Only On 8: Mother speaks out on baby’s stay in Henrico Doctors’ Hospital’s NICU, says all limbs were fractured
VENN
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Another parent is speaking out about the alleged abuse their baby faced in the Henrico Doctors' Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) as the hospital reopens its doors to new admissions, all while the investigation into the NICU continues.
The hospital announced in late Dec. 2024 that it would not be accepting new admissions into the NICU after three babies were found with "unexplainable fractures," similar to incidents in 2023 involving four babies.
In an exclusive interview with 8News, Ms. Mason -- who did not want to share her first name -- said that she gave birth to her son, "Baby L," on Aug. 18, 2024.
ALL COVERAGE: Babies injured, abused at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital’s NICU
"It was the place I believed that my son would be safe the whole time -- and he was not," Mason said.
Mason was also accompanied by her attorney, Lee Livingston of Livingston Law Group, PLLC, during the interview.
"When you look at what should be the safest place for a baby, a parent [should be able to] really trust that no harm will come to their child -- but that didn't happen here and that's shocking to everyone involved," Livingston said.
Mason told 8News that her son suffered several fractures. All of his limbs were affected.
"That kind of harm, where every limb is fractured, changed the trajectory of that little boy's life in ways that are permanent and profound and, frankly, shocking," Livingston said.
Former NICU nurse Erin Strotman of Chesterfield County currently faces felony charges for the alleged abuse of one of the three babies injured in 2024.
Mason said Strotman had interactions with her son while he was being treated in the NICU.
Aside from the ongoing criminal investigation, Livingston told 8News that no lawsuit has been filed on his end. Livingston added that the hospital's attorneys have reached out and he and his office are waiting for more details before moving forward with legal action of any kind.
"What we're we're hoping that this is a learning opportunity for health care providers nationwide," Livingston said.
