Cradle to Grave

Cathy survived this bizarre accident but was kept in the hospital as a precaution for five weeks. During this hospitalization, it was again noted that Mrs. Noe had trouble feeding her daughter and that Mr. Noe was the more affectionate parent. Six weeks after Cathy was sent home, Mrs. Noe called the rescue squad, claiming that the child had “gone limp in her arms” while she was carrying her down the street. Cathy was revived with oxygen and taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital. She was kept there for three weeks, celebrating her birthday on the ward with her mother and several of the nuns. Photos from that day show what appears to be a perfectly normal and healthy toddler clapping with glee.

A week and a half after being discharged, and two days before Christmas, Cathy was brought back to the hospital after having what Mrs. Noe called “a spell.” By this time, the doctors and nurses treating Cathy had made some disturbing observations about these hospital visits. Dr. Gangemi later reported that the baby “would be crying terribly on admission and would act as if she was badly frightened. She would cry very hard whenever anyone came near her, and there seemed to be nothing physically wrong with her that would explain her distress.” The baby would calm down in about 48 hours, and it seemed to the doctor that “she gradually came to know she had nothing to fear from anyone there at the hospital.” She never had a “spell,” or any other new symptoms, while in the hospital. Gangemi later told investigators he hoped Cathy might survive until her fingernails grew long enough “so she would have a chance to defend herself.”

This time, Cathy’s hospital stay was over three weeks. At discharge, the Noes bought an inexpensive oxygen delivery system — regular oxygen tanks being prohibitively costly. Mr. Noe also put a screen door on Cathy’s bedroom so they could look in whenever they wanted, and he placed a walkie-talkie next to the crib, with the “talk” button taped down so they could hear her at all times.

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