A Georgia family is demanding answers after their 2-year-old daughter suffered a devastating foot injury at a Henry County daycare facility, requiring multiple surgeries and the amputation of one of her toes.
Jynesis Daniel was at Willoway Preschool in McDonough on Aug. 21 when a fire extinguisher reportedly came loose from a wall and struck her foot.
The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, which oversees childcare facilities in the state, is now investigating the incident.
For Jynesis’ parents, Zacheus and LaTiegre’ Daniel, the phone call from the day care initially sounded routine. But that changed when a staff member told them an ambulance was being called.
“She got on the phone, and she said the fire extinguisher was loose on the wall, and it fell and it hit Jynesis’ foot,” LaTiegre’ recalled, according to WSB-TV 2.
Zacheus said he immediately realized the injury was far more serious than the initial explanation suggested.
“I immediately just broke down, like I was overwhelmed because just the side of my baby’s toes were dangling like they were barely attached to her foot,” he said.
An ambulance transported Jynesis to Arthur M. Blank Hospital, where doctors worked to save the injured toes.
The toddler ultimately underwent two surgeries. Doctors first attempted to reattach the damaged toes and monitored her foot for 24 hours. One of the toes did not recover.
“Two surgeries. They did one to reattach the toes. They monitored it for 24 hours. One of the toes didn’t take,” Zacheus said. “It was still black and blue, and they said you need to amputate to save the rest of the foot, so it didn’t get infected.”
The injury has left the Daniels family facing what LaTiegre’ described as a life-altering situation.
“For her, for us, this is life changing,” she said.
The family has reported the incident to Henry County police and hired an attorney. Meanwhile, DECAL confirmed to Channel 2 Action News that Willoway Preschool reported the injury and that the agency is investigating what happened.
The incident also comes months after the childcare center faced another safety-related issue involving a 2-year-old child.
State records show DECAL fined Willoway Preschool following an April incident in which another 2-year-old child was reportedly left outside unattended for 26 minutes.
The previous violation has added another layer of concern for Jynesis’ parents, who now question whether enough was done to protect their daughter.
The owner of Willoway Preschool declined to discuss the circumstances surrounding Jynesis’ injury, citing ongoing litigation.
“Nothing matters more than the health and safety of Jynesis and the other children in our care but we’re under litigation at the moment so we can’t comment further,” the owner told Channel 2.
For the Daniel family, however, the investigation is about more than determining how the fire extinguisher fell. They want the daycare held responsible for what they believe was an incident that should have been handled differently.
LaTiegre’ said she would prefer to see the preschool closed.
“If I’m being honest, I want the school shut down because I feel like this wasn’t handled properly,” she said.
Zacheus said he knows nothing can undo the physical damage his daughter suffered, but he still wants accountability.
“I would like them to be held accountable. It’s not a lot they can actually do because you can’t bring her toe back,” he said.
The state investigation remains ongoing.
