Toddler With One Kidney Stung 150 Times by Wasps, Fights for Life
ArchiveFirst published June 30, 2025. It may not reflect later developments.
Two-year-old Beckham Reed, who was born with only one kidney, was swarmed and stung over 150 times by yellow jackets while playing on a toy vehicle in Georgia. The wasps attacked him head to toe after he disturbed a nest.
Initially treated and sent home with morphine and Benadryl, Beckham’s condition worsened within a day. He was rushed to another hospital and diagnosed with multiple organ failure, affecting his heart, liver, and remaining kidney.
Now sedated and on a ventilator at Memorial Savannah Hospital, Beckham is receiving dialysis and IV medications to remove toxins. “His little body was unable to handle the amount of toxins,” said family friend Tiffany Hewatt. He’s also being tube-fed, and his dangerously low hemoglobin level required a blood transfusion.
Though doctors see slow improvement, Beckham remains on life support. His family anxiously awaits news on whether his kidney will recover. A GoFundMe has been launched to assist with medical costs as loved ones remain hopeful for his recovery.
