On January 24th, 2023, 5-year-old Mooretown area boy Waylon’s life changed in an instant after he wandered into the backyard of an unlicensed home daycare and fell into an icy swimming pool. He drowned, and what followed was a desperate fight for his life that doctors feared he might not survive.
Paramedics rushed Waylon to Petrolia Hospital, where medical staff worked to save him for three hours. He had no heartbeat during that time.
A transport team from Children’s Hospital in London was then dispatched to bring Waylon to London for specialized care. He was taken immediately to the critical care unit, where he was intubated and placed on extensive medical support.
Waylon spent a week in critical care. After doctors removed his tubes, he began experiencing seizures, suffering 11 in a single day. Medical staff eventually brought the seizures under control before transferring him to the hospital’s sixth floor to continue his recovery.
We talked with his mom Gillian Burnett, about their experience with Children's Hospital in London.
Since being discharged, Waylon has continued to make progress. He returned to Children’s Hospital to have his neck brace removed and remains under the care of the hospital’s neurology team. He also continues to receive speech therapy and takes medication to manage his seizures. Burnett was asked about the importance of having this facility in London.
At the time of the incident, there were serious concerns about his chances of survival and the possibility of significant brain damage. Doctors feared that, even if he survived, he might never walk, talk or feed himself independently. Today, Waylon has surpassed those expectations and continues to do well.
His recovery is a remarkable story of perseverance, medical care and defying the odds. While challenges remain, Waylon continues to make progress, offering hope to those who have followed his journey. And if families on that same road are considering the hospital for care, Burnett says this.
