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‘Justice for Cairo’: Heartbroken WWE staff Cornell Gunter blames Florida hospital for negligence after newborn dies

Gunter said the baby was born with 'no heart beat & didn’t have oxygen for 8 mins which led to his current brain injury'

WWE employee Cornell Gunter and his fiancee's newborn son, Cairo, died shortly after his birth at Winnie Palmer Hospital, Orlando, Florida. Gunter slammed the hospital for negligence that led to his son's untimely death.

In a series of tweets put out by him, Gunter chronicled what happened. He said his son was fighting for life and the nurses showed negligence because of which the baby was born with "no heart beat & didn’t have oxygen for 8 mins which led to his current brain injury." Support from Twitter has been pouring in, with people tweeting using the hashtag #JusticeForCairo.

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Who is Cornell Gunter?

Gunter works for WWE’s Content Innovation Lab and worked on the filming of the Boneyard match for 2020's WrestleMania, according to Wrestling Inc. On April 18, Gunter tweeted to his followers to keep his son and family in their prayers. He followed it up with this tweet, saying, "Thank you all for the love & prayers. My baby boy is a fighter & he’s gonna make it out of here." He followed it up with this tweet - "Somebody is happy to see daddy" completed with a video of a tender moment between father and son.

He then put out a tweet talking about why his son required immediate medical attention. "@orlandohealth tell CEO David Strong to come visit my son in the NICU. He’s fighting for his life since the nurses at Winnie Palmer Hospital showed negligence which led to my son being born with no heart beat & didn’t have oxygen for 8 mins which led to his current brain injury," he tweeted.

He followed up with another tweet, and along with it came a heart-breaking photo of Cairo. "I’ve send you my info for David Strong to contact me. He’s 5 mins down the street. Come to NICU pod 1. Come see his condition. Come see the MRIs. Come on David. The negligence in your hospital has caused this," he added. 

#JusticeForCairo

Sharing the heartbreaking news, Gunter wrote on Twitter, "David Strong & Kelly Nierstedt (Presidents of Orlando Health/WPH) both stood before me, my fiancé & our families as our son took his last breath in his mother’s arms. My fiancé & I expressed our pain & hurt by the actions that led to our son passing away today. I looked them in." 

"The eyes & asked them have they ever watched their child die? Neither of them have. We were also joined by CEO Jamal Hakim who oversees patients' care. Mr Hakim cried next to my fiancé & said a prayer for him as my son joined God in heaven," he explained.

"None of this should’ve happened. I regret recommending Winnie Palmer Hospital. I really do. I wish I could back & suggest anything else. I truly do. I’ve never experienced anything remotely close to what I felt today. I’m hurting so bad man," he added.

Gunter then concluded, "Every second that I’m on this earth my son’s name will be remembered. I will fight for justice for him. I will make sure he’s not swept under the rug. Thank you for all of the messages, prayers & love. I promise you I’m not ignoring anyone. #JusticeForCairo ALWAYS & 4EVER."

'No family should have to experience loss like that'

The news left many Internet users shocked and he got much support on social media. "As someone who is planning to become a nurse inshallah I want to ensure that people especially black people are not neglected by the health care system. My shatters more and more every time I listen to these stories. Hospitals need to take accountability. #JusticeForCairo," tweeted a user.

"#JusticeForCairo No family should have 2 experience loss like that. It was so easily avoidable at SO MANY POINTS, there's just no justification 4 it whatsoever. Thoughts & prayers go out 2 the family, they all deserved so much better & I hope they find some justice & peace," added another. 

Recounting her own tragedy, one user posted, "This is eerily similar to my birthing experience. The doctor let me stay in active labor for 8 hrs & my baby was in distress for almost the entire time. A dry birth with meconium & my boy was grey & lifeless when he was born. If it wasn't for a shift change, my baby would've died."