Baby boy left fighting for life after being 'bear hugged' by mum's fiance 'to stop him crying'

A 10-month-old baby who suffered horrific injuries and was left fighting for his life after being bearhugged by his mum’s fiancé has now been able to return home, but he faces a tough road ahead.

Waylon suffered brain bleeding and was "basically reset to a newborn" due to severe head trauma following the incident in Missouri. He has been able to leave hospital but he has suffered long-lasting injuries.

He was allegedly dropped on the floor by his mum Bessie Burbridge’s partner Jordan Boggess, 28, and then given a bearhug until he stopped crying. Tyler Burbridge, the baby's father told local media: "He has basically been reset to a newborn. As of right now that we know of, he cannot see. He can't sit up. He can barely lift his head up. He's going to have to have a lot of physical therapy."

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Despite returning home baby Waylon faces a life of suffering due to severe injuries to the brain and other areas, meaning he has limited vision, seizures and muscle tightness. He reportedly left the hospital on October 24, some six weeks after the alleged child abuse inflicted on him by Boggess, from Missouri.

Waylon, of Newton County, suffered brain bleed and bruising to his head and spent around a month and a half in critical condition at a Kansas City hospital. Medical staff at Children's Mercy told Newton County detectives that the child had "abusive head trauma" as well as other injuries. Waylon was placed on a ventilator upon arrival and has since suffered from brain swelling and multiple seizures.

On the day he received the horrific injuries, the infant had been placed in a baby suit while his mum went to the bathroom, but he started throwing up and sobbing. According to the probable cause affidavit, Boggess told deputies he picked the child up and tossed him into the air in an attempt to 'comfort him', missing the baby on the second toss which he put down to “sweaty hands”.

The child crashed to the floor and then Boggess allegedly admitted to investigators that he bearhugged the baby until he stopped screaming.

“Jordan then admitted after the child fell on the floor he panicked and ‘bear hugged’ the child ‘a little hard’ until he stopped screaming,” police wrote. “Jordan was asked if it was tight and he said yes. Jordan admitted he might have hurt him when he squeezed him.”

Mr Burbridge made a statement after her son's discharge from hospital, which read: "Waylon was discharged from the hospital on October 24 and he went home with his mum. Our main focus is on Waylon and him recovering and him striving to get stronger." Waylon's mother also said that he has since been able to regain his mobility.

Boggess’ claim to police that his hands were "sweaty" causing him to drop the child was rejected by medics who said he suffered from "abusive head trauma". Boggess is set to appear at the Newton County Courthouse on December 13 and Mr Burbridge has filed a restraining order against Boggess, who is now behind bars on charges of child abuse.

"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. The child'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."

Waylon's dad told Springfield NBC affiliate KYTV, that the child has to re-learn how to lift up his head and to sit up. He said: "He has basically been reset to a newborn." He added: "He basically took my son's life. He took my son's future. You don't toss a baby into the air. Our main focus is on Waylon, on him recovering and on him striving to get stronger," a statement sent to KYTV on behalf of his mother said.

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