A couple who endured six miscarriages before having a child are mourning the death of their two-year-old daughter, who died after being left in a hot car for over six hours in New Mexico, US.
Zariah Hasheme was found dead on 17 September after her babysitter, Tammie Brooks, 41, forgot to drop her off at nursery and instead drove to work in Hobbs, police said. Brooks only realised her error when she returned to her car to run an errand.
Zariah's mother, Demi Petrowski, told KOB-TV: 'I would not wish this pain and this hurt upon my worst enemy.' She said the couple had given up on trying to conceive when they learned she was pregnant with Zariah, whom they called their 'miracle baby'.
Brooks has been arrested and charged with abandonment or abuse of a child resulting in death. Zariah was the 42nd US child to die from heat exhaustion in a hot car in 2019, according to safety group Kidsandcars.org.
Zariah's father, Zachary Hasheme, recalled receiving a phone call from his wife screaming that Zariah was dead. He added that his daughter had recently called him 'Dada' for the first time. An online fundraiser has raised over $3,200 (£2,600) as of Monday.
Ms Petrowski urged others to always check the backseat and for nurseries to contact parents if a child does not arrive at the appointed time.
