A two-year-old boy from Georgia is in critical condition after being stung more than 150 times by yellow jackets in a horrifying accident that led to multi-organ failure.
Beckham Reed was riding an electric toy car with his cousins when he unknowingly disturbed a yellow jacket nest, according to WJXT and a GoFundMe set up by his family. The swarm of wasps attacked, covering his small body in stings.
Beckham was initially treated at the emergency room with morphine and Benadryl and sent home. But within 24 hours, his condition deteriorated. His skin began to turn yellow (a sign something was seriously wrong) prompting his parents to rush him back to the hospital.
Doctors discovered Beckham, who was born with only one functioning kidney, was in multi-organ failure, with his kidney, liver, and heart all impacted by the toxic overload from the stings, per The Independent.
He was transferred to the ICU at Memorial Health in Savannah, where he was placed on a ventilator, dialysis, and IV medications in an effort to stabilize his condition.
According to the fundraiser, Beckham’s young age, small size, and the sheer number of stings made it nearly impossible for his body to process the venom on its own. “There is no antivenom for yellow jackets,” the family wrote. “All doctors can do is support his body while it works through the toxins.”
His father, Peyton, has had to take time off work to be at his son’s bedside during what doctors warn will be a slow and delicate recovery process.
There have been hopeful signs, though. By Wednesday, Beckham’s liver and kidney function had started to improve.
“Beckham is waking up more, and we know this is good news,” the family shared in a recent update. “He is STRONG and a great kicker. We know Beckham is a fighter and he’s fighting to get better.”