MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A one-year-old girl is on life support at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital after she was injured while her mother was at work, according to a close family friend.
The family friend tells WREG Cortney Raegann Smythe was hospitalized Sunday evening.
“She had a way about her. She could draw you into her little world and we always used to kid with her that she was our new found little diva,” Caroline Williams, a close family friend said.
Raegann, dressed in a Minnie Mouse costume with a stuffed animal beside her, spent Halloween and her birthday in a hospital bed.
Williams fought back tears as she explained how Raegann has left an impact on her family.
“She’s made an impact on this woman’s heart. And as far as I’m concerned, she’s like my blood.”
What happened to Raegann is under investigation. The Memphis Police Department confirms they are investigating but will not release any other details.
The child was under the care of her mother’s fiance during the time she sustained severe brain injuries. Her mother was at work.
“We don’t know truly what has happened. We don’t know how it happened yet. We can only go by what the medical results are showing us, and they show that she has a massive brain injury,” Williams explained.
She says Raegann moved some body parts on Wednesday night and had more neurology tests Thursday morning.
“They told us that she still has no activity in the main part of her brain. She’s not breathing on her own. She’s still on a vent. They did say she had some breaths through the night on her own with the help of the vent. But they are also telling us that those could be false breaths,” Williams said.
For parents, grandparents or any relatives who are taking care of children, Williams has one plea.
“Protect them with every fiber that you have, because life is precious. And we don’t know from day to day when it’s going to change,” she said.
For now the family is looking to their strong faith to get through this difficult time.
“We know that even though the situation was for the bad, we know that he can change it for the good and bring our baby back to us.”
