Coquille Infant Overdoses: Valium
by Robert Jump
Less than a year old, a Coquille infant was flown to Oregon Health Sciences University Wednesday after overdosing on the prescription drug diazepam, commonly referred to as Valium.
Police responded just before noon Wednesday to a residence on the 700 block of North Birch Street to a call for assistance from the Department of Human Services.
The child’s mother awoke to find the 11-month-old infant on the floor near a sofa, according to Coquille Police Chief Mark Dannels. The child had been left in the care of another adult. When the mother awoke she noticed the child was not moving or making any sounds. The woman lifted the child, fearing that it had fallen from the sofa. The infant was limp.
“It was determined that she had a prescription drug, in her body, “ Dannels told Coquille-Today.Com. “The child was medevaced to Portland.”
According to Dannels, doctor’s quickly confirmed the drug involved.
“We’d like to know how this child got this drug in her body,” Dannels said.
As of Thursday, it was unknown whether the child sustained any brain damage or what the extent of that damage might be, according to Dannels.
The mother was not taking a NAP. It was in the morning and woke up to the infant. The child is back and out of the hospital. She is doing great and is fully back to her smiley self Thank god!
The call was officially logged by dispatch at 11:50 a.m. on Jan. 19. That is morning, but nearly noon. Asleep is asleep.
Whatever the circumstances, I’m glad to hear the child is doing well.
RCJ
That was what time the police were called! I was the first one there because my Daughter was calling on mt way there before 9:00 A.M. we were at the E.R. by 9: A.M.
This was a accident. It would be nice for people to have their facts straight before putting it in the news. This is how gossip gets started.
“Police responded just before noon Wednesday…”
“The child’s mother awoke from a nap to find the 11-month-old infant on the floor near a sofa, according to Coquille Police Chief Mark Dannels.”
Gossip gets started by people repeating things they have heard and not checked out.
OK – you say the police were called just before noon. I believe that’s what I wrote.
You can try to imply whatever you wish into those words, but they mean exactly what they say and not what you wish them too.
I’ve cited my source. If it was an accident, it was an accident.
That’s why there’s an investigation.
I’ve left a message for Chief Dannels – I’m sure he’ll get back to me soon.
RCJ
I am the child’s Grandmother I took the Baby and her Mother took the E.R. we were there by 9:A.M. Call the hospital they will tell you what time we arrived!
Mr. Dannels needs to get the story and the time right!!
The Mother was not TAKING A NAP!!! IT WAS WHEN SHE WOKE UP THAT MORNING!!!!!
According to Coquille Police Sgt. Janice Blue, the investigation into the overdose of an 11-month-old baby is continuing as of this writing.
RCJ
I thought the important part was how an 11-month-old child gets an overdose of a prescription drug, not whether the mother was napping or just waking in the morning.
I removed the words “from a nap” from the story.
That is a important thing is how? The first important thing is the baby is alright!! Accidents happen and all babies put everything they get off the floor into their mouth. It’s sad that it happened at all, but people make mistakes and that is how we learn, sad enough it was the hard way to learn. Accidents, mistakes, it can happen to anyone, no one is perfect.No one did this on purpose.
You are missing the point Julie. If a RX drug was left ANYWHERE were an infant could get to it ,well that’s not just an accident, it’s just down right careless of the mother and father to start with .You don’t leave any type drugs where a child can reach it. Where have the brains gone!
I edited this just a bit Mr. Haley.
RCJ
The baby made a full recovery. There is no brain damage, she is back to her normal self!! Thank God
I really thought long and hard about whether I wanted to say this or not, but since Mr. Haley’s comment I think I shall.
In writing this story it was not my intent to assign blame for this child’s overdose. In fact, had Julie Peterson not identified herself as the child’s grandmother, the child nor it’s mother had been identified. Now that Pandora’s box has been opened so be it.
I’ve been covering news for nearly 20 years and sometimes I talk to my wife Peggy about the days events as husbands and wives will. Peg has a habit of reminding me of things I’ve worked hard to forget over the years.
I had forgotten about the mother that admitted to giving her two small children Benadryl so they would sleep allowing her time for a break. I forgot about the young mother who wished only to sleep and gave her colic inflicted infant slow gin and 7-Up in a bottle until the child passed out.
I have never known a young mother to have killed a child, but I do know that it happens. Given that these things do happen intentionally, it isn’t beyond the realm of possibility that it could have intentionally occurred in this case.
I don’t know anything about this case other than what I have been told by authorities. The police are investigating. It is their job to determine whether a crime has been committed or the incident was accidental. Not mine – I write news stories based upon the information that is available to me.
It is what is is – nothing more, nothing less.
I truly wanted to believe this was a accident, my heart aches to know that anyone can be capable of this.