Oct 12, 2008 8:22 pm US/Eastern
Stalled Elevator May Have Cost Baby His Life
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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It was a true elevator emergency. Firefighters carrying a sick baby were trapped inside an elevator when it got stuck. Now, a young mother wants to know if those precious seconds cost her her baby's life. Christian McFadden's life spanned just 11 days befo
CBS
It was a true elevator emergency.
Firefighters carrying a sick baby were trapped inside an elevator when it got stuck. Now, a young mother wants to know if those precious seconds cost her her baby's life.
Christian McFadden's life spanned just 11 days before his tragic death.
"He brought so much happiness to me within those 11 days," mother Shareese said.
Seeing his crib empty intensifies the pain for the baby's mother, 19-year-old Shareese McFadden. But the reminder that stings the most will forever be the elevator at the Van Dyke Houses in Brownsville where her infant son spent his moments.
It was supposed to be the baby boy's ride to recovery from a medical emergency, but Shareese says it was a ride to death.
"He'd probably still be here if that elevator hadn't stopped," Shareese said.
It was Friday when Shareese went to change Christian and found his body cold to the touch – and he wasn't breathing. Shareese is an EMT-in-training and knows CPR, so she took immediate action.
"Then I called 9-1-1 and they were here within five minutes," Shareese said. "[The elevator] started jumping."
"The first thing they said was, 'maybe there's too much weight in the elevator,'" Shareese said. "So when we got down to eight, me and another officer ran down the stairs.
"When I got downstairs, it was still on eight. All I could think is, 'oh my God, they're stuck on eight.'"
Twenty seconds passed. It was chaos. Christian died.
"Who wants to see their child die in the elevator?" Shareese asked. "Then I have to live here and take that elevator every single day."
Shareese has one piece of advice for parents everywhere after this tragic ordeal.
"Love your kids, take care of them, because you never know if they're gonna be here tomorrow," Shareese said.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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