Alabama Family Holds onto Faith as 11-Year-Old Son Remains in Critical Condition During Christmas
HUEYTOWN, Alabama — An Alabama family is clinging to hope and faith this Christmas as their 11-year-old son remains in critical condition following a sudden medical emergency that has left doctors with few options.
Jace Watkins, a fifth grader at Hueytown Intermediate School, had been looking forward to the holiday just days ago. He came down with what initially seemed like a routine case of the flu, with mild fatigue and a low-grade fever. His family says nothing indicated the life-threatening turn that was about to come.
“Doctors checked Jace’s lungs last Friday, and he was doing okay,” said his aunt, Sabrina Parsons. “We thought he was on the road to getting better.”
But the next day, everything changed.
On Saturday, Jace suddenly began having seizures and stopped breathing at home. Emergency responders arrived swiftly, performing life-saving measures for up to 15 minutes before transporting him to Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham.
“He had not been breathing for a long time before they were able to bring him back,” Sabrina said. “It was terrifying.”
Currently, Jace remains in a medically induced coma, relying on a ventilator to breathe. His grandmother, Joann Parsons, has stayed by his side throughout his hospitalization.
“There is no response to light in his eyes, and his brain is still swollen,” Joann shared. “The doctors have told us there is nothing more they can do right now. All we can do is wait and pray.”
The family says the lack of brain activity has left them facing unimaginable uncertainty. While no family is ever prepared for a crisis of this magnitude, the timing — on Christmas Eve — has made the ordeal especially difficult.
“This is not how we imagined Christmas,” Joann said. “But God can still change things.”
In a display of community support, dozens of people gathered in Hueytown last night for a prayer vigil, led by family friend Amanda Aloia. Neighbors, friends, and even strangers came together to lift Jace up in prayer.
“At this point, prayer is all we have,” Aloia said. “And we believe it is powerful.”
The Watkins family says they are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support. Messages, prayers, and words of encouragement continue to pour in from across Alabama and beyond.
Doctors continue to closely monitor Jace’s condition, but for now, his family remains steadfast in hope, leaning on faith and each other.
“We are asking everyone to pray,” Joann said. “Pray for Jace’s healing. Pray for peace. And pray for a Christmas miracle.”
