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Topeka — A Lawrence woman suspected of abusing an 8-month-old baby in her home voluntarily gave up her day-care license Wednesday.

Maryanna Rose Rawlings announced her decision after listening to the baby's mother and a pediatrician at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., testify for nearly four hours on the events leading up to their realizing the baby had suffered a head injury severe enough to cause seizures.

The baby's symptoms, said Dr. Irene Walsh, were "highly characteristic of an inflicted head injury."

State officials suspended Rawlings' day- care license April 19, shortly after doctors confirmed the abuse and social workers eliminated the parents as suspects.

For Rawling, waiving her right to appeal the suspension was comparable with a no-contest plea. She did not admit guilt.

After the hearing, Rawlings and her attorney, Tricia Tenpenny, declined comment.

"There's an investigation pending," Tenpenny said, "We can't say anything."

Tenpenny indicated Rawlings had been caring for children in her home for 18 years.

Douglas County Dist. Atty. Charles Branson confirmed his office still may file criminal charges against Rawlings.

"Once the investigation is completed and submitted to our office, it will be reviewed, and a decision will be made," Branson said.

Because Rawlings, 1824 North 1100 Road, lives outside the Lawrence city limits, the investigation is being handled by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

The baby's mother testified that when she went to pick up her daughter at Rawlings' house on April 7, it was obvious that something bad had happened.

"I was in shock," the mother said. "My daughter was motionless, pale - I mean completely colorless - and barely breathing."

The mother testified that Rawlings indicated the baby had passed out. En route to the Lawrence Memorial Hospital emergency room, the mother also noticed the baby's eyes "were inset a little and discolored."

The mother testified that after several days of testing at Children's Mercy Hospital, doctors told her and her husband that the baby had been "shaken not once but twice" and that it appeared her skull had struck a flat surface, most likely a wall or floor.

Rawlings was not the baby's regular baby sitter, the mother testified. She explained that her regular baby sitter was on vacation and that she was using Rawlings, a neighbor, in the interim.

After spending April 5 with Rawlings, the baby was unusually fussy and vomited. Assuming her daughter had the flu, the mother, who works in Olathe, stayed home with the child April 6.

She took her daughter back to Rawlings on April 7, assuming the baby was over the flu.

The mother said she now suspects her daughter was shaken on April 5 and again on April 7.

While at Children's Mercy Hospital, the baby, who is neither diabetic nor epileptic, had several seizures. Also, doctors discovered bleeding inside the baby's eyes.

"My daughter's right eye was a solid hemorrhage. She couldn't see out of it," the mother said. "Her left eye - she could see out of it, but her vision was blurred."

The mother said her daughter's eyesight has returned to normal and that she appears to have recovered from her injuries.

"We are truly blessed," she said.

Whether the baby's brain injury results in developmental delays remains to be seen.

After abuse was confirmed, a Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services investigator found that Rawlings was caring for eight children in her home, five of whom were younger than 18 months. Regulations prohibit in-home day-care providers from caring for more than six children and no more than three can be younger than 18 months.

Rawlings' registration was immediately suspended.

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