RALEIGH, North Carolina — A little boy who cannot raise his left arm, hug his mother with both hands, or even clap — because of what happened in the first moments of his life — finally got a measure of justice this week.
A jury found WakeMed hospital and Dr. Tara Brenner negligent in the delivery of Naqah Lake, now 6 years old, and awarded his family $18.2 million in damages.
What Went Wrong in the Delivery Room
Naqah was born on September 17, 2019, at WakeMed hospital in Raleigh.
During delivery, his shoulder became stuck behind his mother Laurel Browne’s pelvis. Dr. Brenner rotated Naqah’s head to free him — but the maneuver caused catastrophic damage.
According to the family’s attorneys, the rotation tore all five nerves from Naqah’s left brachial plexus directly out of his spinal cord.
Naqah stopped breathing before he could be fully delivered. He spent nine days in the NICU. His left arm never recovered.
A 6-Year-Old Living With Permanent Damage
Naqah was diagnosed with Erb’s palsy — a condition causing weakness and loss of motion in the arm.
He underwent surgery at just six months old. Today, he still cannot dress himself, eat independently, or use the bathroom without help.
His attorney put it plainly: Naqah will never play two-handed sports, hug his mother with both arms, or simply clap his hands — because of what the legal team called a “never maneuver” that should not have been used.
The Verdict
On July 2, the jury found both Brenner and WakeMed negligent.
Naqah was awarded $1.7 million for economic damages and $16 million for noneconomic damages. His mother received $500,000.
A judge will have the final say on the total payout under North Carolina’s medical malpractice cap laws.
What do you think — was $18 million enough for what this family went through? Share your thoughts in the comments.