Marissa man awaits daughter's recovery
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Eddie Runyon of New Athens remembers happier times when Amanda Lynn Runyon, his two-year old daughter was born. Today, Amanda is in Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis in critical condition from a beating sustained from her mother's boyfriend, Kraig Monroe.
Monroe, 24, is being held in the St. Clair County Jail charged with aggravated battery of a child. Bail has been set at $500,000. He reportedly punched the baby in the stomach for crying.
Eddie Runyon, 23, is a coal miner working out of state since 2008. He was working in Kentucky at the time of the beating. He grew up in Marissa.
Runyon does not have custody of Amanda but visits with her when he's home from work for five days every six weeks.
Police have not released the name of Amanda's mother, who faces pending charges. She was taken into custody after she and Monroe were arrested last Wednesday, but she was released the nest day. An order of protection has been issued by St. Clair authorities to keep her away from her daughter.
Amanda underwent emergency surgery to remove 18 inches of intestine, damaged by the beating. She is also recovering from a broken leg.
According to Eddie Runyon, his daughter was whimpering and in obvious pain. He told the media he asked Amanda to be strong for him.
The beating occurred at a rented trailer at 110 Princeton Drive near Belleville. The trailer has since been condemned for unsafe living conditions. Monroe reportedly did not have an occupancy permit to live in the trailer.
He lived in the trailer with Amanda, Amanda's mother, her two other children, ages four and six, and Monroe's five-year old daughter.
Capt. Steve Johnson of the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department called the trailer filthy and said he felt uncomfortable leaning on anything inside the home. The trailer's owner, Herb Endrijaitis, 78, has been cited. A large pit bull that lived at the trailer was taken by animal control.
Back on Feb. 23, while changing Amanda's diaper, a worker at the Tree Hut Day Care Center in Belleville noticed Amanda showed signs of pain when her diaper was changed. After it was discovered that Amanda had a neglected broken leg, the employee called the Department of Children and family Services.
Of concern is why DCFS didn't remove Amanda or notify police when learning she had sustained a broken leg.
Runyon plans to stay at his daughter's side until she's released from the hospital. A family friend, Leslie Foertsch of Marissa, who went to high school with Runyon, has established a trust fund account to help with medical costs for Amanda and to help with Runyon's living expenses while he remains here awaiting Amanda's recovery.
The account has been set up at Regions bank. Donations may be made at any branch of the bank; checks should be made payable to Amanda Runyon.
Doctors believe Amanda will be able to go home in two weeks.