A 2-year-old boy is fighting for his life in Georgia after being stung over 150 times by yellowjackets.
According to a GoFundMe started by his family, Beckham Reed was swarmed by yellowjackets after accidentally running over a nest while playing in an electric car in his backyard. He was rescued by his father Peyton, who sustained stings of his own, and rushed to an emergency room where he was treated with morphine and Benadryl.
The toddler was initially sent home because at the time he appeared to be breathing normally, according. However, according to the fundraiser, Beckham was later rushed to a different emergency room less than a day later after his skin started to turn yellow.
At Southeast Georgia Health System in Brunswick, Ga., doctors determined that the toddler — who was born with only one kidney — was falling into multiple organ failure with his heart, liver and kidney shutting down.
Beckham was quickly transferred to Memorial Savannah where he was intubated and put on dialysis while receiving “life-saving IV medications,” his family noted.
“Due to his age and size and the amount of stings he had, his little body was unable to handle the amount of toxins in his body,” his family noted on the GoFundMe, adding that he was “responding to the support.”
The fundraiser noted: “There is no antivenom for yellow jackets so all they can do is support his body while the toxins work their way out.”
On Friday, June 27, the GoFundMe reported that doctors were planning to take Beckham off the ventilator and were preparing his body for the next big step.
“His vitals look really good today. He had a rough day yesterday,” an update on the fundraiser read. “We pray Beckham can extubate safely and that his mom and dad
Unfortunately, an update followed revealing that doctors had decided to hold off on extubation for another day.
“The kidney doctor wants them to wait because she is afraid when he comes off the sedation he may pull the dialysis line,” the GoFundMe continued. “We are aiming for tomorrow. It is Gods timing and we are learning to be patient. They are also going to go ahead and transfuse him with platelets since his count was low.”
As his body is recovering, there are reportedly concerns about how his kidney will function as he comes off dialysis.
Noting that “this is not a medical experience that is common,” the GoFundMe reported that doctor’s were warning Beckham’s family that they were in for “a slow process.”
Peyton has been unable to work while staying with his son in the hospital. Beckham’s mom Mariah is currently pregnant with her second child, which is due in August.
At the time of publishing, the GoFundMe has raised more than $31,000 with a goal of raising upwards of $40,000.
