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A two-year-old boy from Georgia is in critical condition after suffering over 150 yellow jacket stings in a horrifying incident that triggered multi-organ failure.
Little Beckham Reed, who was born with only one kidney, was riding his electric toy car with his cousins in the family’s backyard when he accidentally disturbed a yellow jacket nest. The aggressive wasps swarmed him “head to toe”, according to a family GoFundMe appeal launched to support his care.
Stung and Sent Home — Then Rushed Back to Hospital
Beckham was first rushed to a local hospital, where he was given morphine and Benadryl before being sent home after initially appearing stable. But his condition quickly worsened — within 24 hours he began turning yellow, prompting his parents to rush him to the Southeast Georgia Health System in Brunswick.
Doctors there recognised Beckham was suffering from multi-organ failure affecting his kidney, heart, and liver. He was immediately transferred to Memorial Savannah’s intensive care unit, where he was placed on dialysis, ventilator support, and given IV medications to flush the toxins from his system.
A Medical Emergency Without Antivenom
“There is no antivenom for yellow jacket stings,” the family wrote. “All doctors can do is support the body while it fights the toxins.”
Due to his small size and pre-existing condition, Beckham’s body was overwhelmed by the venom. His father, Peyton, was also stung while pulling Beckham away from the swarm. His mother, Mariah, who is currently pregnant with their second child, has been by his side throughout.
Community Support Grows
The family’s GoFundMe campaign has raised over $36,000 as of Friday evening. The funds are intended to support the family during this time, as both parents are unable to work due to Beckham’s condition.
“His body is responding to the support and we continue to pray that his labs and organs improve,” the page says.
The tragic incident has drawn comparisons to a 2022 case in Ohio, where a 20-year-old man survived after being stung over 20,000 times by bees.
What Are Yellow Jackets?
Yellow jackets are a species of aggressive wasps that live in underground nests or in walls and trees. Unlike honeybees, they can sting multiple times, injecting potent venom that can cause serious medical complications, especially in young children or those with health issues.
How to Help
Anyone wishing to support the family can contribute to the GoFundMe campaign for Beckham Reed
