BOSQUE COUNTY, TEXAS: A six-year-old Texas boy tragically died of his injuries a month after being struck by lightning while walking home from school with his father, Matthew Boggs, who died at the scene. Grayson died at around 5.05 am on Friday, June 16, after being removed from his ventilator at Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Medical Center, announced his loved ones.
"Grayson went to be with our Lord and his father at 5:05 am today. Please pray for the family at this time. Fly high, sweet boy. #graysonstrong," his family wrote in an update on GoFundMe. The tragedy took place after 5 pm on May 15 when Matthew had picked up Grayson and his brother Elijah Boggs off the school bus, and they were walking down the driveway of their family home in Valley Mills, Texas. As the three walked up their heart-shaped driveway, Elijah, 11, went to the left while his father and Grayson went to the right. Grayson was holding his father’s hand when lightning struck them.
‘I love you, buddy'
“He just got done telling Grayson, ‘I love you, buddy,’ and that’s when the lightning hit,” said Angeli Boggs, Grayson’s grandmother. The impact of the blow knocked the shoes off them and forced them to land face-down on the pavement. The father and the child were unconscious when emergency personnel arrived on the scene. While Grayson was immediately taken to Baylor Scott & White McLane Children's Medical Centre in Waco, Texas, Matthew was declared dead despite frantic attempts to revive him.
After initial medical tests, doctors determined that Grayson had suffered neurological issues and sustained a major anoxic brain injury. The child's heartbroken family hoped for his recovery as they reported that he had made progress in recent weeks, including breathing on his own and being taken off the donor list. But on Tuesday, June 13, about a month after the incident, doctors conveyed the news to the grieving family that his health would not get better, who then decided to remove him from the ventilator.
‘Pray for healing for the family’
Grayson was placed on palliative care a day before his death. On June 15, the family provided an update on his condition on the fundraising account set up to assist with funeral expenses. "It's been 1 month since tragedy struck this family," the post said, adding, "The strength that this family has shown is inspiring. Grayson is still hanging on but is on comfort care. Please just pray that we keep him comfortable at this time and pray for healing for the family. We may not know what God's plan is, but we know he has his arms wrapped around Grayson at this time."
