Carollyn Duschl, 24, can hardly believe it. Ever since chemicals severely burned her 2-year-old son, Payton Potochney, earlier this month while he slid down an elementary school playground slide, she has been inundated with support from strangers.
Each day, it seems, another letter arrives. Another card. Another sign someone out there cares.
“We?ve gotten about 30 cards and letters,” Duschl said. “They?re all from strangers. People from Virginia and New Jersey. People I?ve never met before.”
The outpouring of support keeps Duschl?s spirits high as her son is expected to undergo his sixth surgery Tuesday at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
“It helps me get through my day,” Duschl says. “It feels really, really good to know there are other people out there who care. They say, ?We heard about your story. We can?t stop thinking about you and that your son had to go through such a trauma.? They?re praying for him and for a speedy recovery.”
Payton has undergone five surgeries since he suffered severe second- and third-degree burns after sliding down a plastic slide at the playground of Victory Villa Elementary School in Baltimore County.
In the surgeries, doctors have removed skin from several parts of the toddler?s body to place on the back of his thighs and calves, where he sustained the burns.
Prosecutors have charged Kyle B. Meredith and Mateusz S. Dybala, both 16 and from the Essex area, with adult first-degree assault stemming from the incident. Police say the teenagers broke into the school and poured bottles of a cleaner containing sulfuric acid on the plastic slide.
Potochney?s family objected to prosecutors? initial charges of misdemeanor reckless endangerment against the teenagers, counts that usually carry light penalties for juveniles.
Duschl said she supports Baltimore County State?s Attorney Scott Shellenberger?s decision to increase the charges.
Meanwhile, Payton is recovering slowly from his burns. “He?s on a feeding tube, because he hasn?t been eating too good, because of all the medication he?s on,” Duschl said. “But he?s doing good. He?s getting better.”
TO HELP
Those wishing to donate to the toddler?s recovery fund may send contributions to The Payton Potochney Fund at any Bank of America branch.
