A New Jersey mother is searching for answers after her 4-year-old son died following a medical emergency at the daycare center where he had spent much of his young life. The family is now raising serious questions about how staff responded, including whether emergency services were contacted promptly.
Shanya Robins, of Hillsborough, said her son, Yasmir, became unresponsive at Blooming Hearts Child Development Center on August 14. The boy was taken to a hospital, where he later died, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.
What happened during the critical period before his mother arrived is now a central concern for the family. Robins says she has not seen evidence that anyone called 911 before she reached the facility, while daycare staff reportedly gave a different account of the events.
Authorities have confirmed that the incident is under investigation but have not released further details about what led to the child’s death.
A Little Boy Remembered for His Smile
Yasmir had been attending Blooming Hearts Child Development Center since he was just 4 months old. His mother said he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth, but she never wanted the condition to define his life or limit the happiness he brought to others.
She remembers him as a cheerful child whose presence could brighten a room.
“He was always smiling. Everybody always said, you know, as soon as you see him, he lights up the room,” Robins recalled.
For his family, Yasmir was far more than a child with a medical diagnosis. He was a beloved son whose personality and smile left a lasting impression on those around him.
His death has left his mother struggling to understand how an ordinary day at daycare ended in tragedy.
“I only got four years with my child, and he’s not here,” Robins said. “Just for him to just not be here anymore is very devastating for me.”
Mother Questions the Response to the Emergency
According to Robins, the daycare contacted her shortly before noon on August 14 to tell her that Yasmir was unresponsive. She said she arrived at approximately 12:05 p.m. and found her son still sitting in a chair, appearing limp.
Robins said she immediately told staff to call 911.
She remains uncertain whether an emergency call had been made before she arrived. However, she said the information available to her has not provided evidence that help was requested earlier.
The question of when emergency services were contacted is particularly important because an unresponsive child may require immediate medical assessment and emergency intervention.
Robins’ attorney, Fallon Stephenson, said the family’s review of available records indicated that cardiopulmonary resuscitation, commonly known as CPR, had not been performed.
“Based on our review of available records, CPR was not performed. There was no call to 911 in approximately 29 minutes,” Stephenson said.
Those statements reflect the family’s allegations and its review of available information. Investigators have not publicly confirmed the full timeline or explained what medical assistance was provided before Robins arrived.
Conflicting Accounts About the 911 Call
Audio from a 911 call placed after Robins arrived contains a caller describing an unresponsive child. In the recording, the caller says staff told Robins they were calling emergency services, but that she responded that she was coming.
Robins disputes that account.
The disagreement leaves important questions unanswered about the sequence of events, including what staff observed, when they recognized the seriousness of the situation and whether an earlier emergency call was made.
The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that police were dispatched to the daycare. Officials have said the investigation remains active and ongoing, declining to provide further details.
Until investigators release additional findings, the precise timeline and the actions taken by daycare staff remain unresolved.
What Investigators Still Need to Establish
The circumstances surrounding Yasmir’s death raise several questions that investigators may need to address as they review the case.
These include when the child first became unresponsive, who was present at the time, what steps staff took to help him, whether CPR or other emergency measures were attempted, and when 911 was contacted.
Medical findings may also be important in determining what happened and whether the timing of the response affected the outcome. No publicly released information in the available account establishes the medical cause of Yasmir’s death.
The prosecutor’s office has not announced any charges or publicly attributed criminal wrongdoing to the daycare.
The center’s owner declined to comment when approached about the incident. Attempts to obtain a response through the owner’s attorney had not received an answer at the time of the report.
For Robins, the lack of clear answers has made an already devastating loss even harder to process.
Why a Fast Emergency Response Matters
When a young child becomes unresponsive, immediate action can be critical. Emergency guidance generally calls for contacting emergency services without delay, checking whether the person is breathing normally and following the dispatcher’s instructions. CPR may be necessary when a person is unresponsive and not breathing normally.
For childcare providers, emergency preparedness also involves having clear procedures, staff training and a plan for responding quickly when a child experiences a medical crisis.
The precise requirements that applied to Blooming Hearts, and whether those requirements were followed on August 14, have not been established publicly in this case.
The ongoing investigation may help clarify what happened and whether the response met the applicable safety standards.
A Family Left With Grief and Unanswered Questions
For Robins, the loss follows four years of watching her son grow, smile and become part of the lives of the people around him.
She said the absence is felt throughout the day, from the moment she wakes up to the time she goes to sleep.
“Every day is a reminder, waking up, going to sleep, that your child is not there,” she said.
Her search for answers is now focused on understanding what happened at the daycare and why her son never came home.
The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office has said it has no additional information to release at this time. The investigation remains ongoing, and the circumstances surrounding Yasmir’s final hours have yet to be fully explained.
For his mother, finding out what happened is about more than establishing a timeline. It is about understanding the loss of her child and ensuring that the questions surrounding his final moments receive serious attention.
