Colton Linton was just a day away from turning six months old when a very common accident almost ended his young life.
Paige Ferguson, Colton’s mother, is sharing her baby’s story on Facebook in a bid to alert other mothers to the grave repercussions of even a seemingly small bump to a babies head.
Colton’s parents were visiting friends when their baby feel asleep in the middle of a queen-sized bed. His parents surrounded him with pillows to keep him safe and never went too far away in case little Colton woke up – but still, Colton fell, and while it appeared at first that he was okay, he was far from it.
In a Facebook post that has now made its way around the world, Paige shared how a small fall changed her family’s life forever.
“I need people to realize the seriousness of a head injury,” the post begins.
“This started from him falling from a bed that is only 2ft off the ground. He had a bump on his head. A bump. He was crying, acting alert and at one point even smiled. Because we are paranoid parents, we decided to get him evaluated,” Paige continues.
“We thought for sure they were going to say he hit his head, has a bump, and he will be fine. Not the case…He fractured his skull and bled half of his entire blood volume into his brain.”
The family were told that their son might not live, or if he did live, there was a chance he would never walk or could even be developmentally delayed.
Scans found the fall had caused significant bleeding into Colton’s brain which led to a cardiac arrest, starving his brain of oxygen.
“I need you to hear me…get your kids checked out! The old tale of ‘if the bump is outward you’re safe’ is NOT true.”
Baby Colton and Mum Paige source: Facebook.
Despite being given only a small hope for survival, Colton has survived to seven months old.
Speaking to 9Honey, Paige explains that her son has been left with severe epilepsy, cerebral palsy and cerebral atrophy after the damage from the fall.
“He feeds through a tube in his belly. His entire brain was affected, and all he has left is his cerebellum and his brain stem. So, every day is a challenge but, somehow he keeps surprising us,” she told the publication.
They have been warned that their child’s life will be a difficult one, but they are determined to make sure their son lives the happiest and easiest life available to him.
The parents are also now doing everything they can to advocate for the dangers of head injuries of children.
“I will continue to share Colton’s story to ensure that no family ever has to feel or go through what we have in the past month or so,” Paige says on her Facebook page.
For updates on Colton you can follow his Facebook page.
