WAYLON FIGHTS FOR HIS LIFE

Waylon, our 8 ½ month old grandson has been fighting for his life since the day he was born. In the summer of 2024, Kristen and Jarred Pates (Waylon’s parents) were living the best days of their lives – raising their first son, settling into two great careers, getting ready to build a new home, and just found out they were pregnant with their second child. They were so excited about the 20-week anatomy scan where they got a sneak peek of their baby boy. Later that afternoon, the world seemed to stop turning and Kristen froze in shock. She went online to read the results from the appointment and all she saw was ‘4 heart chamber – abnormal’. Jarred quickly rushed home and they were shortly contacted with the worse news of their lives – they were told their baby had a severe congenital heart defect and they needed to be seen the next morning. It all seemed like a surreal nightmare and they stayed awake all night crying and praying. They met with the maternal fetal and cardiology department on the last day of July 2024, where they heard Waylon has been diagnosed with a severe case of Ebstein’s Anomaly, a rare CHD that only 1 in 200,000 babies have. The doctor said “If he makes it through the pregnancy he will need a series of open heart surgeries.” They sat motionless in a room that felt dark and quiet until Jarred said “we have to give it all to God.”

Since that day, they have displayed an unrivaled level of commitment, love, and FAITH. They spent the next four months learning everything they could, praying, and going to weekly appointments to monitor Waylon. At one appointment they were given a Teddy Bear with Waylon’s recorded heartbeat because doctors were pessimistic about Waylon making it to term. Waylon, which during the process they learned meant ‘courageous fighter’, defeated the odds and did make it most of the way – Kristen went into labor three weeks early on November 26. While everyone was preparing for Thanksgiving, they gave their oldest son a big hug and kiss and drove for two hours to Washington D.C., where Waylon was scheduled to be delivered and treated at National Children’s Hospital. Waylon was born on November 27, and he was ALIVE. There were more than a dozen medical professionals in the room ready to quickly take action. Waylon let out a little cry, but he was in very critical condition and couldn’t breathe. An amazing nurse in the room fought to ensure Kristen was able to give him a kiss on his forehead. He was quickly ripped from her arms and transported to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. Jarred went with Waylon while Kristen laid in recovery sobbing. Less than 24-hours later she was discharged and wheeled into the CICU. Waylon was in very bad condition and the amazing medical professionals were doing everything possible to stabilize and prepare him for surgery. Waylon was placed on life support and had his first open heart surgery at 40-hours-old. The initial surgery was successful and by the Grace of God, Waylon went home at 5-weeks-old (a true miracle). He spent a beautiful month with his family, but during a planned heart cath procedure to check everything on February 6, 2025, things turned for the worse. Waylon’s lungs collapsed and he was admitted back into the CICU – where he has been since that day. Since that day, Waylon has been through hell – he’s suffered two cardiac arrests, has been placed on life support (ecmo) twice, had a second emergency open heart surgery, is on a trach and G-tube for survival, and was recently put on the donor list for a partial heart transplant. As Waylon waits for the biggest surgery of his life, he continues to fight each and every day. His parents or grandparents have literally been by his side every step of the way. Waylon is never alone and Kristen and Jarred continue to shower him with love and make sure he knows life. Through everything, Waylon continues to grow and communicates via smiles, popping his lips, sticking his tongue out, and watching every little thing. Kristen and Jarred know God is walking with Waylon and they truly believe he will be coming home.

All they want and have asked for is CONTINUED PRAYERS. They are so thankful for the countless prayers so many people (family, friends and complete strangers) have said for their family and they are extremely grateful for the generous donations and family support they have received. Kristen and Jarred aren’t ones to ask for anything. As you can imagine, in addition to the emotional stress they are living, they are also experiencing several financial setbacks. Kristen had to resign from her job, they have several medical bills, one of them travel to or from Washington D.C. every day, they are eating out daily, are maintaining their home, and although a minimal daily fee -- are incurring costs to maintain a room at the Ronald McDonald House.

Prayers, love, and care of Waylon is all that really matters, but we are humbly reaching out to request donations to help offset the financial setbacks. Any amount will help with travel requirements, meals, living expenses and medical bills.

Your generosity is greatly appreciated. Regardless if you can support or not, we ask you to keep praying for Waylon and thank you for all the love and support.

If you want to follow Waylon’s story, please join the Waylon’s Warriors Facebook Page

God Bless and #PATESSTRONG!