Emily Bodily is the mother of Elijah Fisher who was shaken and killed by his biological father just days before Christmas in 1997. His life and the ensuing aftermath of his death is the subject of the documentary Elijah’s Story, produced and distributed by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome (NCSBS) and formed the basis of the NCSBS’ hospital- and school-based shaken baby syndrome prevention programs during its early years.
Emily’s interview begins our 5-episode series celebrating the NCSBS’ 25 years of working to keep babies safe through shaken baby syndrome/abusive head trauma (SBS/AHT) prevention education. This series brings in a parent of a victim of SBS/AHT, a doctor, medical examiner, attorney and long-time donor to discuss how the NCSBS has impacted SBS/AHT prevention in their respective arenas.
In this episode, Emily recollects on the short life of her son Elijah, his fight to survive, the ensuing court case, and the enormous impact Elijah’s Story has had in the fight to prevent SBS/AHT. Emily’s interview includes details about her and Elijah’s life that you won’t find in the documentary including her struggle to handle Elijah’s abuse and eventual death, her feelings of empathy for Elijah’s father, Jason, who admitted to shaking and killing Elijah, and the impact of one moment with elementary school children that inspired her to get involved in SBS/AHT prevention.
Brought to you by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome (NCSBS).
The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the NCSBS.
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