Patrick Michael Guyton

Patrick Michael Guyton was born on May 4,1986, and ascended to heaven to be with the Lord on July 27, 2023, at the age of 37. Patrick is survived by his parents, Michael and Donna Guyton; brother, Peter Guyton; grandmother, Joan Hansen and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his grandparents Donald and Carolyn Guyton.
Patrick acquired a disability at age 4 when he was afflicted with viral encephalitis. In the 90's Patrick with his parents were featured in Time Magazine, USA Today, CNN and ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, and many other news stories advocating changes in health care related to TennCare/Medicaid for children with special health care needs. His mother, often with Patrick at her side, testified before the legislatures and other government entities resulting in changes in law which included the establishment of the TN Traumatic Brain Injury Program addressing the needs of individuals who sustained a brain injury, their families, and caregivers; and the creation of the Committee on Pediatric Emergency Care (COPEC) which ensured pediatric emergency care needs of Tennessee's children are properly and fully addressed. After a fellow classmate with medical needs died on a school bus due to no air conditioning, the Metro Nashville Special Ed buses are now equipped with air-conditioning, two-way radio communication, and an assistant on the buses through advocacy and legislation.
Based on Patrick's and other family's experiences, Patrick's family and other committed families partnered with Vanderbilt Hospital to help create the new Monroe Carrell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt through the parent advisory committee, family advisory committee, and the Families as Classroom Teacher's (FACT) program to assist in the development of family centered care. Some of these changes included the creation of patient rooms, which were more family focused, free parking at Vanderbilt, stop signs and a ramp on Medical Center Drive and better accessibility for those with wheelchairs from the parking lot to the hospital. Many of these changes carried over to the adult Vanderbilt Medical Center.
Patrick was a trail blazer for medical interventions at Vanderbilt Medical Center. His parents asked Vanderbilt Medical Center who then agreed to become a Ketogenic Center which through a special ketogenic diet, helped patients better control their seizures. After seeing the success Patrick had in using the Myotec Therapeutic Electrical Stimulation Device, which was used in Canada, Vanderbilt added this as therapy for patients. Patrick at age 14 became the first child under 16, once approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to implant the vagal nerve stimulator which successfully stopped Patrick's seizures 90% of the time.
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Patrick attended Harris Hillman School and graduated with a Special Needs Diploma in 2008. He was a long-time member of Holy Family Catholic Church. Patrick ventured out into the community every day with his nurse and caregiver and participated in many community activities including massages, movies, parks, adapted bowling league as part of the Persons at Leisure with Sports (PALS) program, playing bingo with the Lunch Bingo at St. Matthew Catholic Church, and was a Metro Animal Care and Control (MACC) volunteer to help socialize puppies and kittens to assist in making them adoptable.
Patrick's Celebration of Life will be held at 11 A.M. on Saturday, August 5, 2023, at Holy Family Catholic Church at 9100 Cockett Road., Brentwood, TN 37027. His family will receive family and friends prior to the service from 10 a.m.- 11 a.m. at the church. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. John Peach/PCP; Dr. Bassel W. Abou-Khalil/neurologist; Vanderbilt physicians, nurses, and staff; Patrick's community nurses and caregivers; Tennessee Justice Center, and Neighborhood Network who have taken such loving care and advocated for Patrick.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Harris Hillman School (Metro Nashville School for children with profound disabilities) mail to 1706 26 th Avenue South Nashville, TN 37212 and website harrishillman.mnps.org to find out more about the school OR Tennessee Justice Center (nonprofit law firm advocating to ensure all Tennesseans have access to healthcare) at P.O. Box 100187 Nashville, TN 37224, website www.tnjustice.org (link for donations).
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