Near-Death Abused Infant Survives Shaken Baby Syndrome, Now Starting a Job

Joshua Bell, 20, was abused by his father at two-weeks old. He had brain damage due to shaken baby syndrome. He was adopted by loving parents who gave him one-on-one attention and loads of therapies to ensure he survives like any normal kid. He has now just gotten his first job.

He met his adoptive parents, Heather and Luke Bell, when he was 18-months-old. His parents remembered that he had just sat on the ground. The Bells learned that when Joshua was still two weeks old, his abusive father shook him so hard because he would not stop crying, which caused him brain damage and broken.

Shaken baby syndrome

His father's abuse left significant damage on his brain that doctors were not sure if he would survive. Heather Bell, 50, remembered that "He wasn't walking, talking, couldn't feed himself, still using a bottle, couldn't communicate."

When she said she wanted to adopt him, the social worker seemed stunned.

She remembered the social worker saying, "you know he was shaken and has severe brain damage." Heather was, however, firm and said, Well, I don't care. I just really need to be his mom.'"

The doctor's also painted a bleak future for Joshua. They said they would not know if Joshua could ever talk, walk, or eat independently. They also doubt if he would survive.

"They actually gave us no hope for him to even grow up as an adult. It makes me sad to think about it," she said. 

Shaken Baby Syndrome is a brain injury from forcibly shaking the baby. The condition comes with bruising, bleeding, and swelling of the brain. The state happens when the caregiver or parent severely shakes a baby or toddler due to frustration.

According to Dr. Elizabeth Rosner, a pediatric intensivist at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Michigan, 20% of shaken babies die from the abuse. Those who survive would need medical intervention.

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Parent's love and Joshua's determination

The Bell couple, however, was determined. Heather taught him sign language and guided him to do the basics: crawling, eating food, and eventually walking.

Heather recalled, "He sat on his back. He had no strength in his core, so he kind of scooted himself along."  With patience and determination, Joshua was crawling within three or four months, and then within four months, he was able to walk. Eventually, he learned to talk.

Over the years, Joshua gained several skills. However, he still experiences seizures and could not feel pain very well, a reminder that he had shaken baby syndrome. Sometimes, Bell would find a trail of blood in him, and that is how she would learn she was injured. He sometimes forgets what he is doing mid-thought.

Although he has a cognitive delay, he excels in artistic and mechanical endeavors. He paints and plays violin and banjo. Last year, he learned how to ice skate after watching his siblings play hockey.

"He works harder than any of my kids," his mother said.

Joshua now works as a grocery bagger. He loves his job and tells his family who visits the store and what he did.

He plans to take his parents to dinner for his first paycheck and buy "hockey gear" for himself.

The proud parents want to help him learn to budget to move out independently to a rental house the family purchased.

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