Texas Boy Hit by Lightning Dies After Month-Long Hospital Battle
A 6-year-old Texas boy has sadly succumbed to his injuries a month after he and his father were struck by lightning in Valley Mills, according to PEOPLE.
His loved ones shared the devastating news on Friday that Grayson Boggs had gone to be with the Lord and his father at 5:05 am.
The news was accompanied by a heartfelt plea on a GoFundMe page, asking people to offer their prayers and support to the grieving family during this challenging time.
The message read, "Fly high, sweet boy," encapsulating the profound loss those close to Grayson felt.
Angela Boggs, Matthew Bogg's mother, and Grayson's grandmother, recounted the final poignant moments shared between father and son.
Matthew expressed his love for his son, saying, "I love you, buddy." Shortly after that, tragedy struck as lightning descended upon them.
Grayson received immediate medical attention at Baylor Scott & White McLane Children's Medical Center in Temple. However, despite the dedicated efforts of healthcare professionals, the young boy's condition remained critical.
Stephanie Burris, Grayson Boggs' cousin and the organizer of the fundraising page, provided additional insight into his condition.
Grayson experienced multiple seizures following the lightning strike and required assistance from a ventilator to support his breathing. An MRI revealed damage to his frontal lobe and optic nerve, adding to the severity of his injuries.
It was revealed that Grayson had been taken off the ventilator and could breathe independently, according to a recent update shared by family members on Thursday. Still, the sad reality persisted as doctors conveyed their belief that the chances of his survival remained highly unlikely.
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Lightning Strikes Texas Boy and His Father
A devastating incident unfolded in Valley Mills, Texas, as Matthew, 34, was struck by lightning while picking up his son, Grayson Boggs, from a bus on May 15, as detailed on a GoFundMe page organized by a family member.
The bolt of lightning traveled through their intertwined hands, causing a cascading effect of unimaginable consequences, per AOL.
Deputies and EMS personnel swiftly responded to the scene, finding both Matthew and Grayson unresponsive, according to a police news release.
Despite their efforts, Matthew was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving behind a void that his loved ones would forever feel.
Grayson Boggs, though motionless, clung to life and was immediately rushed to a hospital for critical medical intervention, as authorities confirmed.
The lightning strike had resulted in a brain injury due to oxygen deprivation, plunging the young boy into a coma.
However, there were glimmers of hope in the following days as he exhibited slight improvement, offering a ray of optimism amidst the family's anguish.
Regrettably, on June 16, approximately one month after the tragic lightning strike, the Texas boy's mother, Kayla Boggs, shared a heart-wrenching announcement on Facebook.
Deaths From Lightning Strikes Are More Common and More Severe in the Southeast
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), lightning strikes occur more frequently and pose a more significant threat in the southeastern states, including Texas, The Daily Mail noted.
An analysis of lightning-related fatalities from 2006 to 2021 reveals a sobering reality. Only five states-Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, New Hampshire, and Washington-and the U.S. Virgin Islands have reported no lightning-related deaths during this period.
Among the states with documented lightning fatalities, Texas is the second-highest, with 36 reported deaths. However, Florida claims the unfortunate first position, with 79 recorded lightning-related deaths during the same timeframe.
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Written by: Bert Hoover
WATCH: Family: 6-year-old boy struck by lightning in Valley Mills dies month after father - From KCENNews