Hutchinson Mother Wants Answers

February 03, 2010

Amber Strawn and her four-month-old son, Rickie.

by Cliff Judy (HUTCHINSON, Kan.)

A Hutchinson mother wants more answers after her infant son was rushed to the hospital from his day care last week with a head injury.

Early this week, the state health department suspended the Elizabeth Gray Day Care Home license because of the injuries to four-month-old Rickie Strawn. Amber Strawn says she dropped Rickie off at Gray's home in north Hutchinson on Tuesday of last week, but she got a phone call from Gray less than an hour later.

"She called me and said your son is not breathing right," says Strawn.

Amber Strawn says she rushed to Gray's house and found her son limp and struggling to breathe. As she called 911, Rickie stopped breathing.

"When we got to Promise Regional (Medical Center) and they told me that he had bleeding on his brain," says Strawn. "I was in tears hysterically balling."

Rickie was transferred to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, and the bleeding and swelling in his brain slowly subsided. Strawn says doctors have told her the head injury won't cause any permanent damage.

Now, Strawn says she wants more answers.

The state health department issued a press release Tuesday afternoon stating Gray said she put Rickie in a swing and another child might have pushed the swing into a wall. However, Hutchinson Police are investigating whether something more happened, and Strawn says she's tried to keep regular contact with the detective on the case.

Strawn also says she thought she'd done her homework on day care providers. She did background checks and interviewed several before choosing Gray.

"Eventually, I will have to find that trust again," says Strawn. "I know not all day cares are bad. I know there are some very, very, very wonderful day care providers out there. I just have to do a little bit more digging and ask some more questions and find out more information."

Hutchinson Police say Gray and her day care have never been reported for a crime before. Investigators hope to talk with prosecutors later this month.

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REPORTER TWEETS: Read below to see the updates Eyewitness News Reporter Cliff Judy was sending out over Twitter throughout the day. You can follow him at www.twitter.com/12judy.

12:30 p.m.: Just talked with mother of infant who suffered head injury at Hutch daycare. He'll be fine, but he's a lot more clingy with mom now.

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