Amanda and Jerry Wagganer understand what it means to adapt.

When You Have a blended family with 5 kids there really is no other way of life.

February of 2022 brought a new meaning to that word and added another arrow to the Wagganer Family Quiver.

Sylas Wagganer was born weighing 7 pounds 4 ounces and was struggling to breathe. Amanda held him for approximately 30 seconds before The Doctors put him on forced Oxygen and sent him to the NICU. After a few days Silas was allowed to come home.

It was a tuesday.

That Friday Morning He needed to return to the Hospital.

The Wagganer Family adapted.

They continued to adapt for the first 6 months of Sylas’ little life.

He spent most of it in and out of hospitals. He was always sick. He had over 17 Ear infections during that time. The doctors treated the symptoms and sent him back home. Amanda and Jerry knew there had to be something more to Sylas being constantly sick but they didn’t know what.

Early in 2023 Sylas saw a Geneticist and the Wagganer’s finally got answers. Sylas was diagnosed with Primary Cillary Dyskinesia which is a rare genetic condition that means he doesn’t have the tiny hairs in his ears, nose and lungs. This means Sylas’ body doesn’t have a natural way to remove germs and pollutants making him prone to infections and sickness.

The doctor said, If Sylas makes it to the age of 5 He will have gone through the worst.

That’s not anything a Parent wants to hear. The Wagganer Family Adapted again. For 3 Weeks the family went on total lockdown. Sylas and Amanda lived in a bubble away from the rest of society and There was strict protocol for all of the family coming and going.

Sylas still got sick.

The wagganer’s adapted once more.

They decided to choose a life of Thriving over just surviving. They don’t live in a bubble anymore but they do live cautiously. Any time sylas gets a fever he has to go to the hospital. His love for being outside and being an active 19 month old means a chronic cough is guaranteed.

Since the official diagnosis, Sylas has monthly appointments in Lousiville where the Ronald McDonald House has become a home away from home.

Sylas is always smiling. In spite of him being the sickest kid in the family, he has the best attitude. Often times his attitude the family keep perspective when there is another hospital visit and the Bills come in. Times are tough but they have learned to smile because , After all , Wagganer’s Know how to adapt.

Some of the money raised at Terror on the Trail’s 2023 Event went to help ease Some of the financial burden the Wagganer family has endured.