Fund established for injured baby

The families of a six-month-old baby boy, allegedly battered by his 19-year-old father, have set up a fund to assist with expenses incurred while the infant is treated for his injuries.

Melanie Brooks of Gardnerville, grandmother of Kayden Seeber, said Monday the baby had a feeding tube surgically placed in his abdomen Sunday.

"He has to relearn how to use his throat muscles and swallowing muscles," she said. "They expect it to be in two to three months."

Kayden was taken by helicopter to Renown Regional Medical Center on March 9 after his father, Alex Seeber, allegedly slapped the baby because he was crying.

The infant underwent emergency neurosurgery to remove a 7 mm blood clot on his brain.

He suffered seizures and a stroke following the incident.

Brooks said Monday the baby was doing well.

"I talked to my mother (today) and she said he was laughing and smiling. He's using all his extremities and recognizes everybody. He's doing really, really well," Brooks said.

Seeber, Brooks' son, was charged with felony child abuse or neglect causing substantial bodily harm. He is being held in Douglas County Jail on $25,000 bail.

He has a preliminary hearing set for April 3.

Brooks said the family has a hearing Tuesday to determine who will care for the baby when he is released from the hospital. Kayden is in the custody of the state Child Protective Services.

Seeber, Kayden and Crystal Ashbridge, the baby's mother, were living with Brooks when the incident occurred.

"It's very baffling," Brooks said. "We never saw any signs of abuse. He (Alex) was always very loving with the baby and Kayden was always very happy. If we had known this was going on, we would have called the police immediately. There is no excuse for it."

Officials said at a hearing last week that Kayden displayed injuries associated with shaken baby syndrome including broken ribs and retinal hemorrhaging.

"My husband and I are heartsick that this happened and we had no inclination," Brooks said.

She said while the case is adjudicated, the family is focusing on Kayden.

"We just want to say thank-you. We've had so much love, prayers and support from the community, our church and our coworkers. People are praying for Kayden from California to Florida," she said. "That is what is making Kayden better."

She said any donations would be used to pay for nonmedical expenses and to buy items for the baby. She said the baby will be seeing a speech pathologist and neurosurgeon regularly.

"Crystal visits him every day," Brooks said. "When she comes in, Kayden calms right down and he's really happy to see her."