Two weeks ago, Tori Nelson received a distressing message from the babysitter caring for her 3-month-old son, Braxton. The babysitter, who reportedly awoke after falling onto the infant, found him “unresponsive.”
Chris Musselman, Braxton’s father, recounted that after the incident, Braxton was rushed into emergency surgery due to severe head injuries. When they arrived at the hospital, Musselman described the chaos: “We stormed into the emergency room where the ambulance was headed. The security guard will yell at you.”
After a lengthy six-hour operation, doctors unearthed more alarming news. They revealed to Musselman that Braxton’s injuries suggested he had been shaken rather than the result of a fall. This prompted him to involve the authorities. As expected, Braxton’s caregiver, 50-year-old Tonya Hamilton, was arrested and charged with child abuse-related offenses in Madera County, California.
Understandably, the past weeks have been harrowing for Braxton’s parents. “He cries, but his cries are different,” Nelson said, expressing the deep emotional pain of not recognizing her child’s distress. Musselman echoed her sentiments, stating, “It was truly tragic. No parent should ever have to go through this. No child should ever be treated like this.”
In these challenging times, Braxton’s mother and father have remained constantly by his side at Valley Children’s Hospital. Nelson shared her heartbreak, saying, “It broke my heart to see my son with so many tubes attached to him. He never asked for that.” The couple found it agonizing not to have held their son in nearly two weeks.
On a slightly positive note, Braxton has moved out of intensive care and no longer requires a breathing tube, allowing his parents finally to hold him. However, challenges remain; Braxton struggled with severe withdrawal symptoms from the medications he was prescribed. “We’re just trying to get through it,” Musselman mentioned, adding, “Braxton is currently missing the entire right side of his skull. We don’t know if he’s going home with a skull or without one.”
To assist with medical expenses, a GoFundMe page was established. Additionally, the sheriff’s office issued a Public Safety Alert emphasizing the dangers of shaking a baby, which can lead to severe repercussions.
Authorities have also clarified that the photo of Hamilton shared in the press release was not a booking image but rather a driver’s license photo.
