ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- The newborn son of a state trooper -- who was born just two weeks before his father was gunned down -- is struggling with serious health problems.

Trooper David Blanton's wife Michela said their son, who was born prematurely, needs "a miracle."

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July 22 Statement From Michaela Blanton

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Tye Blanton was seven weeks premature when he was born May 31, less than three weeks before his father was shot to death during a traffic stop.

Tye has heart and neurological problems and doctors are trying to decide if it's safe to perform heart surgery

Michaela Blanton said Tuesday that she was "hoping for a miracle, yet praying for peace" for her son.

Trooper Gunned Down During Traffic Stop

The Highway Patrol said that Blanton conducted a traffic stop on June 18 on Interstate 40 near exit 31.

Witnesses said Blanton was talking to the driver, later identified as 37-year-old Edwardo Wong II. alongside his patrol car. During some sort of confrontation, Blanton was shot twice.

Witnesses along I-40 not only saw the shots fired they saw the suspect's car. They passed that information along to 911 dispatchers who relayed it to officers at the scene.

Crews took Blanton to Mission Hospital in Asheville where he died a short time later.

Just 20 minutes after the shooting, Wong, who is from Ormond Beach, Fla., was taken into custody. He is charged with murder.

Shawn Blanton was the first enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to become a North Carolina trooper. He was the 59th North Carolina trooper to die in the line of duty since the start of the patrol in 1929.