "I tried to breastfeed her but she wouldn't latch on, so I kept asking, 'What has happened here?' Dad just repeated his story and said I should wait a while, that baby would come right."

Jaysha didn't 'come right', and the next time she received food it was through a tube in the ICU. The diagnosis was that the injuries she had sustained were the equivalent to having had a very bad car accident.

The true story finally came out, and Jaysha's dad admitted that he had shaken his daughter.

"From that moment on, our life changed forever," Vicky said.

Jaysha was left with right side hemiplegia and developed severe epilepsy, having up to 15 seizures every day. Her development was delayed significantly in terms of learning to walk and talk. She was taking up to 10 pills per day to reduce the number of seizures she was having.

"She always looked sedated and the spark in her eyes had gone. Jaysha endured a lot of knocks and bruises from falling, tripping up and her drop seizures," Vicky added.

Last year Jaysha had major surgery on her brain to put an end to her seizures.

Since then she hasn't had a single seizure, which has changed her life completely.

"She is a gutsy kid and has a strong bunch of friends who include her as much as she is able," Vicky said.

"She is full of colour, life, and has some big aspirations.

"Our message is never, ever shake a baby, and be careful who you leave your baby with. Never leave a baby with anyone who might lose control - it's okay to walk away."

Every year in New Zealand, on average 20 babies under the age of two are admitted to hospital with injuries after being shaken, and around five die.

The Shaken Baby Prevention programme is a component of the National Violence Intervention Programme, and is included in violence intervention training provided to all frontline Northland DHB staff.

The key messages are

* Crying can be very frustrating, but that is how babies communicate.

* It's okay to walk away.

* Never, ever shake a baby.

* Never leave baby with anyone who might lose control.

* Share this information with everyone.

* If you think baby's hurt, seek medical help at once.