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3 months ago
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An adorable 16-month-old baby boy choked to death on a piece of watermelon at a daycare in Georgia.
Jamal Allen Bryant, Jr. was rushed to the hospital on Tuesday after he choked on a watermelon seed at Kids Nest Learning Center in Brunswick.
The baby's mother, Taylor Hicks, and his father, Jamal Bryant, Sr. have been left with unimaginable grief since they lost their child.
'Sometimes I don't feel anything, and the next minute, I'm breaking down again,' Hicks told WJXT.
Georgia's Department of Early Care and Learning quickly closed the facility following the tragic incident. The parents have not heard from the daycare since the tragedy.
Jamal Allen Bryant, Jr. died on Tuesday after he choked on a watermelon seed at Kids Nest Learning Center in Brunswick, Georgia
His distraught parents, Taylor Hicks (left) and Jamal Bryant Sr. (right) have not heard from the daycare since the tragedy
At the time of the incident, the agency found that three employees were in the classroom, but they were not seated with the children and were talking amongst each other, WJCL reported.
Further investigation found that Jamal Jr. walked up to the staffers and informed them that he was choking.
They then tried to get the watermelon out of his throat, but had to call an ambulance for assistance.
The child's father said that the school called him and told him that 'it would be best' to go straight to the emergency room where the paramedics were taking Jamal Jr.
Once his parents got to Southeast Georgia Health System they found out that their child had coded two times and died less than three hours after it happened.
The heartbroken parents said that they have not heard a word from the daycare since they lost their child.
'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 as she cried.
Georgia's Department of Early Care and Learning found that three employees were in the classroom, but they were not seated with the children and were talking amongst each other. Jamal Jr. was the one who informed them that he was choking
'And I don't wanna hear anything from them because they should've called. Nothing's gonna fix this, other than them being done,' she added.
Georgia's Department of Early Care and Learning closed Kids Nest Learning Center over the health, safety and welfare of children in their care - who would be in 'imminent danger' if they stayed open.
Jamal Sr. said that he wasn't aware of the problems at the facility, and that he wants other parents to be cautious about where they send their children
The agency discovered that the daycare was previously flagged during an inspection which showed that the facility did not meet CPR requirements.
'First aid and CPR are deferred because during the follow-up visits, we do not evaluate all rules. It would be evaluated at the next unannounced regulatory visit,' the agency said in a statement.
The daycare has until May 28 to appeal the agency's decision. DailyMail.com contacted Kids Nest Learning Center.
A Change.org petition was created for the 'Immediate and Permanent Closure' of the learning center. As of Saturday evening, there were 234 signatures.
The petition sited other instances that took place at the daycare, including when Manjeet Grant, the director of Kid's Nest Learning Center, was arrested and charged with first degree cruelty to children following an incident that took place in March 2022.
Glynn County police arrested Grant after she 'slapped (a child) across the face, knocking her to the ground,' according to an arrest report.
The Brunswick News reported that the child's mother filed a civilian warrant application against Grant on May 16, the day after the alleged incident.
On March 17, Georgia's Department of Early Care and Learning announced that they were investigating the alleged slapping.
'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,' Hicks said
A Change.org petition was created for the 'Immediate and Permanent Closure' of the learning center. As of Saturday evening, there were 234 signatures
According to the petition, the facility had 22 inspection reports filed by the agency since January 2022.
Jamal Sr. said that he wasn't aware of the problems at the facility, and that he wants other parents to be cautious about where they send their children.
'That's what we want going forward, like, just make sure this doesn't happen to another child again,' he said.
Hicks remembered her son for loving his family and being 'full of energy.'
'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,' Hicks said as Jamal Sr. embraced her.
Services for the baby are expected to be announced by Darien Funeral Home, according to his obituary.
'Don't take life for granted,' the baby's father said.
'And hug your babies every day,' Hicks added.
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