Mums will do anything for their babies. If need be, they will put their life on the line to save their children. It’s not a circumstance any mother should face, but sadly Shelby Carter did and her fast actions before she died of smoke inhalation, ensured her newborn’s life was saved.
When a house fire broke out in the house Shelby shared with her fiancé, DeShawn Davis and her mother, Kathy Hardy, the new mum quickly called the fire brigade. The fire moved fast and in a quick-thinking move to save her 12-day-old daughter, Keana Davis, the new mum strapped the newborn into her car seat and threw it out the second floor window. The baby survived the fire, but sadly, Shelby did not.
Family and friends are in shock over what happened. The young mum had celebrated her 21st birthday before the fire broke through the house. Hardy and Davis were not in the house at the time of the fire and officers are unsure why Shelby didn’t follow after her child through the window. Her body was found on the second floor and the cause of death was smoke inhalation.
Shelby with her fiancé, DeShawn Davis.
Jacob Plumer, Captain of Wyoming-Speer Fire Department said, “Shelby’s selfless heroic actions prove that there is no end to a mother’s love for a child.
“This tragic event reminds us just how short life can be.”
Shelby’s childhood friend and former basketball teammate told TODAY, “Her quick instinct to strap Keana in her car seat and to get her outside does not surprise me.
“She was a very task-oriented person growing up. She knew she had to save the baby, she came up with the most logical way to do so, and she followed through with her plan. It’s that simple. That’s the Shelby I know.”
Described as mature beyond her years, this tragedy has rocked the rural community.
Baby Keana is well and her father is doing ok despite the circumstances. The young man has become a single dad and he doesn’t keep his daughter out of his sight for long.
To help the family as they grieve and move forward from the tragedy, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family and baby Keana.
RIP Shelby Carter. You will be remembered for being a hero.
