When you have a young child, you have to make sure that you are prepared to handle any situation no matter the setting.
Moms and dads fill up their baby bags, purses and even cars with everything their child could possibly need while away from home, but there are only so many things you can lug around.
Paige Ferguson and Blake Linton were visiting a friend when their six-month-old son Colton fell asleep. Since they couldn't bring his crib along, they did what so many parents have done - they placed him in the middle of their friend's bed and surrounded him with pillows to keep him from rolling over to the edge.
Unfortunately, their pillow tactic was futile because Colton did end up falling off the bed, which was two feet off the floor.
According to a Facebook post by Ferguson, the infant had a bump on his head and cried for a bit, but other than that he was "acting alert and one point even smiled."
However, the parents would not have peace of mind unless they took him to get evaluated by a medical professional.
"We thought for sure they were going to say he hit his head, has a bump, and he will be fine," Ferguson wrote, but that was "not the case."
Turns out, Colton sustained a fractured skull and "bled half of his entire blood volume into his brain." Due to the severity of his condition, he had to be transported to a hospital in Memphis, TN via a helicopter, where he remains under the care of a team of about 20 doctors and nurses.
"I knew something was wrong when I kept asking if he was going to be okay and everyone kept replying with "˜We will do what we can,'" Paige told Babble. "No one would simply say yes."
Colton had to undergo surgery and an MRI, which showed signs of serious brain damage.
"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," the devastated mom wrote. "Its [SIC] up in the air right now and he is still fighting for his life because we are not out of the woods."
Ferguson added that the entire situation is a "nightmare" that she does not want other parents or kids to go through, hence why she is sharing Colton's story. She also reminded everyone that the old wives' tale of "if the bump is outward you're safe" "is NOT true."
"Please take any hit to the head seriously," Ferguson pleaded. "I can't say this enough. My heart is broken. Our child is laying in front of us yet we miss him so terribly. I need you to hear me...get your kids checked out! Please."
In a recent interview with Good Housekeeping, Ferguson had a bit of good news to share about Colton's condition. He has been released from the hospital, but depends on a feeding type and needs multiple medications for seizures.
"He's doing okay, as well as he can," Ferguson explained. "He smiles at us, which is the best thing in the world. But, doctors have explained that we need to understand that Colton suffered a very significant brain injury and in most cases, kids with this injury do not live. He will have a very hard life."
Despite everything, Colton's parents are thankful to still have him around and they hope his story will serve as a warning to other families.
