Baby Waylon McCoy’s Healing & Rehabilitation

On January 3rd, 2020, Waylon McCoy, the 6-week-old son of Dawn McCoy, was the victim of a traumatic brain injury, resulting in multiple strokes and seizures that caused extensive brain damage.

While the justice system is taking care of how the injury occurred, we as Waylon & Dawn’s friends, are here to support them as they continue to heal and wade through the unfathomable.

We were told initially that 30% of babies die from this type of injury and 70% remain on a feeding tube the rest of their lives. Waylon surprised doctors with his strength by taking the full feed of his mother’s milk after his intubation tube was removed, making a feeding tube unnecessary.

As a result of the injury, 3-year-old Waylon is clinically blind from Cortical Vision Impairment and has severe developmental delays (functioning at a 6-month-old level, rather than that of a 3-year-old).

Waylon’s condition will require constant care over the course of his lifetime and will be costly beyond even our current understanding. Waylon will continue to need special daily therapies, experimental treatments, home care assistance and physical equipment needed to support his quality of life and rehabilitation.

The estimated lifetime costs for a baby with traumatic brain injury is $3 million.

Waylon’s inspiring mother, Dawn McCoy, has been a relentless advocate for her son from the second she found out his diagnosis, giving him a safe space to grow and heal, and enrolling him in twice-weekly Physical Therapy, twice-weekly Occupational Therapy, vision therapy, feeding therapy, speech therapy, craniosacral therapy, music therapy and a blind children’s school infant program.

She even became certified in reiki treatment and infant massage to help soothe Baby Waylon’s soul and muscles.

And we have seen firsthand how hard Waylon works to heal and improve every day. His pediatrician even told Dawn that she has “never seen a more motivated baby with this kind of injury or brain condition in her career.”

He inspires us all every day with his tireless effort, sweet spirit, magical soul and contagious laugh.

As Waylon’s needs increase and new treatment options have become available to him that are not covered by medical insurance, we want to support Waylon’s recovery and healing by lessening the financial burden a bit for Dawn, who is the sole custodial parent and caregiver to Waylon and help begin a safe cushion for Waylon for the rest of his life.

Dawn has been an advocate & fundraiser for countless organizations for children over the years, and we now want to advocate for her and her baby boy, helping them any way we can.

While we have every hope for this miracle boy,

we have also been told by neurologists that he may never walk or talk.

So while we want to help Dawn prepare for the the most challenging case scenario, we also want to arm her with the financial assistance she would never ask for herself.

We know that Dawn & Waylon’s story will help so many one day, but for now - as they continue to heal together from this trauma - we will surround them with love and support, cheering them on every step of the way.

(All funds raised, minus GoFundMe's transaction fees [2.9% + $0.30 per donation] will go directly and only to Dawn McCoy. If you'd rather donate by check or other means, please message me and I will send you Dawn's mailing address.)

Much Love,

Chris Richards, Suzanne Karotkin, Jennifer Tiller, Matt Marr & Team Waylon