Two parents are suing Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, claiming staff negligence caused their premature newborn’s death. They allege their daughter’s neck was broken while in care and that the injury was not properly reported.

Birth and early care

Gianna Lopera gave birth in June 2022 at 24 weeks. The baby, Jahxy Peets, was delivered by a “STAT C-section,” immediately intubated, and placed on life support in the NICU. The lawsuit claims there was initially “no evidence at that time of a birth-related traumatic injury.”

Injury discovered

Two weeks later, doctors investigated “concern for abnormal tone of her upper extremities.” An MRI reportedly showed serious spinal damage. The lawsuit summarizes: “To put it simply, Jahxy Peet’s neck had been broken.” It also claims this could not have happened without excessive force.

Alleged cover-up and impact

The filing says the injury was “either not recognized or was not reported,” and alleges “an attempt to cover up the cause of Jahxy’s injury was made.” Jahxy was paralyzed, could not breathe on her own, and died in November 2022 after 165 days in the hospital.

Family and attorney statements

Attorney Nicole Kruegel said: “She wasn’t able to breathe on her own, her organs started shutting down… it was just a very slow death.” The parents also claim they were not told in a “timely” way that the injury was “caused by trauma.” Jahmair Peets said: “They don’t know why she presented this and unfortunately she can’t move her hands.”