This past Saturday night, my 15-year-old daughter asked if she could stay at a friend’s house and go to the movies. I agreed. She has always been great at keeping me informed and checking in. However, her plans changed that evening, and what happened next is something no family should ever have to go through….
At 1:00 AM, I got a Facebook message informing me that someone had received a phone call stating that my daughter, Ryleigh Payton, was found passed out somewhere.
As soon as I heard the news, my heart dropped, and I began calling her phone over and over, but naturally, there was no response. I found myself questioning who, where, when, and why, yet I received no answers because that girl was already on her way to find the girl who had called her, along with my daughter, and brought them to my driveway.
When I opened the car door, I was met with the sight of my daughter, lifeless, foaming at the mouth, and covered in vomit, while 911 was on the way. The ambulance arrived, but she was unresponsive. We didn’t have many details, only that she had been drinking vodka, and we were uncertain if she had taken anything else. She was administered Narcan four times, yet she remained unresponsive.
She was transported to Heywood, where there was no improvement. We were informed that my daughter’s airway was too weak, and she would need to be intubated and transferred immediately to Umass. Upon our arrival, the doctors told us that my daughter was no longer breathing on her own.
I endured 14 agonizing hours, pleading and begging for my daughter’s life, reliving memories from the moment she was born, her first smile and giggle, the first time she said ‘Mumma,’ her first steps, her first birthday, her first day of school, her first friendship, sleepover, sickness, her middle school graduation, and all our cherished mother-daughter moments filled with laughter, jokes, running, and snuggling. I thought about her siblings and how devastating her loss would be for them, her family, and all the people who love her.
My daughter was with a group of teens, and I’m sure that as they began to notice signs that Ryleigh was in trouble, panic set in. They feared getting in trouble if they sought help, so they left her there. Only one girl, who wasn’t even a close friend but merely an acquaintance, stayed with her, trying to find a way to get my information, and she succeeded.
She was unconcerned about facing trouble herself; her priority was to ensure that her friend received the urgent help she needed. The other kids who left her behind were likely frightened and unaware of how serious her condition was at that moment. Therefore, I’m sharing our experience to inform EVERY TEEN who might find themselves in a similar situation: you will NOT face consequences for helping someone in need!!!! You have the power to SAVE a precious life!!!!!
So, please don’t hesitate to reach out for help, regardless of the situation. That one girl SAVED my daughter’s life by reaching out to someone who could contact me, and if it weren’t for her, I would be facing the heartbreaking reality of burying my daughter this week. PARENTS, please share this message with your children so they understand the risks of underage drinking and its potential consequences!!! After 14 long hours, my beautiful daughter finally, by the grace of God, opened her stunning green eyes to see her Mumma and asked for her sister, Courtney Ackles. We are now on a long road to recovery due to breathing difficulties, injuries from her repeated falls while intoxicated, lacerations to her eye, and the concern that she might develop pneumonia from vomit in her lungs. We are not completely out of danger yet, but she is home, safe, and as comfortable as possible right now.
I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has supported my family during this challenging time, offering prayers and helping my other children and husband while I was at the hospital. We feel truly blessed. Please share this message to help prevent another child from experiencing this and to spare another parent the pain I have endured. My 92-pound child had a blood alcohol level of 2.8 after consuming Ciroc, the vodka that has become a popular choice among young teens today.
Never think that this couldn’t happen to you, as it is a very real issue that is everywhere!!! Our photos of her may be unsettling to some, but we hope that by sharing our pain, we can PREVENT AND SAVE ANOTHER CHILD!!! SHARE OUR STORY!!!
Fortunately, this young lady managed to come back home. However, this is a scenario we frequently encounter on social media, shared by parents nationwide, over and over again. Let’s help raise awareness — if it stops even one individual from going through this again, then it’s definitely worthwhile.
