Friday, 23 Nov 2007
A pet is something that should bring joy into a child’s life.
But one pet, small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, may have taken the life of one child.
Shanna Godwin was less then a month old when her parents say her brain began to shut down. She was put on breathing and feeding tubes and doctors told her parents Julie and William Godwin that their baby would never be the same.
video at source
http://www.myfoxorlando.com/myfox/pages/Ne...TY&pageId=3.2.1
Days later the parents made an agonizing decision no parent should ever have to face; they took Shanna off life support.
“There is always a part in my heart that is sad and miss Shanna forever,” Julie Godwin said. “But I have to keep going for our family.”
The baby’s death was ruled to have been caused by salmonella meningitis. Something the FDA says was found in a baby map turtle the family kept as a pet.
“I felt really bad because I brought them home,” William Godwin said while fighting back tears. “I would have never brought them home if I would have known that, she didn't have a chance.”
Since 1975 the sale of turtles with a shell less than 4 inches long is illegal. They can only be sold for scientific, educational or exhibition purposes.
The Godwin’s said their friends bought the turtles at a flea market. And while they've hired a lawyer to help with their complaint against that flea market, Julie says this is not about a legal claim, it’s about getting the word out to all parents.
“I think parents should know that they can make your kids sick and are deadly.” She said. ”They should know before they bring them home.”
The FDA says turtle-associated salmonellas affects about 74,000 Americans every year.
A pet is something that should bring joy into a child’s life.
But one pet, small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, may have taken the life of one child.
Shanna Godwin was less then a month old when her parents say her brain began to shut down. She was put on breathing and feeding tubes and doctors told her parents Julie and William Godwin that their baby would never be the same.
video at source
http://www.myfoxorlando.com/myfox/pages/Ne...TY&pageId=3.2.1
Days later the parents made an agonizing decision no parent should ever have to face; they took Shanna off life support.
“There is always a part in my heart that is sad and miss Shanna forever,” Julie Godwin said. “But I have to keep going for our family.”
The baby’s death was ruled to have been caused by salmonella meningitis. Something the FDA says was found in a baby map turtle the family kept as a pet.
“I felt really bad because I brought them home,” William Godwin said while fighting back tears. “I would have never brought them home if I would have known that, she didn't have a chance.”
Since 1975 the sale of turtles with a shell less than 4 inches long is illegal. They can only be sold for scientific, educational or exhibition purposes.
The Godwin’s said their friends bought the turtles at a flea market. And while they've hired a lawyer to help with their complaint against that flea market, Julie says this is not about a legal claim, it’s about getting the word out to all parents.
“I think parents should know that they can make your kids sick and are deadly.” She said. ”They should know before they bring them home.”
The FDA says turtle-associated salmonellas affects about 74,000 Americans every year.