This is my granddaughter Kinsley, she is the victim of Shaking Baby Syndrome. On 23 October 2016, just three days before she turned 2 months old she was violently assaulted. Her tiny little body was shaken so hard that her little brain bounced off the inside of her skull ripping her connective blood vessels. She suffered multiple strokes, bleeding and bruising of her brain, brain swelling, severe brain damage, nerve damage, torn ocular muscles, torn retina and bleeding inside her eyes and she is blind. Some of the medical staff said she was the worst case of shaking baby they had ever seen. Kinsley actually died twice in the ER when her sweet little heart gave out. The Doctors didn't expect her to live past three days. But Kinsley is a fighter! After spending 5 weeks in two different Pediatric ICU's she defied the odds and survived. She turned 4 months old on Christmas Day and is nothing like the tiny unresponsive little thing she was in ICU. While she is improving a little every day she will never be the same little girl she could have been. She doesn't laugh or smile, cannot mover her legs or feet so well and has a difficult time holding her back straight or head up. She will need physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy for the foreseeable future. Any other needs won't be known until she she either hits or misses her growth milestones. Right now she needs surgery to remove the large amount of blood in her right eye. This will release pressure on the nerve while giving a clear and unobstructed view from the lens to the nerve receptors. While this may not save her vision it gives her a fighting chance to see again. She will also require several surgeries to correct the muscle damage in the right eye so that her eyes work in unison. She has some vision in her left eye and may regain more as the blood in here yet and brain dissipates.
My wife and I have temporary custody of Kinsley until we can formally adopt her. As of now we cannot take Kinsley out of Florida until the State of Florida finalize their legal case. As you can imagine the legal system is a slow process. My wife had to quit her job once we discovered that she was a victim of Shaking Baby Syndrome. We knew that if she survived that she would be placed in Foster care and we weren't going to let that happen. So my wife stayed to care for Kinsley, an easy decision to make. Nobody is prepared for something like this and no child EVER deserves to be abused. In an instant we are parents again, unexpected and unprepared but ready to Love and Care for her until our time comes. We weren't ready for this financially and didn't expect the system to take so long. My wife and I have depleted our savings and maxed our credit trying to live here in Florida caring for Kinsley while still trying to maintain our home and bills in Michigan. The longer this goes the further behind and in debt we get. We don't yet qualify for financial aid or foster pay from the state as some of the legalities aren't yet finalized and we are in between state responsibilities until the ICPC is approved by Michigan. Once we finally get home we have nothing ready for Kinsley. All we can bring home with us are her clothes, a pack n play, her car seat, a ton of debt and a special little angel. We are asking for some help to get her home, get Kinsley the stuff she needs and help with the adoption. I know I've already asked for so much from our family and friends and I appreciate everything everyone has done for us. We don't expect any more that what you've already done. We just ask to spread the word, share with others and give only what you can even if it's only a prayer, a visit to see Kinsley or a kind word of support. Thanks for everything!

Jack & Carrie