Wyatt Morgan, 8, was born into a challenging life, and now he’s fighting for it.
Wyatt has been hospitalized since early last week for a serious medical condition that left him struggling to breathe, with fluids in his lungs, high blood pressure and kidney issues.
Wyatt, a first grader who lives in the southeastern Wyoming town of Carpenter, was born with a cobalamin C deficiency, a lifelong defect in a protein used to change vitamin B12 into a form that his body can use to break down certain amino acids and fats.
The deficiency causes Wyatt’s body to go into a state of physical overload almost any time he gets sick and his body tries to heal itself.
It was that underlying condition that contributed to the severity of Wyatt’s illness, brought on by a frightening combination of parainfluenza and pneumonia. He also has a heart abnormality that exacerbates his condition when very sick.
“It was really bad, we were, like, really close to losing him,” his mother Brittney Morgan told Cowboy State Daily.
She describes Wyatt as a “funny, loving, crazy little boy” who, like any normal 8-year-old, loves to ride bikes, play with his toys and spend time with his brothers and sisters.
His Heart Was ‘Slowly Giving Up’
Morgan first realized something was wrong nearly two weeks ago when her son started coughing violently and felt his heart racing at an abnormal speed. He also had issues keeping his food down.
Upon taking him to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, Wyatt was diagnosed with influenza and pneumonia, with very low oxygen and hemoglobin levels and sky-high blood pressure.
He was given lots of fluids and put on oxygen for five straight days, but his condition only worsened. Wyatt’s body was retaining the fluids in his lungs, making it even harder for him to breathe and his heart was pumping even faster. He also started losing protein and blood through his urine.
Morgan said it was later determined that an adult blood pressure medication he had been given at the hospital came with a side effect causing him to retain fluids. So much fluid had built up in his lungs that emergency staff couldn’t tell if it was from the pneumonia or the medication.
Wyatt was transferred to Children’s Hospital Colorado in Denver on Saturday, where he was quickly rushed to the cardiac ICU to get his breathing under control.
“Because he was basically slowly giving up, his heart was,” Morgan said. “He was just fighting way too hard and beating way too hard.”
After that situation was stabilized, Wyatt was transferred to the paramedic ICU on Sunday to get his respiratory vitals under control from having so much fluid buildup. There, he spent the next four nights and three days.
A vest was placed on Wyatt to help him cough up contaminants and he was given medicine to help him pee more to get the excess liquid out.
Although his hemoglobin levels improved, Wyatt’s blood pressure remained high, requiring the boy to remain on a medically assisted breathing device.
Eventually, medical personnel got Wyatt’s condition to stabilize and he’s no longer on an IV.
Wyatt is now on the road to recovery, but Morgan said they’re still seeing some concerning drops in his oxygen levels.
The onslaught Wyatt’s body has gone through has caused damage to his kidneys. He’ll also likely have to keep taking blood pressure medicine for the long term.
‘Fighting Since He Was Born’
Morgan said her son is holding strong despite the mental and physical toll he’s gone through.
“He seems to be holding on. He’s a very strong little man,” she said. “He’s been fighting since he was born.”
Wyatt also puts up with his mom’s frequent picture taking, always giving a smile for the camera, despite his annoyance.
His 9-year-old sister is taking her brother’s condition hard after visiting him at the hospital at a particularly traumatic time when his oxygen levels were dropping with countless tubes and cords snaked into his tiny body.
“She’s having a hard time with it,” Morgan said.
Also challenging is the fact that Wyatt isn’t allowed to leave his hospital room, causing him some depression brought on by the boredom, Morgan said. All he can do is his school work, play video games and stare out of the small window in his hospital room.
Wyatt Morgan with mom, Brittney. (Courtesy Photo) 
Spending so much time in a hospital room is difficult for Wyatt Morgan, who like most 8-year-olds, wants to get out and play. (Courtesy Photo) 
Wyatt Morgan proudly holds a blue ribbon he won. (Courtesy Photo) 
Wyatt Morgan looking pure Wyoming. (Courtesy Photo)
What’s Next?
Morgan and her husband have health insurance, but have no idea how much of their son’s medical bills will be covered, or what the total cost will be.
It’s safe to say the bill will be hefty as it will include an ambulance ride, the 10 days Wyatt has been hospitalized already and the few more days he still has left to go.
A GoFundMe has been set up on Wyatt’s behalf by his aunt, Cortney Raine, which has already raised $3,100.
“For me it’s devastating,” Raine said. “I’m just trying to be supportive.”
One of the contributors was from Carpenter Elementary School, where Wyatt attends, which gave $500.
“It made me cry for how many good people there are and how many support us,” Morgan said. “I’m very grateful and thankful they would do it. I could never repay anybody for any of this. This is just absolutely amazing.”
Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.
