Grandmother: Boy rescued from woods on mend

Baker County boy with autism was missing for more than 2 days

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An 8-year-old boy who spent days exposed to the elements while lost in the woods near a relative's Baker County home is on the mend and almost ready to go home from the hospital, his grandmother said Thursday.

Peyton Blodgett continues to recover at Wolfson Children's Hospital in Jacksonville after being found Monday afternoon severely dehydrated in the woods. He had disappeared Saturday around noon.

Teresa Rewis, Peyton's grandmother, said she's very excited by his progress after a few difficult days that involved kidney problems following his ordeal in the woods.

She shared some Facebook videos with the world Thursday, including one of Peyton getting to see his sister for the first time since his frightening disappearance last weekend.

Rewis said Peyton, who has autism, was very excited.

Rewis said she regularly provides care for Peyton and that he has struggled with health issues since birth. His mom talked to News4Jax about that shortly after he was found Monday.

"I wish y'all could've known him when he was an infant," Brittany Blodgett said. "He couldn't even hold a rattle when he was 6 months old. Preemie clothes fell off him at 6 months old."

Rewis, said Peyton, who is an answer to the family's prayers, is on the mend and is able to walk, is eating well, and is even showing kidney function, which was the greatest concern for doctors early on in his recovery.

Now his family members await one more visit from a doctor Friday morning, and they hope the little boy will get the news they've been waiting for all week -- that he can go home.


About the Author:

Kent Justice co-anchors News4Jax's 5 p.m., 10 and 11 p.m. newscasts weeknights and reports on government and politics. He also hosts "This Week in Jacksonville," Channel 4's hot topics and politics public affairs show each Sunday morning at 9 a.m.