11/23/2025
👋 Meet Hayden!
At four months old, Hayden’s parents thought she had a respiratory virus. Her cry sounded weak, she struggled to feed and her breathing grew concerning. As her condition worsened, she was admitted to the PICU at Nationwide Children’s.
What first looked like a respiratory illness quickly pointed to something far more rare: infant botulism. Most parents only hear about it in connection with honey, but Hayden’s case was environmental- she simply inhaled the spores somewhere in her surroundings, something her parents didn’t even know was possible. Infant botulism can be easy to miss, with early symptoms like a weak cry, trouble feeding or constipation often resembling more common illnesses.
Throughout her two-month hospital stay, Hayden’s care focused on helping her breathe, eat and regain strength. She received a treatment to help shorten recovery for infant botulism, but because her diagnosis took time, the effects weren’t immediate.
Slowly, she began to improve and eventually, she was able to come off the ventilator and take steps toward going home. By the time she left Nationwide Children’s, her care team had become like extended family and her parents still talk about them with deep gratitude.
Today, Hayden is a joyful, energetic 6-year-old who loves dancing and playing with her sisters. She and her family are grateful every single day. “Hayden is healthy and thriving because of the incredible care she received at Nationwide Children’s,” her mom said. “We’ll never forget what they did for her and for our whole family.”
