I’ijayah Johnson’s tragically short life, which lasted just nine days, has left her family dealing with immense grief and raising serious concerns about child safety and parental fitness.
I’ijayah was born on April 25 at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia. From the beginning, her grandfather, Hilary Johnson Sr., harbored serious concerns about her parents’ ability to provide a safe environment.
He claims who expressed these concerns to hospital staff, fearing for the newborn’s safety if she was sent home with her parents. Despite these warnings, which he insists were repeated by his own father, the hospital discharged the baby.
Tragically, just nine days after her birth, I’ijayah was rushed unconscious to the King’s Daughters Children’s Hospital, showing signs of abuse. She didn’t survive. After this heartbreaking incident, her parents, Hilary Johnson II, 23, and Z’ibreyea Parker, 21, were charged with second-degree murder and arraigned in court.
The backdrop to this devastating event is fraught with additional challenges. According to Hilary Johnson Sr., at the time of I’ijayah’s birth, the young parents were homeless and struggling with mental health issues. She described a drastic change from the days when both parents were bright, promising young people. She hoped that becoming a mother would spark a transformation in Parker, instilling a desire to provide a better life for her child.
To further complicate the tragedy, Hilary Johnson Sr. mentioned that although they were offered accommodation when the baby was discharged, the parents decided to reject it and opted to live in a tent. This decision underscores the complexities and dire circumstances in which I’ijayah’s short life unfolded.
Sentara Norfolk General Hospital has not commented on the allegations made by Hilary Johnson Sr. Local media outlets, including WAVY, have contacted the hospital to ask about its policies on child safety and protocols for evaluating parental suitability. , but they have not yet commented. to receive a response.
In the wake of this tragedy, Hilary Johnson Sr. has started a GoFundMe campaign to cover the costs of I’ijayah’s funeral, seeking support from the community to properly mourn the grandson he hoped to protect. This situation raises critical questions about the measures put in place to ensure the safety of children and the support systems available to parents struggling with homelessness and mental health issues.