A young boy from Dorris is living proof of the dangers of shaken baby syndrome.
NBC5 did a story on Aiden De Los Santos back in 2005, when he was just a year old.
Aiden is now 7.
Aiden was shaken by baby sitter Angela Molitor when he was just 6 months old. Molitor pled ‘guilty’ to a single count of felony child abuse, and was placed on probation.
Aiden’s mother Trisha De Los Santos notes that a short time later, the brain damage that resulted led to a diagnosis of cerebral palsy.
“it was made not too long after he was shaken, but probably within a year, they really started seeing the severity.”
Aiden is now in second grade at Butte Valley Elementary, where he likes to play.
“Play what’ ‘Basketball.’ ‘You like basketball’ ‘Yeah.’ ‘Excellent – do you watch basketball on TV a lot’ ‘Yeah.’ ‘What’s your favorite team’ ‘Duke!’
Trish De Los Santos notes that websites like: www.dontshake.org underscore the danger, and the scope of shaken baby syndrome…
“It just amazes me, the number of people that are dealing with it – and actually, the high number of people whose child dies from it. We’re really lucky that Aiden survived.”
While Aiden is a happy boy, the cost of travel for medical treatments and other expenses are a big burden on the family.
A benefit dinner for Aiden De Los Santos will be held this Monday night at 6 at the Dorris City Hall. Tickets for Monday’s dinner at $10, and will be available at the door.
If you can’t make the dinner but would still like to help out, an account for Aiden De Los Santos has been set up at many branches of US Bank.
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