Toddler Makes Complete Recovery

With a mom who works on an ambulance and a dad who drives a police cruiser, it’s no wonder three-year-old Alex Wood loves to play with toy vehicles. Ambulances, pickup trucks, police cars, dump trucks or tractor trailers, he loves all kinds. He was playing outside with his toys when he heard a truck backing into the driveway. Excited, Alex ran into the driveway and was struck with the truck's trailer hitch, causing a fractured skull, serious brain injury and leaving him with two enormous black eyes. After realizing what happened, Alex's dad immediately supported his neck and spine and drove him to Down East Community Hospital in Machias, just minutes away.

In the Emergency Room, the injured toddler had a CAT scan and emergency staff worked to stabilize him, but soon doctors realized he needed to get to a trauma center quickly. The decision was made to call for LifeFlight to transfer Alex to Eastern Maine Medical Center where he would receive specialized care for his traumatic brain injuries. When the flight crew arrived less than 25 minutes later, they intubated Alex and placed him on a ventilator as they worked collaboratively with hospital staff to prepare him for the trip to Bangor. He remained sedated in Eastern Maine Medical Center’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for three days to allow his brain to recover. When Alex awoke, he stayed in the hospital for only one additional day before he was discharged with a great prognosis. His skull fractures healed in less than two months and today he is back to helping his mom perform “rig checks” on the ambulance, playing with his trucks and teasing his big sister, Lindsey.

CREW MEMBERS
CommSpec Terri Smith : Pilot John Marino
Nurse Donna Bulger : Paramedic Josh Dickson