An Oklahoma family is clinging to hope after a 15-year-old girl was declared brain dead following what her father says was a dangerous social media challenge involving Benadryl.
Leah Presson was rushed to an Oklahoma City hospital after allegedly taking a deadly amount of the over-the-counter medication as part of an online trend, according to her father, Richard Presson.
Now, her heartbroken family is speaking out to warn other parents before another child is harmed.
“I just want everybody to be aware of where they can educate their kids,” Richard told KFOR. “These challenges are just silly, and they need to be educated so it doesn’t happen again.”
Richard described Leah as a loving teenager with a contagious laugh and a personality that made people smile.
“Her eyes. Her smile. The way she can just do her hair. Very characteristic, her personality,” he said through tears.
On Sunday, Richard said doctors had pronounced his daughter brain dead and that the hospital was preparing to take her off life support. Even then, he said the family was still praying for a miracle.
“We’re still waiting on a miracle, even though some have given up, Amber and I are still here waiting on this miracle to happen,” he wrote on social media.
Leah’s mother, Kaci Williamson, said her daughter was pronounced brain dead Sunday afternoon at 2:25 p.m.
Richard said the family made the devastating decision to donate Leah’s organs because of the kind of person she was.
“We have chosen to donate her organs because she is the kind of girl that would have given anything to anybody,” he said. “She loved Grey’s Anatomy and is able to possibly save up to 90 lives with her little body.”
The family said an honor walk is expected to take place at Integris Baptist Medical Center, where Leah has been hospitalized for several days.
“She is still here at the hospital, we’re not giving up on our little Leah,” Richard said.
He said he continues to speak to his daughter at her bedside, urging her to keep fighting.
“I tell her, Leah keep fighting and stay strong. You got this. You’re a fighter,” he told the outlet.
Doctors warn the so-called Benadryl Challenge is extremely dangerous and can quickly turn fatal.
Dr. Ryan Brown, a children’s doctor at OU Health, said taking too much Benadryl, also known as diphenhydramine, can lead to seizures, heart rhythm problems, cardiac arrest, and brain death.
“When you take the Benadryl or diphenhydramine in excess… it can lead to seizures and cardiac arrhythmias,” Brown told KFOR. “Sometimes those cardiac arrhythmias lead to cardiac arrest, which can lead to no blood to the brain, which can lead to brain death.”
Richard said Leah’s family initially believed she was having asthma-related symptoms before she was rushed to the emergency room.
“I was met by the chaplain, and they said, ‘We need to pray,’” he recalled.
Despite the grim news, Richard said he still is not ready to think about a funeral.
“I feel like there’s still hope and everybody’s like, giving up too soon,” he said. “I believe in miracles, that she’s definitely a miracle baby.”
According to Richard, Leah had allegedly attempted the challenge before, and her symptoms matched what doctors have linked to the dangerous trend.
Brown urged parents to act fast if their child suddenly seems disoriented, confused, or unusually ill.
“If your child is acting strange, look around,” he said. “Make sure that there’s not an empty pill bottle or something in the vicinity that may lead you to a clue as to what may have been going on.”
For Leah’s family, the tragedy has become a heartbreaking warning to parents everywhere: talk to your kids about dangerous online trends before it is too late.
