VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — The 8-year-old Virginia Beach boy who was shot in the head while playing video games in his Peele Court home in February has been discharged from the hospital.
Landyn Davis was discharged Tuesday after spending more than 90 days in the hospital.
His mother, Emily Rigsby, said on Facebook that her son was “finally discharged” and is back home. She thanked everyone for their prayers and support.
She sent WAVY these images of Landyn leaving the hospital and of his welcome home sign.
He had been spending three hours per day in rehab, and is able to move his fingers and toes and can speak in full sentences. The bullet that struck him was still in his brain.
“He’s doing great,” his mom said in a previous interview with 10 On Your Side. “He’s working really hard in rehab. Getting stronger every day. He’s talking really good and holding his own head up, moving his fingers and his toes and his legs. He’s just doing great.”
Landyn is also working to strengthen his grip and his back.
“He can grab things with his hands,” Rigsby told 10 On Your Side. “He’s holding his head up. He’s able to bridge his back when we change him. The rehab at CHKD is just so amazing. We weren’t there maybe a month, and he wasn’t able to do anything before that. Now he’s progressing to where pretty soon he’ll be able to do everything.”
He especially was looking forward to going home, and that wish finally came true Tuesday evening, arriving to find a yard sign saying “Welcome Home Landyn.”
While 10 On Your Side spoke with his family Wednesday, Landyn was enjoying his brand new Sonic-themed bedroom with his friends.
“Seeing the joy on his face was the best,” Rigsby said. “He’s been waiting to go home. He asked a lot to go home and he went to sleep and took a nap, and when he opened up his eyes, I said, ‘Are you ready, ’cause it was time for us to go and he didn’t know what to say, but once he got in the car and he heard the music and started bopping his head, he knew it was time.”
Landyn said in a previous interview with 10 On Your Side that he was looking forward to resuming play of his favorite video game, Sonic, and taking a special trip to LEGOLAND.
“They’re sending our family to LEGOLAND and they are also sending him a bunch of Lego products for his birthday. His dream is coming true and my dream is coming true in that I still have my son,” Rigsby said.
On the day Landyn was shot inside his home, he was playing video games on his dad’s computer in a second-floor bedroom. About 24 hours later, he was in a medically-induced coma at the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters after one of about 20 bullets that went through their home also went into his head. Doctors did not remove the bullet, as it could have caused more damage, his mom said.
Four people were arrested in connection to the shooting.
Landyn’s release from the hospital comes in time for his 9th birthday, which falls on Memorial Day.