A nine-month-old boy is in critical condition due to a suspected case of child abuse.
Baby Waylon is currently fighting for his life in a Kansas City hospital after being admitted on September 15.
According to reports, the young boy was allegedly thrown into the air and dropped by his mother’s partner, Jordan Boggess.
It is further alleged that Boggess ‘bear-hugged’ the child until he ceased crying.
Boggess has claimed that he dropped the child because his hands were ‘sweaty’.
Upon arrival at the hospital, Waylon was reported to be in critical condition.
While most young children are hospitalized due to aspiration or choking, Waylon was reportedly brought in with head bruising that doctors have described as ‘abusive head trauma’.
Additionally, it was discovered that the nine-month-old had brain swelling and has since suffered multiple seizures, as reported by MailOnline.
Waylon remains in the hospital and is connected to several machines.
In an update shared on Facebook on September 28, the family conveyed the positive news that Waylon is now breathing on his own.
Sharing a photo of the tot, they wrote: “Update as of right now they done the scope there is just swelling that they are going to give him steroids for. Once the swelling goes down they will be able to take the vent out.
“He is breathing on his own just the swelling in his airway is making it hard without the tube there. They are planning a mri in a few days to check his brain for the bleeding and swelling again.”
They also noted that his mother and the entire community are by Waylon’s side.
The post concluded: “God works in mysterious ways but he is there!!”
Although Waylon appears to be making some positive progress, the severity of his injuries could impact him for the rest of his life.
“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,” said the infant’s grandmother, Christa Newman, as per KY3.
Waylon’s grandfather Tyler Burbridge added: “It’s hard. I’m lost for words. As parents, our job is to protect our children and be there. This is the hardest fight that I’ve ever, I’ve ever had to do.”
Jordan Boggess is currently being held at the Newton County Jail without bail.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and receives calls from throughout the United States, Canada, US Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico.