Five-month-old Kaleb Schwade Hospitalized with Brain Injuries
Likely a Victim of Shaken Baby Syndrome

A 5-month-old baby boy, suffering brain damage, was admitted to Tampa General Hospital in early May. The local sheriff’s office did not release the name of the baby. If you are active on MySpace, however, you already know that this little boy is Kaleb Schwade.

According to The Ledger, a Florida paper, Kaleb’s 21-year-old mother Kristy dropped him off at daycare on May 8. That day Kristy Schwade posted a comment to a friend on MySpace that the babysitter informed her Kaleb was throwing up and had a fever of 102. The next day, May 9, Kaleb went back to the same babysitter – Rebecca Saunders. At the end of that day, Kaleb was asleep and breathing funny. He was taken to the doctor’s office and promptly treated for brain injury. It turns out Kaleb Schwade has bilateral hemorrhaging and subdural hematoma (bleeding on the brain).

Rebecca Saunders, the 35-year-old babysitter, was arrested for suspicion of child abuse. Saunders has been declining interview requests and proclaims innocence. She has since been released from jail on a $5,000 bond.

Kristy Schwade has set up a page on MySpace, largely dedicated to Kaleb. She blogs about her son’s current condition and progress, as well as posts pictures. The MySpace page has caught on, bringing in thousands of page views and comments. People who find their way to the MySpace page have even been moved enough to send care packages and donations.

Kristy has posted that her son is now blind and has bacterial meningitis in addition to the original brain injuries. Kaleb also suffers from seizures and may slip into a vegetative state.

Kaleb Schwade most likely suffers from shaken baby syndrome. The Naional Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke defines shaken baby syndrome as a condition that results in brain injury – if a baby is shaken, their weak neck muscles can’t support their larger, heavier head. If shaken hard enough, the brain will bounce inside the skull. This can result in fractured ribs, damaged spinal cord and/or neck, bleeding in the retina and subdural hemorrhages. The symptoms to watch for include lethargy, poor feeding, extreme irritability, breathing problems, vomiting, convulsions and bluish skin.

Infants who survive shaken baby syndrome will have neurological or mental disability, including mental retardation or cerebral palsy. These conditions may not fully appear until the age of six. It is entirely possible for these babies to require lifelong care.

If you would like to pass along words of encouragement to Kaleb’s parents, Kristy and Joshua, please visit Kristy’s MySpace page. Also visit if you would like to help in any way.