On December 19, 2007 at 7pm, Jennifer Gibbs Bankston of Birmingham, Alabama shot her 7-week-old baby Graham, and then shot herself. Both died from their wounds. It is believed that Jennifer was suffering from some form of postpartum depression. I am currently researching to get more information on what happened and what Ms. Bankston was going through. From what I can tell, Jennifer was absolutely adored by all, and she and her husband Dr. Larry Bankston were very excited and happy about the birth of their baby boy. Their entire family is in complete shock. They are starting a foundation called Jenny’s light, on which I hope to provide you more info soon. In the meantime, if you’d like to offer support to the families by signing the guest book linked to Jennifer and Graham’s obituaries, the link is here:http://www.legacy.com/theadvocate/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=100003217)
There but for the grace of God go we.
So tragic. Here's hoping the family finds healing in the new year.
The pain in my heart at reading this news is just unbearable…my prayers are with this family.
I just read about the death of Jennifer and Graham! I am so upset. It reminds me how horrifying PPD and related disorders can be and how something needs to be done. It gives me even more power to continue my fight of PPD and raise awarnes. I am putting together a 5k to support the Day Hospital for PPD (Women and Infants hospital). It will be in RI Saturday May 10, 2008. Please any one interested in attending, SAVE the DATE and more information to come. Something needs to be done and people need to relaize how lives are lost. Thank you for making the community aware of this loss and for your great work to fight PPD and raise awarness.
Just so you know, she was experiencing horrible post-partum depression. They were a wonderful family, and Chip (Larry) is a stellar guy. They were incredibly over the moon when Graham was born, but as many people know, postpartum depression makes a person extremely fragile, and you never know how they're going to react. I don't feel anger for her at all – only sorrow that we don't really know what she was going through. She must have been tortured by something horrible to have done something like this. I feel only extreme remorse and sorrow for their wonderful family. I pray every day that Chip's going to be able to move beyond this somehow.
More people should focus on this horrible disease and what it's doing to women all over the world. It's ripping perfectly happy families apart. I've known SO MANY women who have experienced such similar situations, and it's so awful that they have nowhere else to turn, that this is their only option. We need to find a cure for this disease and help these women who truly need it!!!!!!!!!!!
I know very little about PPD. I remember after having my first child that I felt incredibly lonesome for the life that I carried within me for 9 months. Moments after his birth I cried because I felt incredibly lonesome. I had a great husband, wonderful supportive parents and grandmother, but it took me a few weeks to get over what my doctor called "the baby blues". Eighteen months later I had my second child. My husband was traveling with his job and I was staying home with my infant and toddler. I now realize, 12 years later that I pushed my husband away and eventually made a tremendous lifestyle change. I packed up my 6 month old and my toddler and left a good husband and excellent father.
I remarried a wonderful man years later and we eventually had to deal with a miscarriage that I never thought I would recover from. My husband immediately encouraged me to get help which I did not, my doctor told me what I was feeling was normal. My new husband and I eventually had a beautiful baby girl who is now six but I am still torn up about the child we lost, and trying to hold together a "blended family". If I would have known then what I know now about PPD, my life may have turned out different… but then again, on the other hand, I wouldn't have the beautiful third child that I have know. I realize, after reading your website that I am still not completely healed from PPD. I still suffer panic attacks, my oldest child and youngest child are constantly striving for perfection while my middle child is comfortable with being "in the middle" and she is comfortable with her achievements thus far. My older and younger child are honor students, make perfect grades, perfect at dance and karate, feel like their accomplishments are not good enough, and I still feel like I am failing as a mother. I run my own business, therefore, I am able to flex my hours to spend equal amounts of time with all my children as my husband is a paramedic and works rotating shifts so I manage to spread myself around. I still don't feel "well".
I am in the process of finding someone to work out the issues that have been clouding my since I had my first child.
My heart and prayers go out to all women who suffer with PPD as I still don't feel mentally healthy. My oldest child is 14, middle child is almost 13 and my baby is six. I have made a contribution to "Jenny's Light" and only wish I could do more.