INDIANA COUNTY, Pa. — A boy who was struck in the head by a hunter’s stray bullet when he was a newborn has suffered from seizures, up to 50 times a day, in the two years since the accident. With new health setbacks plaguing the now 2-year-old, his family is reaching out to the public for help.
Shayne Iverson came home from the hospital when he was 6 days old. He was in the living room of his Saltsburg home with his father when his life changed forever in an instant.
"Shane was accidentally hit by a stray bullet shot from a hunter and pierced his skull and blinded him in both eyes (that) damaged his pituitary gland,” family friend Jeremy Manners told Channel 11 News on Monday.
Shayne's mother can't work anymore because she takes care of Shayne and his two siblings every day.
Family and friends told Channel 11 News that Shayne is a fighter.
"He's a sweet boy. He loves to smile. He loves music. His hearing has definitely enhanced,” Manners said.
However, the toddler has recently suffered a number of new health issues. The boy was flown last weekend to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh with a collapsed lung, bacterial meningitis and pneumonia.
"He's in the pediatric ICU again with some infections. He's on IV antibiotics, still intubated and sedated a good bit,” Manner said.
Manners said he and his family are stepping up to help the Iversons with another GoFundMe drive to help cover medical bills and traveling expenses to keep Shayne's parents by their son’s bedside.
"They're in need. They have a lot of needs. (They’re) just struggling in general in life, like a lot of people are. Then they have this on top of it,” Manners said.
Anyone who wants to make a donation can visit the GoFundMe page by
[ CLICKING HERE ]
. Donations to the Shayne Iverson Victim Fund are also being accepted at any S&T Bank.