A nine-month-old baby in Missouri is fighting for his life in hospital after his mom’s boyfriend allegedly dropped him on the floor and bear-hugged the infant until he stopped crying.
Baby Waylon was admitted to hospital with a brain bleed and bruising on his head, after Newton County Sherriff’s Office said he was found aspirating and not breathing while asleep.
Investigators say this was the result of child abuse from Jordan Boggess, 28, who is dating Waylon’s mom.
Medical staff at Children’s Mercy told Newton County Detectives that the child had ‘abusive head trauma’ as well as other injuries.
The baby’s cousin, Jaden Branham, said: ‘It’s very gut-wrenching walking in and seeing a child literally have to fight for their life.’
She added: ‘These are children, and they deserve to live normal, carefree lives, not having to worry about being scared of who they’re with. And unfortunately, he was not. He was not able to do that.’
Waylon was placed on a ventilator upon arrival and has since suffered from brain swelling and multiple seizures while in critical condition at Kansas City children’s hospital.
On September 14, the infant was placed in a baby jumper while his mom went to the bathroom.
He was then tossed into the air by Boggess, who failed to catch the child on the second toss due to claims of ‘sweaty hands’ and Waylon fell to the ground.
That’s when Boggess admitted to authorities that he bear-hugged the child until he stopped crying.
Christa Newman, the baby’s grandmother, told WBTV: ‘They said baby Waylon will not be the same baby. If he makes it, he’ll be wheelchair-bound. He will not be able to talk. He will not be able to feed himself.’
Branham told KY3: ‘As a mom, if my child is throwing up, I’m not going to pick him up and toss him up in the air thinking that’s going to help out in any scenario.’
‘It’s hard. I’m lost for words. As parents, our job is to protect children and be there. This is the hardest fight that I’ve ever, I’ve ever had to do,’ said the child’s grandfather, Tyler Burbridge.
The family was informed that the baby had no brain activity during his first few days in the hospital, Waylon has since started showing improvements by opening his eyes and jerking his arm.
Branham said: ‘Whenever you walk into his room, it’s just machine after machine. There’s IV pumps everywhere. There’s a nurse in the room at all times.’
The child’s family, including his father, have stayed with him throughout his care and set up a fundraiser on GoFundMe.com to help his father get sole custody of Waylon.
Online discourse has accused Waylon’s mother, Bessie Mccamish, of having knowledge of the abuse.
She responded saying: ‘Also I had no knowledge of the abuse! And he is no longer my current boyfriend. Every single person who knows me know I wouldn’t let a single person hurt that child! You don’t even know his name or me.’
Another fundraiser on GoFundMe.com is in support of Waylon’s mother.
Boggess is now under investigation for child abuse.