Anyone who’s raised/is raising a child can attest to the need to maintain constant vigilance.
From the moment they have the capacity to move – be that rolling, crawling or walking – young children are susceptible to a multitude of dangers, a good many of them existing in their home.
Paige Ferguson, mother to 6-month-old Colton, knows this better than anyone. Having gone through a nightmare no parent should have to endure, she’s issued a warning to all moms and dads concerning a simple, yet potentially fatal, pitfall that left her son fighting for his life.
Colton, just 6-months-old, was having a nap on Paige’s friend’s bed, when he rolled off and sustained a bad head injury.
According to Paige, Colton fell two feet to the ground, and was left with a bump on his head. He cried, but was acting alert and at one point even smiled at her.
Nevertheless, Paige and her fiance, Blake Linton, are cautious parents, and so took Colton to hospital for an evaluation.
The couple were convinced that doctors would examine him and tell them that Colton had a bump but would be fine moving forward. Tragically, that was not the case.
In an emotional Facebook post, Paige outlined the circumstances of Colton’s injury, before going on to reveal the devastating news they were handed at the hospital, as well as the dire ramifications it could have moving forward.
I have really been contemplating posting this. But, i need Colton to be an advocate. I need people to realize the…
Posted by Paige Linton on Monday, March 19, 2018
In the post, Paige admits: “I’m going to be blunt here…Colton may not live. Colton may live and never walk or talk, Colton may be fine, Colton may be delayed. Its up in the air right now and he is still fighting for his life because we are not out of the woods.”
Paige also impresses upon the need to forego the popular misconception that an outward-swelling bump means safety. A look online will tell you that a baby bumping his/her head is OK so long as there is swelling, and that you should observe unusual behaviour before becoming alarmed.
Of course, there was no unusual behaviour in Colton’s case. On the contrary, he smiled at his mom.
Having sustained a skull fracture, Colton underwent emergency brain surgery and had to be kept in hospital for a month in order to receive blood transfusions and more surgery. As a result of his injury, doctors expect he will have cerebral palsy and could develop trouble walking and talking as he grows older. He also now has severe epilepsy.
Paige told People Magazine: “He’s the strongest child I’ve ever seen in my entire life. Because of the cardiac arrest, Colton’s entire brain was affected. I will do everything in my power to ensure he has a happy life. I really think he’s going to do more than what [the doctors] think he will. But I’m also very fearful for his future.”
A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help pay for Colton’s medical expenses.
Paige is keen to spread awareness, especially when it comes to having your baby assessed by a medical professional if and when they take a bump to their head.
All of our thoughts and prayers are with little Colton. We hope he can make a full recovery and pull through.
Parents, please take heed of this warning and if you’re ever in doubt make sure you take your babies to have them checked by a medical professional.
Share this warning with all your friends and family members on Facebook!
