A Pennsylvania home‑health care company is being sued for negligence after hiring a nurse, Cindy Desser, who allegedly abused a medically fragile 3‑year‑old girl in the family’s care, including slamming her and withholding her breathing tube while she gasped for air.
What the lawsuit alleges
- The girl, identified as Z.N., was born prematurely with severe medical issues, including missing ribs and a lung, spent months in the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and relies on a ventilator and 24‑hour nursing care at home.
- Her parents, David and Meredith Nastasi, hired Lincoln Healthcare Services / Team Select Home Care, which sent Desser as a night nurse; they say the agency ignored her “long history” of abusing infants and toddlers at other home‑health companies.
Abusive incidents and evidence
- The suit claims that on the night of May 25, Desser “repeatedly choke‑slammed” Z.N. so hard it rattled the crib and knocked over monitoring equipment, and that she later took her time reinserting the child’s tracheostomy tube after it came out, leaving her gasping before saying, “You did this.”
- Surveillance footage and medical records reportedly show Desser sleeping on the job with headphones while alarms for low oxygen went off, failing to log vital‑sign changes, and repeatedly slapping and throwing Z.N. in her crib; a thumb‑print‑shaped bruise on the child’s leg was also documented.
Company failures and parents’ reaction
- The Nastasis say they repeatedly raised concerns about Desser’s behavior and missed medical alarms, but Team Select allegedly ignored them and never addressed the issues with the nurse.
- The family called the experience “every parent’s worst nightmare,” saying Desser was fired only after the abuse emerged and are now pushing for her nursing license to be revoked and criminal accountability.
If you ever have concerns about a child’s safety in home‑care or medical settings, you can report suspected abuse to local child‑protective services or law enforcement; in the U.S., you can also contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1‑800‑4‑A‑CHILD (1‑800‑422‑4453) for support and guidance.
