LDL. Christmas Miracle: 6-Year-Old Kolten’s Incredible Comeback—From ECMO and Cardiac Arrests to Smiling Into 2026
Christmas Miracle: 6-Year-Old Kolten’s Incredible Comeback—From ECMO and Cardiac Arrests to Smiling Into 2026
A year ago, doctors at Children’s Hospital of Alabama called Kolten Jones “the sickest kid in the state.” Today, the 6-year-old from Gadsden is beaming beside his Christmas tree, surrounded by mountains of gifts and looking forward to the new year with full hope.
Kolten’s journey is a story of extraordinary strength in a child and the miracle of modern medicine combined with faith.
It all began in late fall last year when his mother, Whitney Groover, noticed her son walking strangely. The diagnosis came like a thunderbolt: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). A 2½-year chemotherapy regimen started almost immediately.
But that was only the beginning of the nightmare.
Shortly after chemo began, Kolten contracted Viridans Strep — a severe infection that affected his heart and lungs. He coded three times in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Thirty-four machines were connected to his tiny body. He was on a ventilator and faced kidney failure.
Kolten was placed on life support via an ECMO machine — a device that takes over the functions of the heart and lungs to keep a patient alive.
He suffered a stroke on the left side of his brain and lost the use of his right arm and right leg.
Many times, the family thought they were going to lose him.
But Kolten never gave up.
Day by day, week by week, the little boy fought back. And today — right around Christmas — Kolten is in phase 3 of his chemotherapy maintenance plan, with stable health and an optimistic spirit.
His mother, Whitney Groover, sent this heartwarming update this morning: “Kolten had an amazing Christmas — he was blessed with so many gifts from some very loving people: Mission 44, the Pink Heals firetruck, and more. We are so very thankful our boy is doing great.
“Tomorrow will mark one year since they turned off the ECMO machine (a machine that keeps a patient alive by performing the work of internal organs). January 1st will be one year since he was officially off ECMO and it was removed.
“WE WILL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL TO THE GOOD LORD ABOVE.”
From “the sickest kid in Alabama” to the boy grinning ear-to-ear amid Christmas gifts, Kolten Jones is living proof that miracles still happen — through the hands of doctors, the love of family, and the inner strength of a tiny warrior.
The Gadsden community and those who have followed Kolten’s journey from afar are sending thousands of New Year’s wishes. Let’s all send our positive energy to Kolten — the boy heading into 2026 with a smile and hope.
Kolten, you are truly an inspiration. Wishing you a new year full of strength and joy! 🙏❤️
