Baby boy dies after being taken off life support by his devastated parents two days before Christmas, after babysitter dropped him on his head

  • Three-month-old Reece Modzelewski slipped out of his babysitter's grasp and hit his head on the floor
  • He was given a prognosis at the hospital of brain damage so severe that even if he managed to come around he would not have any quality of life
  • His parents made the excruciating decision to take him off life support on Friday
  • The babysitter has not been identified by police and so far no charges have been filed though they say they will investigate 

By Kiri Blakeley For Dailymail.com

Published: 18:22 EST, 23 December 2016 | Updated: 00:48 EST, 24 December 2016

An infant dropped on his head by a babysitter has been taken off life support two days before Christmas.

The infant, three-month-old Reece Modzelewski, was at home with his babysitter in Saddle Brook, New Jersey on Tuesday when she said he slipped from her grasp and fell to the floor, hitting his head.

Paramedics were immediately dispatched but the little boy was unconscious.

He was rushed to the hospital, but given a 'very poor prognosis' and his parents were told he had severe brain damage, according to a family friend's fundraising page raising money for a memorial bench or tree.

Mark Modzelewski, 32, and Nicole Nicastro, 34 had their first child, Reece, three months ago

Reece was dropped on his head and doctors said there was nothing they could do for him. His parents made the excruciating decision to take him off life support 

On Friday, his parents, Mark Modzelewski, 32, and Nicole Nicastro, 34, of Carteret, made the difficult decision to take him off life support and he died at 12.03pm, according to NJ.com.

'There isn't anything more the doctors can do. Even if he wakes up he will have no quality of life; not being able to walk, talk or function on his own. This is the one of the hardest decisions anyone will ever have to make,' wrote family member Benjamin DiFranco on a separate fundraiser to help with expenses.

Reece was their only child. 

'He is such a friendly, smiling and happy baby' wrote father Mark Modzelewski on Facebook

'My little baby boy is dying and there's nothing I can do to help or comfort him,' Mark Modzelewski wrote on his Facebook page Wednesday. 'I don't know if he can hear, see, taste or touch anymore. My heart has been torn out of my chest.  

'A second of misfortune will turn into a lifetime of pain as is the case with most tragedies. The fact that this happening so close to Christmas and right between both of our birthdays will only make it more difficult.

'He is such a friendly, smiling and happy baby and we gave him all the love we could... I love you Reece and hopefully there's a heaven so I'll be able to see your goofy little smile again someday.' 

Modzelewski said that a lot of people are asking what they can do to help and he would like them to 'give their kids a hug and kiss.'

'Today will be the worst day of my life,' he said.

Police have not identified the babysitter but will be investigating the case. No charges have been filed.  

Nicastro is a pre-K teacher in Hudson County and works in the Early Childhood Department. Modzelewski works in field operations at Ericsson. 

 

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