State officials: Brunswick children in ‘imminent danger’ if daycare where toddler choked, died reopens
The parents of a 16-month-old toddler who died after choking at his Brunswick daycare are speaking out about the unfathomable heartbreak they’re now living.Nightmare doesn’t even begin to describe the last few days for Jamal Bryant and Taylor Hicks.“Only reason I slept long last night is because I dreamt that he woke up and was alive and I just– I didn’t wanna leave that moment because I was so happy to know he was here,” Taylor Hicks, the toddler’s mom, told WJCL 22.Their son, Jamal Bryant, Jr., choked on a piece of watermelon at his daycare, The Kid’s Nest Learning Center. “I just got an unexpected call and was told that my son was choking on a watermelon seed, that it would be best to meet the paramedics at the emergency room,” said Jamal Bryant, Sr.Bryant and Hicks raced to the hospital, but it was too late. Little Bryant Jr died less than three hours after it all happened. “I trusted you all to do your job. And now I blame myself and I wish I never dropped him off that day,” Hicks said. Georgia’s Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) rapidly moved to close the facility while they investigate the toddler’s death.They found that three staffers in the room with Bryant Jr were talking with each other, not seated with the children while they ate. Bryant Jr had to walk up to the adults himself. They then tried anything they could do get the watermelon out of his throat, with no luck.EMS arrived and took him to the hospital where he coded twice before ultimately passing away.“We had so many plans for him. We were just talking about his first haircut and everything. We won’t be able to do that,” said Hicks. The family says no one from the daycare has reached out to them since the deadly incident. “And I don’t wanna hear anything from them because they should’ve called. Nothing’s gonna fix this, other than them being done,” Hicks said. All Bryant and Hicks have left are memories of their sweet boy. “We’ll love you always Jamal. Love you son. I love you so much,” the parents said. DECAL has closed the facility saying the health safety and welfare of children in their care would be in imminent danger if they remained open. The daycare has until Tuesday night to appeal the decision.
The parents of a 16-month-old toddler who died after choking at his Brunswick daycare are speaking out about the unfathomable heartbreak they’re now living.
Nightmare doesn’t even begin to describe the last few days for Jamal Bryant and Taylor Hicks.
“Only reason I slept long last night is because I dreamt that he woke up and was alive and I just– I didn’t wanna leave that moment because I was so happy to know he was here,” Taylor Hicks, the toddler’s mom, told WJCL 22.
Their son, Jamal Bryant, Jr., choked on a piece of watermelon at his daycare, The Kid’s Nest Learning Center.
“I just got an unexpected call and was told that my son was choking on a watermelon seed, that it would be best to meet the paramedics at the emergency room,” said Jamal Bryant, Sr.
Bryant and Hicks raced to the hospital, but it was too late. Little Bryant Jr died less than three hours after it all happened.
“I trusted you all to do your job. And now I blame myself and I wish I never dropped him off that day,” Hicks said.
Georgia’s Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) rapidly moved to close the facility while they investigate the toddler’s death.
They found that three staffers in the room with Bryant Jr were talking with each other, not seated with the children while they ate.
Bryant Jr had to walk up to the adults himself. They then tried anything they could do get the watermelon out of his throat, with no luck.
EMS arrived and took him to the hospital where he coded twice before ultimately passing away.
“We had so many plans for him. We were just talking about his first haircut and everything. We won’t be able to do that,” said Hicks.
The family says no one from the daycare has reached out to them since the deadly incident.
“And I don’t wanna hear anything from them because they should’ve called. Nothing’s gonna fix this, other than them being done,” Hicks said.
All Bryant and Hicks have left are memories of their sweet boy.
“We’ll love you always Jamal. Love you son. I love you so much,” the parents said.
DECAL has closed the facility saying the health safety and welfare of children in their care would be in imminent danger if they remained open. The daycare has until Tuesday night to appeal the decision.
