Weston Alwine, 7, rides his Power Wheels hauling some dirt. Submitted Photo

BUFFALO TWP — Weston Alwine, 7, was taken to a hospital on May 5 for low oxygen and shortness of breath. What followed was a hospital stay of several weeks.

After his initial trip to the hospital, Weston’s doctors discovered he had pneumonia. His condition over the course of that day worsened, leading him to be placed on antibiotics and oxygen for a few days.

What seemed to be a simple case of pneumonia slowly revealed itself to be more severe.

On May 9, four days after his initial admission to the hospital, he was intubated and placed on a ventilator, which he used for two weeks.

Tests came back positive for a MRSA infection in his lungs, along with two other infections from bacteria that doctors believed were starting to spread through his body. Around the clock, doctors administered lung treatments and antibiotics to help Weston beat the infections.

According to the Mayo Clinic, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an infection caused by a type of staph bacteria. This type of staph has become resistant to most antibiotics used to treat staph infections.

This would be a very uncertain time for Weston and his family.

Thankfully, the boy’s condition improved. He was taken off the ventilator but still requires respiratory support. After being taken off oxygen, he will have to undergo extended therapy at the hospital’s rehabilitation unit.

Weston is a rising second-grader at Knoch Primary School.

“He’s super sweet, lovable — he loves his baby sister and police officers,” Haily Neel, Weston’s mother, said in a phone call with the Butler Eagle.

Despite his movement being limited at this time, he enjoys horseback riding, police officers, building and tearing things apart, the television show “Paw Patrol,” and working in the garage with his grandfather. Weston and his grandfather have fixed a four-wheeler and a mower in the past.

“We have received so much love, support and help from our families,” Neel wrote on the GoFundMe page set up for her son. She said that family has been tremendous help, from watching her 10-month-old daughter, Haezel, to hospital trips.

The GoFundMe page supporting Weston and his family financially can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-westons-recovery-journey.

Weston Alwine, 7, has fun on a blow up bounce house. Submitted Photo