Baby involved in wreck dies at hospital

Published 12:10 am Monday, April 10, 2017

WINSTON-SALEM — According to Wake Forest Baptist Hospital, an infant involved in a Thursday crash on Barger Road has died. His mother and 5-year-old sister are still hospitalized.

Felisha Ann Blackwelder, 24, was 30 weeks pregnant when her 2003 PT Cruiser ran off the road Thursday just before 11 a.m. She overcorrected, struck a culvert, overturned at least twice and struck a tree. The vehicle was pinned against a tree on the passenger’s side, where her 5-year-old daughter was sitting in her safety seat.

When she arrived at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital, Felisha Blackwelder underwent an immediate C-section. According to a family member, who asked not to be named, the baby boy, Kamden Ray, was born without a heartbeat and weighed 3 pounds and 12 ounces. He was revived by doctors and underwent surgery for a broken pelvis. The family member said he required a blood transfusion and was given medication for low blood pressure.

Kamden passed away Saturday evening at the hospital.

The 5-year-old, Aubrey, had seizures and was taken to Novant Health Rowan Medical Center and placed on a respirator and given paralytic medicine. She was later transferred to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem.

According to the family member, Aubrey remains in a medically-induced coma after she had to undergo brain surgery to release pressure on her brainstem.

The family member said the child’s brainstem had been crushed, and Aubrey suffered from bleeding in the brain. Doctors told the family that she still has minor bleeding, and sections of her brain are still swollen and bruised.

While Aubrey has stabilized, she remains in critical condition, and the family member said it will be several weeks before the true extent of the damage is known.

Blackwelder had a breathing tube removed and suffered a fractured collarbone but did not require further surgery. The family member said she is awake and alert. Blackwelder had not been allowed to see Aubrey or Kamden.

Blackwelder and her husband, Johnny, have three older children aged 6, 7 and 8, who will be staying with relatives.

Johnny Blackwelder is on a waiting list for a room at the Ronald McDonald House. Relatives say the Blackwelders could use help with gas money and bills because Johnny Blackwelder will be out of work.

A Go Fund Me page was set up Friday by Nikki Leonard, who asked for prayers for the family. She contributes the fact that all three are pulling through to prayer, and asked family and the community to keep praying.

The page is at https://www.gofundme.com/helping-dad-stay-with-his-family.