Baby Passes Away After Going To Church, Grieving Mother Has Important Warning For Parents
By Mike-Ross
They say that it takes a village to raise a child, and that may or may not betrue for all of us, it is most likely that even for the pickiest parents, a steady help in childcare comes from grandparents who are more than happy to pitch in whenever asked.
Especially for those of us with demanding professions, having grandparents nearby becomes a critical and godsend part of parenting that can save a lot of guilt and money! Needless to say, for the child itself, these one on one moments with grandma and grandpa end up being treasured memories for life!
Imagine the shock then, when one mother found that leaving her child with her parents was perhaps the worst decision she would ever make in her life!
Mandie Taylor works as a night ER nurse in Georgia, and relying on her parents to help out with her 11-month old son Jaxon, is not just a nice-to-have, but a necessity. Speaking about the role they have played in her son's life, Mandie says:
"These are grandparents that were there through my long, 23 hour labor. These are the grandparents that took him some weekend nights and walked for hours when he had colic and was inconsolable ... These people held and loved him when he was sick, feverish or fussy. These are the people that could make him smile and laugh when no one else could. They were there for him every day of his life, and my son loved them unconditionally the same way they did."
Clearly, Mandie had no hesitations about her parents Meta and Kyle Hendershot's ability to provide great care for her son.
So, as she had done many times before, after one of her busy overnight shifts in the ER, Mandie decided that it was best for Meta and Kyle to watch her son while she caught up on sleep. The grandparents were only happy to oblige.
On Saturday, the grandparents went to church and took the baby along. Upon returning home around 3 pm in the afternoon, whether due to miscommunication or just plane forgetfulness on the grandparent's part, the baby got left behind in the car.
September weather in Georgia can be pretty brutal as many may know, and that day was no exception. The mercury reached 90 degrees that day, which in a closed car can easily translate to triple digits in as little as 15-minutes.
The horrible mistake wasn't realized until Mandie woke up two hours later and asked about the baby. She rushed out to the car shortly after and tried to pursue CPR to resuscitate the baby without any luck. The heat had gotten to Jaxon and he had paid for it with his life.
Police investigation in the case revealed no foul play and Mandie did not press charges against her parents. However, the news was spread like wildflower and a lot of people had a lot of unkind things to say about the grandparents.
Mandie's sadness is beyond what anyone can comprehend, however, she decided that it was time to speak out about her grief and share with the world her feelings towards her parents after the incident. In a very emotional Facebook post, she says:
"It is very widespread news at this point that my son died on Saturday, September 5th at 11 months and 8 days old. There have been many news reports, and various stories. I was not there ... What happened was terrible ... But who of us hasn't made a mistake, such a horrible mistake that we thought nobody else could forgive it? Who hasn't had others judge them, and spit on them and spew hatred? ... who but God can condemn? I am in more pain than any human has ever experienced, but I chose to let go of hatred and blame."
The only thing that matters for Mandie are the memories of Jaxon's short life and her constant pursuit to keep going and live her life despite of a terrible loss.
"I remember my sweet boy with love and grief, and I will always love him."
Mandie, Jaxon, Meta, and Kyle have paid a price that none of us can imagine. Their story is an important reminder of just how cruel an innocent summer's day can prove to be. We hope that it becomes an important reminder to all to make sure kids are not left behind in cars ever, but especially when it can literally translate into a life or a death decision.
Sources: KFOR, The San Francisco Globe, CNN, Facebook/Mandie Taylor, FB Image Source: Facebook/Mandie Taylor
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