First of all, this baby would have been transferred immediately to either Stoke Birmingham or New Cross, Stafford does not and never had a PICU, I know I gave birth to my youngest child there, any major problems and they were taken straight to the first available bed in the PICU's. As a "lost cause" it is highly unlikely that the child would even have been admitted to Stafford, they didn't have that sort of expertise.
As a parent living 7 miles from Stafford Hospital, who has done for the last 11 years I know, if the kids just banged their heads, Stafford always told us to go to New Cross, just in case. So the below is bollocks. And "Nicola", why is it you found the time and spent the effort to trace this SHAKEN BABY BLOG to post your undying support for David Southall, yet didn't bother to write to Southall's well publicised legal team or the GMC and give a testimonial for him in all these years - if you are so grateful I am sure the media would love to talk to you, even if it was anonymously?
The well written posting is smattered with deliberate grammatical mistakes and mis spellings ..... Using quotes appropriately and then using a word like "me" instead of my.
Finally the one phrase that "Nicola" used which stuck out in my mind as a mother is "I had no bond with my baby". After 5 weeks I would hope that you did have a bond with your baby and only somebody who hasn't had a child would make a statement like that - the bond doesn't break, it stays forever, any mother knows that, it may get damaged, but it doesn't go. Only somebody who has never had a child would write that.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "David Southall and continued lack of insight":
Not so much a comment but another angle... My Son was born in 1996 and at 5 weeks of age (after me calling doctors every day to say there was something wrong) was taken into hospital in Stafford. He was to all a 'lost cause' I was shut in a room with his father and left to wait for over 4 hours before someone came to tell me that he was 'alive for now' he wasnt expected to survive the night. I was instructed at this point to go home and get some rest as I was indeed still very ill from giving birth and an emergency c section. The next morning I dived to the telephone to hear that he was still alive. I went straight to the hospital and sat beside him till nightfall again being told 'he may not make it but you need to go home'. Some weks later after defying doctors my son was transferred to Newcastle Under lyme hospital where Proffessor Southall was based. I went with him this time. I was questioned and then told of my sons injuries - he has shaken baby syndrome - severe brain damage and broken ribs and a broken leg - all of which I knew nothing - of course. I sat with Proffessor Southall for more than 2 hours where hetalked at length about his injuries and told me of what they might expect for the outcome if he did still survive this. Proff. Southall was harsh he words stung and I was devastated I had no bond with my baby and to be honest was more scared of him stopping me from becoming a 'proper mother'. He saw that I was innocent and that I had done nothign he put his hand on my shoulder and said 'Dont worry Nicola it will be ok I believe you and I know now that you have done nothing - but you know that as you didnt then someone had to - the only other person being his father'. I left the hosptial and packed my belongings I left that following day and didnt look back. I was still questioned and arrested and then released I was still made to prove that I was innocent by taking training classes for parents ina hospita in Oxford. Two years later his father went to prison for Child Cruelty and GBH with intent - I had my son back about 12 months after he was taken into hospital. My son is now 12 and a healthy and happy child/teen I so proud of what I have done but through it all I found that only Proffessor Southalls words were what rang in my mind - 'it will be ok Nicola I know you are innocent'. I understand that mistakes can happen but in the world of child abuse and suspicion its so hard to see something positive. I still question my mind when I see a child crying in its pushchair. It never leaves and it never dulls. Bless you Professor David Southall you saved me and my child I am forever in your debt.
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Posted by Anonymous to Shaken Baby and unsafe convictions at 24 May 2009 01:06
