By Wendy Harrison
Special to the News-Herald

The Paul D. Camp Community College Nursing Student Association exceeded its goal of raising $1,000 within the first hour of the Bowling for Babies fundraiser held Saturday at the Franklin Bowling Center.

Proceeds of more than $1,500 will benefit Shaken Baby Syndrome of Virginia Inc., a project the NSA students wanted to support after hearing the story of Steve and Kathy Stowe of Hampton. The Stowes are co-founders of the organization and Steve is president.

According to the Stowes, their grandson, Jared Nicholas Patton, was a victim of such abuse in November 2006, shaken violently by his biological father when the child was six weeks old. Jared was airlifted to MCV.

“He was in the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) for four months,” said Steve. “They didn’t think he’d survive.”

After the Stowes received custody of Jared, Kathy concentrated her attention on caring for him at home, despite his special medical needs.

“Due to his injury, he had cerebral palsy, epilepsy, cortical visual impairment and pseudomonas,” she said. Jared also had osteoporosis and scoliosis.

“He began to develop seizures,” Kathy said. “He was on 20 different medications, and he ate through a feeding tube in his stomach.”

Jared had a trachea tube, as well, which had to be suctioned regularly, and was connected to monitors to keep track of his oxygen levels and heart rate.

“Two years, eight months and one day after we brought him home, he passed sitting in Kathy’s lap,” said Steve. “He went to sleep watching the Christmas tree, which was one of his favorite things.”

Jared’s story has touched many, and Steve has worked with Delegate Glenn Oder, R-Newport News to get bills passed that will strengthen the laws in Virginia pertaining to Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Event co-chairmen Ashley Beale and Heather Holloman were pleased at the turnout for the event, particularly since they had planned the fundraiser in just four weeks.

“It was really successful,” Beale said. “We were real excited that the Stowes could come and share their story with everyone.”

Holloman added that more than 80 people registered to bowl on Saturday. “It was more than I could have hoped for,” she said. “We hope to make it an annual event so the nursing students can continue to support Shaken Baby Syndrome of Virginia.”

Until now, the Stowes have funded all of the operations of Shaken Baby Syndrome of Virginia, whose goals are to raise awareness and promote prevention of the problem.

“We have never done a fundraiser before,” Kathy Stowe said. “We pay for everything ourselves.”

The event was sponsored by Bobby’s Muffler & Tire Center, Franklin Bowling Center, Franklin Disposal and Recycling and J&J Home Repair.

“You see this on TV and think it will never happen to your family,” Kathy said. When people comment about how difficult it must have been for Kathy while she cared for Jared at home, she tells them, “I had the easy part. He lived it.”

For more information, visit www.shakenbabyva.com or email the Stowes at Jared@ShakenBabyVA.com.