What started as a fun afternoon quickly turned into a terrifying fight for life for two-year-old Beckham Reed. Playing outside in Georgia with his cousins, Beckham — who has only one kidney — accidentally disturbed a wasp nest while riding his electric toy car. Within seconds, he was attacked and stung more than 150 times, his small body overwhelmed by the venom.
Beckham’s parents, Mariah and Peyton, rushed him to the hospital where he was treated with morphine and Benadryl before being sent home. Doctors said his breathing was stable, so they didn’t keep him overnight. But less than a day later, Beckham’s condition worsened dramatically. His skin turned yellow, and he was rushed to another emergency room, where doctors diagnosed him with multiple organ failure affecting his heart, liver, and his one remaining kidney.
Now in the ICU at Memorial Savannah Hospital, Beckham is fighting for his life. He’s hooked up to a ventilator and undergoing dialysis to help his body flush out the deadly toxins from the wasp stings. His hemoglobin levels dropped dangerously low, forcing doctors to give him blood transfusions. Despite the severity, Beckham is showing signs of strength — slowly waking up and fighting against the sedation needed to keep him calm.
His family remains hopeful but deeply worried. They don’t yet know if his only working kidney will recover once the dialysis ends. The medical team is carefully monitoring every step, keeping him sedated enough to prevent him from pulling at his tubes and lines, but hopeful he’ll come off dialysis soon.
Beckham’s story has touched hearts far beyond Georgia. Friends and strangers have rallied around the family, starting a GoFundMe campaign to help cover mounting medical bills. For Beckham, every moment is a battle — but with the love and support around him, there’s hope this brave little boy will pull through.
No child should have to face this kind of nightmare, but Beckham’s courage reminds us all of the strength found in even the smallest fighters. Watch below to follow his journey and send your support.
