LDL. 11‑Year‑Old Hueytown Boy in Critical Condition on Christmas Eve After Sudden Seizures and Respiratory Arrest

Hueytown, AL — What should have been a season of joy and excitement for 11‑year‑old Jace Watkins has instead become a family’s darkest hour. The fifth grader from Hueytown Intermediate School came down with a routine flu last week, but the situation quickly escalated into a medical emergency that now has his loved ones praying for a Christmas miracle.

According to family members, Jace was initially examined by doctors last Friday after developing flu symptoms. At that time, his lungs and vital signs appeared stable, and his treatment plan was focused on managing what many families experience each winter. But within days, everything changed.

“Last Saturday, Jace started having seizures and he stopped breathing,” Jace’s aunt, Sabrina Parsons, told reporters. The boy’s condition deteriorated so rapidly that paramedics were forced to perform emergency resuscitation. “He had not been breathing for as long as 15 minutes before paramedics brought him back,” Parsons added.

After the terrifying ordeal, Jace was rushed to Children’s of Alabama, where he remains in a medically‑induced coma. A ventilator is helping him breathe, but his condition remains extremely serious.

This Christmas Eve, family members report there is currently no detectable brain activity. “Right now, there is no sign of brain activity,” Jace’s grandmother shared from the hospital room. “His eyes are not responding to light, and his brain remains swollen.” These details reflect how critical his condition has become in just a matter of days.

The timing of Jace’s illness has added an emotional weight to the holiday season. Christmas Eve is typically marked by family gatherings, laughter, and celebration — but this year, the Watkins household’s attention is entirely focused on their son’s fight for life.

Community support has been strong. Last night in Hueytown, family friend Amanda Aloia organized a prayer vigil for Jace, drawing dozens of neighbors and friends who gathered to offer hope, light candles, and pray for his recovery.

“At this point, it’s the only thing we can do,” Aloia said. “We are all praying for Jace’s Christmas miracle.”

Family members and friends are asking the broader community to join them in prayer and send uplifting messages that may help lift their spirits during this heartbreaking time.

For the Watkins family, each passing moment is a mixture of hope and fear as they watch over Jace in the pediatric intensive care unit. Doctors continue to monitor his brain activity and vital signs, and his care team has emphasized the importance of neurological assessments and swelling management in the coming days.

Medical experts explain that a prolonged period without breathing — even a few minutes — can result in significant brain injury and swelling. Treatment in such cases focuses on reducing inflammation, supporting cardiovascular function, and preventing secondary complications while the body’s healing processes continue.

For those with loved ones in ICUs, the emotional toll can be immense. Families often describe the waiting, the unknowns, and the hope they cling to as among the most difficult experiences they have ever faced. In Jace’s case, the weight of his critical condition on Christmas Eve has been especially profound.

Despite the uncertainty, the outpouring of love and support from friends, neighbors, and even distant community members has been a source of strength for Jace’s parents and extended family. Messages on social media, prayer groups, and community newsletters have called for kindness, compassion, and collective hope during this difficult time.

The Watkins family has asked people to leave messages of encouragement and prayers for Jace and their loved ones, reminding others that even a simple expression of support can provide comfort when life feels overwhelming.

As Jace battles for his life, his story serves as a powerful reminder of both the fragility and resilience of the human spirit — and the ways in which community, faith, and hope can come together when a family needs it most.

This Christmas Eve, while many celebrate with tradition and festivity, the people of Hueytown are uniting in prayer for one of their own — a brave little boy whose once ordinary holiday season has turned into a profound fight for survival.