Little Boy Left Waiting Over 3 Hours at Russell Medical Center After Swallowing Unknown Object

A young boy named Jaxon endured a terrifying medical ordeal after swallowing an unknown object and waiting more than three hours for help at Russell Medical Center’s emergency room on Sunday.

According to his father, Withers, the boy was visibly in distress—choking, foaming at the mouth, and clutching his throat—while waiting to be treated.

Withers said that after hours of waiting without progress, he made the difficult decision to leave around 4:30 p.m. and drive his son to Coosa Valley Emergency Room in Sylacauga. There, doctors immediately performed an X-ray, discovering that an object was lodged in Jaxon’s airway.

Recognizing the severity of the situation, the medical team quickly arranged for transport to Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham, where surgeons successfully removed the object late Sunday night.

Jaxon is now recovering at home and is expected to make a full recovery.

Following the incident, Russell Medical Center President and CEO Jim Peace released a statement to WRBL on Wednesday in response to questions about the delay in treatment saying: “We are aware of the concerns that have been raised regarding a recent visit to our Emergency Department. First and foremost, our thoughts are with Jaxon and his family — we are thankful to hear he is now recovering at home. I have been in touch with members of the family and we are coordinating a time to meet with them in person. Russell Medical takes all concerns about patient care very seriously. We are conducting a thorough investigation of the events described to better understand what occurred and ensure that every patient receives the quality, timely, and compassionate care they deserve. While we cannot comment on specific patient details due to privacy laws, please know that patient safety and equitable treatment are our highest priorities.”