MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – The baby allegedly shaken by his babysitter in January is now back home. 

Braxton’s parents, Tori Nelson and Chris Musselman, said that after months at Valley Children’s Hospital, it feels like taking a newborn home for the first time again.  

“We didn’t know if we’d ever be driving Braxton again back home. And, you know, to make that drive after almost three months was it was amazing. It was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had,” Musselman said. 

Braxton battled through multiple surgeries and a meningitis infection to make it home late Thursday night. 

He had a lot of love from his parents and the staff at Valley Children’s to get him back home to where he belongs. 

“He’s a fighter and, you know, God chooses the strongest kids to fight his toughest battles,” Braxton’s dad said. 

On Jan. 13, Braxton’s parents needed a babysitter. They were in the process of moving, and they had a family friend who offered to watch Braxton. That family friend was 51-year-old Tonya Hamilton. 

“She FaceTimed me, and with the FaceTime, like, I could tell, like he wasn’t breathing,” Nelson said. 

After emergency surgery, doctors believed Braxton’s severe head injuries were from being shaken, and the Madera County Sheriff’s Office arrested Hamilton on child abuse charges.

“It was just somebody who we thought we could trust,” Musselman said. 

Musselman says doctors removed parts of Braxton’s skull to try to help with the swelling, and he had two surgeries just within the first three days he was at Valley Children’s. He had another just this week. 

“The hospital is the easy part, quite honestly. Mm. I think the hard part has yet to come,” his parents said.  

Hamilton entered a not guilty plea in court earlier this month. His parents said that while they believe everyone is innocent until proven guilty, they wrestle with not knowing what led up to Braxton’s injuries. 

“Just why? Like what happened?’ Braxton’s mom asked. 

“He hardly fussed unless he was hungry. And so just to think that somebody can do anything like that to a child, it’s just it, it’s hard to it’s a hard pill to swallow,” Musselman said. 

They said doctors don’t know exactly what recovery will look like for Braxton. 

“You know, he may have a hard time crawling just because his left arm is not as strong, his left leg is not as strong. There’s a disconnect there. And as he gets older, I mean, the doctor kind of explained like his spatial awareness is going to be affected,” Musselman said. 

But as parents, they’re learning how to heal. 

“He’s my little baby. And the idea of him and, like, trusting him with anybody else is hard,” Nelson said. 

They’re also working on focusing on the future. 

“Can’t say that I forgive fully, but I think I’ve come to a place where I have to move forward for him,” Nelson said. 

Braxton turns six months old on Saturday. 

“He doesn’t deserve an angry mom every day. He deserves a mom that’s ready to fight with him and accomplish and do all the battles that he is overcoming,” she said. 

Hamilton’s next court appearance is on May 4. If convicted, she could face years in prison.