Noah Hackey, a premature African American newborn from Henrico County, Virginia, suffered a fractured tibia while in the NICU at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital in September 2023. His parents, Tori and Dominique Hackey, are now demanding accountability after learning that other babies at the same hospital sustained similar injuries.
Born in August 2023 alongside his twin brother Micah, Noah had been progressing well until Dominique noticed his left leg was discolored and immobile. X-rays confirmed a fracture, prompting hospital staff to suggest it might have occurred during an injection. Dominique’s mother, a nurse, dismissed this explanation, emphasizing that fractures in NICUs are exceedingly rare.
Fearing they might be blamed for the injury, the Hackeys refrained from holding Noah.
“I didn’t want them to turn it around on us and say we broke his leg,” Dominique said. “I told them, ‘No, we don’t want to hold him. We’re just going to process this.’”
The couple reported the incident to Child Protective Services (CPS), which later classified it as level one child abuse—the most severe category in Virginia—determining the injury was intentional.
“That was an eye-opener,” Dominique recalled. “Nobody had said it was child abuse before. As a father, you vow to protect your children, and this left me feeling helpless.”
A year later, in October 2024, police informed the Hackeys that three additional NICU babies had suffered unexplained fractures between November and December 2024. Despite the hospital’s assurances of enhanced safety measures, including cameras and staff training, the couple’s trust was shattered.
“We were overwhelmed with anger and tears,” Dominique said. “It shouldn’t have happened again—or even the first time. I regret not speaking out sooner. Maybe it could have prevented this.”
In response to these alarming developments, Henrico Doctors’ Hospital temporarily halted NICU admissions. Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor confirmed her office reopened the 2023 investigation to hold those responsible accountable.
Fortunately, Noah has fully recovered, and both twins are thriving at home, WTVR reported. Yet the Hackeys remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice, determined to ensure no other families endure similar heartbreak.
“Someone needs to be held accountable—not just for my son but for every affected child,” Dominique said. “This has happened too many times in such a short period.”
