Gage's Story
Every year in the United States, more than 3 million reports of child abuse are made, involving over 6 million children (a single report can include multiple children). The United States has one of the worst records of child abuse among industrialized nations—on average, between four and seven children lose their lives every day to abuse or neglect.
While many of these cases involve neglect, my son Gage’s story reflects one of the thousands of tragic incidents when a parent or caregiver loses control and violently shakes, throws, or harms a vulnerable baby or young child.
Gage was born on September 6, 2003—a beautiful, thriving baby boy. My maternity leave went by too quickly, and just four days after I returned to work, on November 11, 2003, I received the phone call that would change our lives forever.
“There’s been an accident,” my husband at the time told me. He explained that while bathing Gage, he had dropped him and that Gage had hit his head on the bathtub, toilet, and floor.
At the emergency room, Gage was quickly sent by ambulance to Children’s Hospital, where a CT scan revealed injuries I could never have imagined. Gage had been violently shaken, causing severe brain damage. His brain was swelling, and he was in constant seizure activity. Doctors told me his condition was critical—he might not survive.
At first, I believed my husband’s story. I couldn’t imagine that the man who loved, cared for, and played with our son would harm him. But by day two in the hospital, police had arrested him. He was later convicted of malicious punishment of a child, serving a year in jail and 10 years on probation. It wasn’t until years later that he finally admitted he had shaken our son.
Gage spent 18 days in the hospital, and that was just the beginning of our journey into a new reality—one filled with doctors, therapists, courtrooms, attorneys, and county advocates.
Now 16 years old, Gage has spent his entire life in and out of medical appointments and therapies. He lives with anxiety, sleep disorders, behavioral and sensory issues, cortical vision impairment, migraines, and the lasting effects of multiple surgeries, including procedures on his eyes and both legs. For his safety, he wears a helmet in situations where a head injury could occur—such as during gym class, recess, or outdoor play.
Gage often asks why his father shook him. I’ve always told him what I’ll tell you: I don’t believe anyone wakes up in the morning thinking, “Today, I’m going to hurt my baby.” Abuse often comes from a moment of overwhelming stress or loss of control. But that one moment changes everything—not just for the child, but for the entire family.
Gage’s story is one of thousands. These children are living proof that abuse has lifelong consequences. By first acknowledging that this problem exists and then working together on prevention, we can stop the cycle of child abuse and ensure that tragedies like shaken baby syndrome no longer plague families and communities.
While many of these cases involve neglect, my son Gage’s story reflects one of the thousands of tragic incidents when a parent or caregiver loses control and violently shakes, throws, or harms a vulnerable baby or young child.
Gage was born on September 6, 2003—a beautiful, thriving baby boy. My maternity leave went by too quickly, and just four days after I returned to work, on November 11, 2003, I received the phone call that would change our lives forever.
“There’s been an accident,” my husband at the time told me. He explained that while bathing Gage, he had dropped him and that Gage had hit his head on the bathtub, toilet, and floor.
At the emergency room, Gage was quickly sent by ambulance to Children’s Hospital, where a CT scan revealed injuries I could never have imagined. Gage had been violently shaken, causing severe brain damage. His brain was swelling, and he was in constant seizure activity. Doctors told me his condition was critical—he might not survive.
At first, I believed my husband’s story. I couldn’t imagine that the man who loved, cared for, and played with our son would harm him. But by day two in the hospital, police had arrested him. He was later convicted of malicious punishment of a child, serving a year in jail and 10 years on probation. It wasn’t until years later that he finally admitted he had shaken our son.
Gage spent 18 days in the hospital, and that was just the beginning of our journey into a new reality—one filled with doctors, therapists, courtrooms, attorneys, and county advocates.
Now 16 years old, Gage has spent his entire life in and out of medical appointments and therapies. He lives with anxiety, sleep disorders, behavioral and sensory issues, cortical vision impairment, migraines, and the lasting effects of multiple surgeries, including procedures on his eyes and both legs. For his safety, he wears a helmet in situations where a head injury could occur—such as during gym class, recess, or outdoor play.
Gage often asks why his father shook him. I’ve always told him what I’ll tell you: I don’t believe anyone wakes up in the morning thinking, “Today, I’m going to hurt my baby.” Abuse often comes from a moment of overwhelming stress or loss of control. But that one moment changes everything—not just for the child, but for the entire family.
Gage’s story is one of thousands. These children are living proof that abuse has lifelong consequences. By first acknowledging that this problem exists and then working together on prevention, we can stop the cycle of child abuse and ensure that tragedies like shaken baby syndrome no longer plague families and communities.
