Six-month-old Braxton Musselman released from Valley Children's after three months in rehab

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- After astir 3 months of attraction successful the Rehabilitation Unit astatine Valley Children's, six-month-old Braxton Musselman has been released from the hospital, an affectional milestone for his household pursuing a January incidental that near him earnestly injured.

Applause and cheers marked the infinitesimal Braxton near the hospital, cradled successful his mother's arms, aft weeks of dependable progress.

Despite the improvements, his parents accidental they are bracing for a agelong and uncertain recovery.

"What we tin expect is left-side deficits, good centrifugal skills, things of that nature," said his father, Chris Musselman.

The family's ordeal began Jan. 13, erstwhile Braxton's mother, Tori Nelson, received a telephone from her son's babysitter, Tonya Hamilton, saying the babe was unresponsive. Chris said the telephone was devastating.

"When you perceive that news, it's hard to judge and I deliberation it's precise earthy to automatically deliberation the worst," helium said.

Doctors aboriginal told the parents that Braxton's injuries were accordant with shaken babe syndrome.

On March 4, the Madera County District Attorney charged Hamilton, 51, with kid abuse. She aboriginal pleaded not guilty.

RELATED: Madera County pistillate charged successful alleged maltreatment of present 5-month-old baby

Asked astir proceeding the not blameworthy plea portion holding her injured child, Nelson said, "I don't cognize -- that's a hard 1 to answer."

If convicted, Hamilton could look a condemnation of 7 years to beingness successful prison.

Chris said helium believes the ineligible process volition bring accountability.

"She's going to get what she deserves and those are the demons that she has to battle," helium said.

Hamilton had been caring for Braxton aft being introduced to Nelson done a household friend. Chris said the mates trusted her astatine the time.

"It was conscionable idiosyncratic that we thought we could trust," helium said.

That consciousness of trust, the parents say, has been profoundly shaken.

Nelson said the acquisition has made the thought of leaving her lad successful idiosyncratic else's attraction particularly difficult.

"He's my small babe and the thought of trusting him with anybody other is hard," she said.

As the household begins the adjacent section of Braxton's betterment astatine home, Musselman said his son's resilience has been wide passim the ordeal.

"Poor babe didn't merit to person to spell done this, but he's beardown -- that's for sure," helium said.

Hamilton's adjacent tribunal quality is scheduled for May.

In the meantime, Braxton is expected to instrumentality to Valley Children's successful little than 2 weeks for a follow-up valuation to measure his progress.

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