Dear Parents, Educators, and Care-Givers,

At six-weeks old, my daughter Nicole noticed something terribly wrong with her son Jared. “He was stiff and his hands were twitching,” said Nicole. Jared was airlifted to the Medical College of Virginia, put on a ventilator and placed in an induced coma. The blood to his brain was shunted off as doctors attempted to diagnose the problem.

The authorities suspected abuse. Jared’s father was charged and convicted of child neglect and abuse.

Jared was in our care, his grandparents, Steve and Kathy Stowe, until his tragic death on December 11, 2009. With a trachea tube attached to his throat, and a feeding tube attached to his stomach, he required round-the-clock care. Jared’s life expectancy was a mere 5 years.

During Jared’s brief life, my wife Kathy lived a different life than she thought she might. Rarely leaving our home or taking personal time for herself, she was Jared’s guardian angel. Kathy’s gentle care lit up his eyes as they followed her around the room. There was no doubt about Jared’s love for his devoted grandmother.

And there was little doubt about Jared’s resilience. His courage inspired us to form Shaken Baby Syndrome of Virginia, Inc. Our foundation educates parents, grandparents, educators, and care-givers about this dangerous and life-threatening condition.

Follow Jared’s Journey in “My Littlest Hero” and “My Littlest Hero: The Journey Continues.” Browse our site at your leisure; meet our newest beauty, Juliana Thaxton; and let us know if there is anything we can do to assist in Your Journey.

Steve Stowe
President
Shaken Baby Syndrome of Virginia, Inc.