A 9-year-old D.C. boy who was only given minutes to live after being shot in the head earlier this year celebrated a very special Christmas Friday with the help of D.C. police.
Jaydan Stancil was an unintended victim during a gunfight in October at the Mayfair Mansions apartments in Northeast. A responding D.C. police officer cradled Jaydan and drove him to a hospital in his police car, likely saving his life.
"My eyes were shot but I could still hear them praying," Jaydan recalled.
Last month, Jaydan's doctor told News4 the boy was able to survive the shooting due to his young age, though a bullet remains lodged in his skull.
"If I had this injury, I would be much worse off than he is. Why is that? His brain is still developing; it’s still plastic, so to speak," Dr. John Myseros explained. "If a bullet crosses the midline -- goes from left to right or right to left -- the mortality is a bit higher."
Jaydan's mother, who has undergone an emotional roller coaster since that October night, has often relied on the power of prayer.
"No child should have to endure what Jaydan went through but I'm just glad it seemed like God came through the skies and picked my son up and survived him ... He's my little miracle baby," Monique Nichols said. "My little blessing and it just touches my heart that my son survived this tragedy."
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Hospital and rehabilitation bills have been piling up for Nichols, though some of those expenses have been relieved by the generosity of strangers through a GoFundMe page.
As his recovery continues at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, Jaydan got a special Christmas surprise from D.C. police officers -- some of whom were there the night he was shot. They brought Santa, along with plenty of Christmas presents.
"It's so emotional for me, even though I'm a police officer," Tiffani Cowen said. "It's just... when it's the children, it touches you in a different way. Just to know that Jaydan made it through this tragedy, it really touches my heart."
Jaydan's Christmas wish is to go home and be with his brothers and friends, but he'll have to remain hospitalized through the beginning of the year. He's having trouble walking and probably won't return to school until September.
