Mum shares decision that will 'haunt the rest of her life' before tot drowned

07 June 2024 , 11:29

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Kallie Wright has said she will 'lose sleep over this for eternity' following the death of her son Levi Wright (Image: Facebook)

The heartbroken mother of a three-year-old boy who died after falling into a river while playing on his toy tractor has said she will "lose sleep over this for eternity" after a decision that will 'haunt the rest of her life'

Levi Wright, son of rodeo icon Spencer Wright, drowned when he drove his toy tractor into a river in Beaver County, Utah, approximately 67 miles from Cedar City. The little boy was declared brain dead by doctors after falling into the rushing river on May 21 but the family remained optimistic he might pull through.

At one stage Levi opened his eyes and "wiggled with purpose" but had not spoken, while mum Kallie constantly sung "the excavator song" to him and talked about his favourite tractors and what they would do when he returned home. Tragically, the three-year-old died on June 2 after his devastated parents Spencer and Kallie decided to withdraw life-sustaining treatment.

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Levi Wright is the son of rodeo icon Spencer Wright (Facebook)

Now, the toddler's mum, Kallie, has revealed that turning away briefly moments before the tragedy happened will "haunt me for the rest of my life". Writing on Facebook, Kallie said: "I'm writing this at 3 am, because per usual my mind is running wild. I'd like to share something vulnerable and hard. Unless you've been to my place it's hard to paint a picture of how something like this can happen.

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"There is a creek that runs through our 24 acre property and separates our house from Grandma and Grandpa's, through that creek is a road made of concrete. It's how we've gotten to their house safely most days as sometimes our dirt road is a nascar raceway. My kids have rode their bikes, driven their ride on toys & even walked this way a million times.

Levi died on June 2 after parents Spencer and Kallie decided to withdraw life-sustaining treatment (Mindy Sue Clark)

"Water only runs through for a short time during the year and can change over night. Levi did not do anything he hasn't done before, but this time the water was at its peak & strong enough to push his tractor off the road into the creek as he drove through. He asked me to ride his tractor and I explained that grandma wasn't home, he shouldn't drive through the creek or the road and just to ride around the house.

"As he drove off, I ran back in the house. That's a decision that will haunt me for the rest of my life. In that moment he was my responsibility alone. Whether I went back to check on my sleeping baby, swap the laundry, wash a bottle or put away lunch, I honestly don't know. Whatever it was, wasn't more important than following him that day.

The family in happier time (Facebook)

"Although I'm a firm believer that our stories are written long before we reach this earth & that our Lord will take us when he's ready, I will lose sleep over this for eternity but with this I know 3 things to be true. 1. I am not a perfect mom but I am a good mom. 2. My little boy loved me with all he had. 3. Never say never because it only takes seconds and it can happen to you too. I pray anyone who judges me or has hurtful words to say never finds themself on the receiving end of a nightmare like this."

Levi had made the journey across the creek 'a million times', according to mum Kallie (facebook)

Levi's family were by his bedside praying for a miracle after the accident (Mindy Sue Clark)

Alongside the post the heartbroken mum shared a video of little Levi riding a horse over the creek. Family friend Mindy Sue Clark broke the news of Levi's death in a Facebook post at 8.14am on Monday.

She wrote: "The most perfect three-year-old there ever was. So perfect we didn't get to keep him. This baby boy moved mountains the last 12 days. He brought so many people together. In a world so dark, we got to see light at the hands of a child. He's everything his mom and dad could've wanted him to be."

Ms Clark then said how difficult the past 12 days had been since she first heard the news. She explained: "From the moment my phone rang the night of his accident, to last night receiving the message that he had to go. I don't want to focus on the bad or sad, even though it feels like someone ripped my heart out and squeezed it right in front of me."

Sam Truelove