Dayton’s Critical Move to Critical Care- SAVE HIS LIFE!!
My name is Whitney, and I am writing this as a desperate mother. My son, Dayton, is only 15 years old but every day, I am forced to watch his body and mind betray him in ways no child should ever endure.
Dayton is medically fragile with 11 diagnoses, including catatonia a rare, life-threatening condition that is shutting down his body. His pain is relentless. His once-active feet are now turning black from blood flow complications. He faints, his body turns blue, he struggles to regulate his temperature, and he rages in agony because he cannot tell us what hurts.
Updates (1)
September 9, 2025
💛 Dayton Update 💛We arrived at UMC in Jackson on Saturday morning at 8 AM. Since then, it has felt like a marathon of having to re-explain Dayton’s history, his symptoms, and the complexity of his needs to provider after provider. Exhausting doesn’t even begin to cover it.Last night was a rough one, unfortunately, because people are not fully comprehending Dayton’s very unique complexities they gave pushback on the enclosure bed for him and we were awakened from 3 AM to 6:30 AM trying to keep him from eloping from the room. So, once again little to no sleep. Luckily, with the help of some amazing social workers we were able to obtain the enclosure bed! Today at 3 o’clock, we finally met with the infamous Dr. Baker and he is everything I had hoped and prayed for in a physician. He truly listens, and he partners with you as a parent instead of dictating. For the first time in a very long time, I feel like someone is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with us in this fight for Dayton.The plan is to begin a high-dose Ativan trial the safest and most appropriate first-line treatment for catatonia, carefully balanced with Dayton’s seizure risks. In the previous inpatient stay, Dayton only ever received Ativan in small, scattered doses and showed only a partial response. This time, the plan is very different: a scheduled, high-dose trial that gives him the best chance to truly stabilize. Doctors are also being cautious because with his history of intractable epilepsy, moving too quickly to ECT carries a small, but serious risk of status epilepticus (a seizure that doesn’t stop on its own and can become life-threatening). ECT is still very much on the table, but this option carries less immediate risk, which is why we are fully on board with starting here.At the same time, the reality is heavy:• We had to rent a car because both of our vehicles are broken down with major engine problems. The rental car alone is $3,000 (with a return date for this Friday @5pm) because we were told discharge might happen today. Instead, Dayton is still admitted. Had we known, we could have planned differently and saved money, but we are making decisions with the information we’re given. • Ronald McDonald House is full, but thankfully we are still able to stay in the hospital for now! • We have a small meal stipend ($7.50/day for two people), which helps but doesn’t stretch for a family, and certainly not for a child with autism who cannot eat hospital food safely.• We are still carrying all of our ongoing costs back home in Texas and working with family to help get at least one vehicle running to off-load the car rental fees.I am working every angle I can; applying for grants, searching for support, fighting on all fronts. But here’s the truth:💛 Tonight, for the first time in months, I feel hope.And that hope exists because of every one of you who has prayed, donated, or simply shared our story.From the bottom of my heart: THANK YOU. You are part of Dayton’s fight, and we could not have gotten this far without you.Beyond grateful, The Premeaux Family! 🩷❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜
Guestbook
September 12, 2025
I don’t know you personally, but your son’s story popped up on my feed from a mutual friend’s page. When one mama cries, we all do. I’m sorry for what you are walking through with your son. I’m praying for your family and for God to provide all of your needs.
Robin Kinkade
