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TagsTiffany Hebb is mourning the death of her 21-month-old son, but wants the world to know about the way he died in hopes that it will prevent a similar tragedy.
Little Ollie Hebb was found unconscious and submerged in water in the washing machine last Friday morning by his mother in their Hillsborough, Ore., home. He died the following day.
"I ran through my whole house, calling his name and couldn't find him anywhere, not ever thinking that he would be in my washer," Tiffany Hebb told The Deseret News of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Tiffany Hebb tried frantically to lift him from the top-loading machine but the boy was stuck. “So I pulled his head above the water, and he had no heartbeat, no pulse. He wasn’t breathing.”
With help from a neighbor, she finally got him out of the washer, and other neighbors performed CPR for 45 minutes before they were able to get a heartbeat, the Desert News reported, but his brain had been deprived of oxygen for too long.
His parents decided to remove him from life support after 24 hours.
"We just held him, cuddling him for his last moments of life," Tiffany Hebb said. "Six hours later, he took his last breath and passed away."
The child was buried in Orem City Cemetery in Utah, where they lived before a job opportunity for his dad, Chris, brought them to Oregon only recently.
The child and his mom often did the wash together. Ollie would climb onto a laundry bin so he was tall enough to toss items into the machine. When his mom couldn’t locate him on Friday, she searched his regular play spots before finally finding him in the washing machine.
Neighbors were planning a fundraiser to help the family pay hospital bills, since the family did not have health insurance, KOIN Local 6 TV in Oregon reported.
“The family is struggling,” family friend Susan Lawson told the TV station. "Family and friends and neighbors are being really supportive of them and are doing whatever we can.”
Ollie’s dad said it’s that kind of support that is getting the family through the tragedy.
"Every night when I go to sleep, I start feeling sick," Chris Hebb told the Desert News said. "Every time I wake up, I think this is a nightmare and then realize it's real. … You hear a baby crying in the night from a neighbor's house. You wake up, hoping it's your little boy, and then realize he's not there."
--JOE GREENE, NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
No court action was needed, because there was no crime here. Innocent until proven guilty is a very good standard to go by, one that helps us keep our humanity and prevent us from degenerating to superstitious savages who would imprison someone for dancing in the woods.
There is no evidence this child was abused. This family is hurting. And they are being very brave to let the story be known. Be grateful you can learn from their experience, hug your children a little closer, love a little move, forgive a little more, and be grateful it wasn't you.
She told the news she was sitting in the living room reading a magazine when she noticed him missing.
I don't know about your washer, but with clothes in it, I would bank that a 2 foot and some change toddler wouldn't fit in there. And if he was face first, his legs would stick out. I guess she didn't "look" hard enough.
She also claimed that she always does the laundry with the washer lid open. Not since 1963 does a washer complete a full wash cycle with the lid up. After the water filles the basin, the machine stops until you close the lid.
For all you claiming you can't watch a kid all the time, sorry. You don't have a freaking choice. YOU HAVE TO WATCH YOUR KID!!!! You want a break, take one during nap time, or when you lay your kid down for the night. I am a single parent. I have been for the last 4 years. My daughter is 5. She get's into everything. There are times when I would like to sit down and chill out, but I can't do that while she is up and about. Ms. Hebb should've invested in a pack and play, or a door gate. Nowm accidents happen, and certain things are un avoidable.
But look at it this way. it takes 3 minutes for someone to pass out from hypoxia. It takes longer than that for a child because children don't need that much oxygen saturation. On top of that 3 minutes, add about 5 before permanent brain damage sets in. Give the kid roughly 5 minutes to climb into the washer. You evectivly have about 10 to 13 minutes of neglect. Hmm... What could've possibly taken her attension away from the kid for that long of time. And this is assuming she Went looking for him immediately after permanent brain damge set in... Maybe she spent 20 minutes "reading" or whatever she claims.
You want compassion? Here's compassion, Kaylee Anthony, Michael Daniel and Alexander Tyler Smith, Paris Arnold. We gave their moms compassion, and then the truth came out. Then I bet your compassion became the means for a witch hunt. Tiffany Hebb isn't the first to make claims of accidental death. An investigation is in order. But sadly, no one suspects mom. Especially a pregnant one.
So don't say the finger pointers are heartless or have no kids. The thing is, we do have hearts, we do have kids, we also have this thing called common sense. Stop and think about it for a hot minute.
Not all mother's are fit to be moms, and not all moms deserve compassion in the face of tradgedy.
Rangers Lead The Way
All The Way
Although I feel bad about the tragic event, I have to agree with Anonymously Speaking views.
This is no accident.
How dare you criticize this poor grief-stricken mother! Do you know how completely unrealistic it is to NEVER take your eyes off your child? Heaven forbid if something so tragic should ever happen to someone you're close to. Get some compassion!
It is cruel for people to make harsh judgemental comments. It is an unfortunate and heartbreaking event that could visit any parent. So sorry for your loss.
Too many incidents like this happen due to negligence, and the courts must put a stop to this a.s.a.p.