Baby, allegedly shaken, still critical

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - A 6-week-old boy hospitalized last week after showing symptoms of having been shaken remains in critical condition.

Bentley McIntyre was admitted to Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids on Aug. 24 with brain trauma. His family has been by his side the whole time. 24 Hour News 8 was told by a close family friend that his condition is day-by-day.

Autumn Ames babysat for Bentley out of her home day care in West Olive.

"He was just very happy," Ames told 24 Hour News 8 on Monday. "Very snugly. I held him quite a bit."

Bentley was first taken to North Ottawa Community Hospital in Grand Haven and later taken by a medical helicopter to Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. His mother, Kaylee Zalsman, posted on her Facebook page that Bentley had bleeding in the brain and was having seizures.

Ames said she was shocked and heartbroken when she heard what landed him in the hospital.

"Just horrible," she said.

Police suspect Bentley was shaken by his father -- 23-year-old Justin McIntyre -- at their home in Ferrysburg late last week. He is charged with felony child abuse. He was in court on Tuesday in which a preliminary hearing was scheduled for September.

Ames has stood close to the family in the hospital and said things with Bentley are touch-and-go.

"He did open his eyes once, so that's really good news, but he's continuing to have seizures," said Ames. "Yesterday (Sunday), he had 20 seizures in a 12-hour period. It's just very sad."

Bentley is also suffering from a staph infection in his lungs, Ames said.

Ames said prayers and community support, both in person and online, is what's keeping the family going.

"They haven't left the hospital," said Ames. "They're just doing what needs to be done for Bentley and hanging in there."

Ames said the boy's mother and grandmother can't work in order to stay by his side at the hospital. A fund for expenses has been set up at Fifth Third Bank under "Bentley Benefit."

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Online:

Prayers for Bentley Facebook page