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A Trinidadian mother has shared an extraordinary account of how she and her baby's father allegedly fled the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Mount Hope Hospital with their newborn son after disagreeing with doctors over his medical treatment. In a TikTok video posted under the username @imevewithnoapples, the woman admitted removing her baby from the hospital without authorisation, while repeatedly warning other parents not to follow her example. "Story time on how I stole my newborn from Mount Hope. Yeah, I did," she began. According to the mother, her son developed jaundice shortly after birth and was placed under blue-light treatment. However, when she returned to visit him, she discovered that the treatment had been discontinued and that he had tubes, intravenous lines and monitoring equipment attached to his body. She claimed doctors subsequently informed her that the baby was receiving antibiotics, a decision she questioned because she believed his condition was deteriorating. The mother said she requested that her son be discharged so she could seek private medical care, but hospital staff refused. Frustrated with the situation, she decided to remove him herself, despite initially facing opposition from the baby's father. The following morning, she returned to the hospital and waited until a nurse left the room. She admitted disconnecting the baby's medical equipment, including a tube in his throat, four intravenous lines and chest monitors. However, an alarm immediately sounded, alerting hospital staff. A nurse reportedly rushed into the room and demanded to know what she was doing. The baby's father allegedly stood between the mother and the nurse while she wrapped their son in a white blanket. The couple then fled down the hospital corridor as approximately six medical staff members attempted to stop them. According to the mother, staff shouted for the doors to be locked, but the couple managed to escape before security could intervene. She claimed that approximately 15 to 20 security officers were mobilised as the couple entered a waiting vehicle and left the hospital compound. During their escape, the mother said she discovered that the baby's white blanket was heavily stained with blood from the intravenous sites she had disconnected. Fearing police involvement, the family reportedly avoided returning home and instead stayed with a friend of the baby's father in Grande for approximately two weeks. During that period, she said they exposed the baby to early morning sunlight, believing it would help his jaundice. She claimed a subsequent medical examination found the child to be in good health. The woman further alleged that police launched a search for the family, contacted relatives in Arima and involved several police stations. She also claimed the incident resulted in changes to Mount Hope Hospital's security protocols, although this has not been independently confirmed. The mother said the child, now approximately 10 years old, is healthy. Despite recounting the incident, she strongly discouraged anyone from attempting something similar. "Moms and moms-to-be, do not do what I did. Trust the professionals," she warned. Medical guidance identifies controlled phototherapy as an established treatment for significant newborn jaundice. Antibiotics may be necessary where infection is suspected, while ordinary sunlight is not recommended as a substitute for medical treatment. The circumstances surrounding the baby's original diagnosis, the hospital's treatment decisions, the alleged police search and the claimed protocol changes have not been independently verified. The mother's account raises questions about communication between medical professionals and parents during neonatal care, as well as the serious risks associated with removing a newborn from intensive care without medical supervision. Article and image source: tiktok.com
A Trinidadian mother has shared an extraordinary account of how she and her baby’s father allegedly fled the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Mount Hope Hospital with their newborn son after disagreeing with doctors over his medical treatment.
In a TikTok video posted under the username @imevewithnoapples, the woman admitted removing her baby from the hospital without authorisation, while repeatedly warning other parents not to follow her example.
“Story time on how I stole my newborn from Mount Hope. Yeah, I did,” she began.
According to the mother, her son developed jaundice shortly after birth and was placed under blue-light treatment. However, when she returned to visit him, she discovered that the treatment had been discontinued and that he had tubes, intravenous lines and monitoring equipment attached to his body.
She claimed doctors subsequently informed her that the baby was receiving antibiotics, a decision she questioned because she believed his condition was deteriorating.
The mother said she requested that her son be discharged so she could seek private medical care, but hospital staff refused.
Frustrated with the situation, she decided to remove him herself, despite initially facing opposition from the baby’s father.
The following morning, she returned to the hospital and waited until a nurse left the room.
She admitted disconnecting the baby’s medical equipment, including a tube in his throat, four intravenous lines and chest monitors.
However, an alarm immediately sounded, alerting hospital staff.
A nurse reportedly rushed into the room and demanded to know what she was doing. The baby’s father allegedly stood between the mother and the nurse while she wrapped their son in a white blanket.
The couple then fled down the hospital corridor as approximately six medical staff members attempted to stop them.
According to the mother, staff shouted for the doors to be locked, but the couple managed to escape before security could intervene.
She claimed that approximately 15 to 20 security officers were mobilised as the couple entered a waiting vehicle and left the hospital compound.
During their escape, the mother said she discovered that the baby’s white blanket was heavily stained with blood from the intravenous sites she had disconnected.
Fearing police involvement, the family reportedly avoided returning home and instead stayed with a friend of the baby’s father in Grande for approximately two weeks.
During that period, she said they exposed the baby to early morning sunlight, believing it would help his jaundice.
She claimed a subsequent medical examination found the child to be in good health.
The woman further alleged that police launched a search for the family, contacted relatives in Arima and involved several police stations.
She also claimed the incident resulted in changes to Mount Hope Hospital’s security protocols, although this has not been independently confirmed.
The mother said the child, now approximately 10 years old, is healthy.
Despite recounting the incident, she strongly discouraged anyone from attempting something similar.
“Moms and moms-to-be, do not do what I did. Trust the professionals,” she warned.
Medical guidance identifies controlled phototherapy as an established treatment for significant newborn jaundice. Antibiotics may be necessary where infection is suspected, while ordinary sunlight is not recommended as a substitute for medical treatment.
The circumstances surrounding the baby’s original diagnosis, the hospital’s treatment decisions, the alleged police search and the claimed protocol changes have not been independently verified.
The mother’s account raises questions about communication between medical professionals and parents during neonatal care, as well as the serious risks associated with removing a newborn from intensive care without medical supervision.
News Desk is the editorial publishing account for Tringlobe Media News, covering breaking news, public affairs, entertainment, community developments and regional stories across Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and internationally.
