A wireless access node and media session extension method configured to extend a media session in a wireless network are provided. The wireless access node in one example embodiment includes a communication interface configured to exchange wireless communications with a user equipment (UE), a storage system configured to store a UE fail state corresponding to the UE of a current media session and store an extended dormancy time period, and a processing system coupled to the communication interface and to the storage system, with the processing system configured to obtain the UE fail state, if the UE fail state is true, then load the extended dormancy time period into a dormancy timer corresponding to the UE, and if the dormancy timer expires, then maintain one or both of a traffic channel and a signaling channel between the wireless access node and the UE.