Baby boy left fighting for life after being 'bearhugged' by mum's boyfriend

Jordan Boggess, 28, from Missouri, allegedly dropped his partner's 10-month-old baby, Waylon, so he crashed to the floor and then gave him a bearhug until he stopped screaming

A 10-month-old baby who suffered horrific injuries and was left fighting for his life after being bearhugged by his mum’s boyfriend 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 screaming. 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."

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. Boggess picked the child up and tossed him into the air, 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. Mr Burbridge told KY3: "My son, he can't even talk for himself. Not only I, but my family and everybody who is fighting for him, we are his voice." He told Fox 5: "It's definitely been a roller coaster of emotions. He's been proving them wrong every step of the way."

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.