Colorado Springs – The Army has agreed to pay $3.25 million to settle a lawsuit filed by a soldier who said a son born at an Army hospital suffered severe developmental problems.
Danna Braswell gave birth to Corey at Evans Army Community Hospital at Fort Carson in September 2002. She said Corey’s umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck, cutting off oxygen.
In a lawsuit filed last year, she alleged negligence led to her son’s brain damage and other problems.
Braswell, 24, told The Gazette on Wednesday night that her pregnancy was fine until the day she gave birth.
“I remember they were struggling to get him out. When I saw my child, he was all purple. The face was blue. He looked dead,” she told the newspaper. “Right there I just panicked and started praying.” Braswell was released from the military in 2003 because of her son’s medical needs. She and her son now live with her mother in Avon Park, Fla.
She said her son has limited vision and cannot talk, crawl, walk or eat solid foods. He requires constant care and receives occupational, speech and physical therapies.
Part of the money from the settlement will be used to establish a trust fund to ensure lifetime care for Corey.
A claims attorney at Fort Carson confirmed the settlement but declined further comment.
