Anonymous donor helps mom, recovering toddler

Tall and energetic, 21month-old Aaron Idehen seems to be in constant motion, keeping his mother on her toes.

You might never guess what he has had to endure in his young life.

Earlier this year, just before his first birthday, police in Abilene say Aaron’s father held him in dangerously hot water during bath time until the skin fell off his legs and his tiny feet became swollen and purple.

Aaron spent his first birthday in a Dallas Ronald McDonald house while he recuperated from surgery. His father is charged with injury to a child, a felony.

Now Aaron is back in the Austin area with his mother, 24-year-old Malinda Fisher, as she tries to rebuild a life here.

Fisher works hard as a care provider at an assisted living facility, but issues that arose during Aaron’s convalescence — including a broken lease, going into debt and having to turn down a job offer — have her in desperate straits.

“It’s been pretty stressful,” Fisher said. “I’ve had my family help with my living situation, but that’s it.”

Fisher and her son are part Read updates from the other families being featured and see the original stories and photos at

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