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Regular Session, 2010
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 24
BY SENATOR AMEDEE
CHILDREN. Designates Monday, April 19, 2010, as Shaken Baby Prevention Day.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To designate Monday, April 19, 2010, as "Shaken Baby Prevention Day" in the state of2
Louisiana, in honor of Rey Wayne.3
WHEREAS, Shaken Baby Syndrome, also known as Abusive Head Trauma, is a4
term used to describe signs and symptoms resulting from violent shaking or shaking and5
impacting of the head of an infant or small child; and6
WHEREAS, when a baby is shaken, his brain rotates within the skull cavity, injuring7
or destroying brain tissue and causing blood vessels to be torn and bleeding around the brain,8
and the act may cause retinal bleeding; and9
WHEREAS, immediate consequences from shaking a baby may be compromised10
breathing, a decreased level of consciousness, seizures, the inability to swallow, and limp11
arms and legs; and12
WHEREAS, some long-term consequences may be physical disabilities, blindness,13
hearing or speech impairment, cerebral palsy, and death; and14
WHEREAS, in 2000 through Child Advocacy Services, court-appointed special15
advocates (CASA), were appointed to be representatives for one year old Rey Wayne; and16
WHEREAS, Rey Rey, as he was affectionately called, was born in Hammond and17
was at one time a healthy and beautiful child with ocean blue eyes; and18 SCR NO. 24
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WHEREAS, at the age of four weeks, while in the care of his parents, Rey Rey was1
violently shaken; and2
WHEREAS, after obvious signs of injury, it was determined by staff members at3
Children's Hospital in New Orleans that he was suffering from the effects of Shaken Baby4
Syndrome; and5
WHEREAS, Rey Rey experienced significant developmental delays and deficiencies,6
and as he grew he descended into a vegetative state; and7
WHEREAS, because of exceptional and unrelenting attention to his every need from8
his grandparents, Rey Rey lived for nine years; and9
WHEREAS, according to his pediatrician, Rey Rey was a very special little boy who10
made a lasting impression on all who knew him; and11
WHEREAS, on June 26, 2008, Rey Rey died as a result of complications from12
Shaken Baby Syndrome; and13
WHEREAS, after Rey Rey's death, Child Advocacy Services honored his life by14
dedicating its outdoor therapy center as a memorial to his short life; and15
WHEREAS, this memorial led to the formulation of the Hammond Shaken Baby16
Syndrome Prevention Coalition whose goal is to prevent this tragic form of abuse; and17
WHEREAS, Shaken Baby Syndrome often results in permanent, irreparable brain18
damage or death to an infant and may result in more than one million dollars in medical19
costs to care for a child in its first years of life; and20
WHEREAS, since 1979, the month of April has been designated as "National Child21
Abuse Prevention Month" as an annual tradition that was initiated by former President22
Jimmy Carter; and23
WHEREAS, educational programs have been shown to raise awareness and provide24
critically important information about Shaken Baby Syndrome to parents, caregivers,25
daycare workers, child protection employees, law enforcement personnel, health care26
professionals and legal representatives.27
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana, in recognition28
of the importance of the ongoing fight against child abuse, does hereby designate Monday,29
April 19, 2010, as "Shaken Baby Prevention Day" in Louisiana, in honor of Rey Wayne.30 SCR NO. 24
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the1
Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Coalition.2
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Bobbie Hunter.
DIGEST
Amedee SCR No.
Designates Monday, April 19, 2010, as "Shaken Baby Prevention Day" in honor of Rey
Wayne.