Hannah's Heart. . .

 "When angels visit us, we do not hear the rustle of wings, nor feel the feathery touch of the breast of a dove; but we know their presence by the love they create in our hearts. "

 Hannah Isabelle Covington

March 13, 2007 ~ November 26, 2008

Hannah Covington was a beautiful little girl,  with a sweet smile, a head full of blond curls, sparkling blue eyes, and a smile that could melt your heart in a minute. . . Hannah's life was cut short almost two years ago at the hands of a daycare provider. . . doctors and medical experts determined it was shaken baby syndrome.

Her mother, Diana, married my son last May, so I never had the opportunity to know this beautiful child.  I feel like I know Hannah through the many wonderful stories I've been told, the pictures I've seen, and the videos I've watched.   My heart breaks for her family . . . my family, when I think about the terrible and tragic way that her little life ended.   

Yesterday, I sat in the courtroom and listened to the daycare provider who killed Hannah, plead guilty with an Alford Plea, which means she does not admit to being guilty, but does admit that if the case was presented to a jury, there would more than likely be enough evidence that a jury would find her guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter.   According to the Alford Plea,  she will only have to serve 5 months in a woman's prison.  At the end of her term, if the reports are good, she will be on probation for 5 years.   If she does not comply, or has a bad report, she could serve an additional 3-7 years in prison.   In Idaho, you could do more time for poaching an elk!  I feel like the judicial system failed in this case and let this little family down! 

Yesterday, as I watched Diana and Chris, with family gathered around them, supporting them, praying for them and buoying them up,  I could not help but feel pity for the woman who took Hannah's life.  She chose not to have her family there . . . she wanted to . . . spare them further pain, and . . . wants them to be able to . . . get their life back.   She has been a martyr for the last two years, making herself out to be the victim. . . I truly can feel only pity for this woman, she is obviously a very sick and very disturbed human being.  

Having said that,  my prayer is that Diana, Chris, Broday and Al, Hannah's father, can finally move forward.   This horrible tragedy could have been avoided if the caregiver would have just walked away.   Become informed, if you have children or grandchildren who are left with a caregiver, please, make sure that they are informed about shaken baby syndrome.  There are so many websites dedicated to this cause that are very informative - please visit them and pass along the information.   One brief moment of shaking can bring a lifetime of tragedy to an entire family.

Diana made a beautiful scrapbook for Hannah - she started the book with this saying:

"If there ever comes a day when we can't be together, keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever"

~Winnie the Phooh~

 ~Hannah, you will always be in our heart~ 

Warm Hugs,