Brody’s Second Chance to Be a Kid
Brody is taking new steps, thanks to St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. What began as a typical day turned into a life-changing journey of strength, care, and learning how to be a kid again.
Two weeks before his second birthday, Brody and his family were outside preparing for the celebration. His new playhouse was being built, and they hoped to have it ready in time for him and his brother to enjoy. Then, everything changed quickly. Somehow, Brody wandered into the work zone and became pinned by a heavy piece of machinery. By the time his mother, Paige, turned around, his face had turned blue. Her shouts alerted the crew, who stopped the machine and called 911.
Brody was taken to a local trauma center, where his injuries were deemed severe enough that he was intubated and airlifted to another facility. Brody had a shattered pelvis, a broken right femur, a broken tibia, and significant internal bleeding. The trauma care team was able to stabilize his pelvis enough to stop the bleeding. However, his parents noticed he had a high fever, swelling, and a darkening wound on his back, making it urgently necessary for him to be transferred.
Paige and her husband pushed for Brody’s transfer despite the weather conditions and the severity of his injuries, and he was ultimately transported by ambulance to receive more advanced care at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. Paige says their family could never thank St. Christopher’s enough for being the only hospital to take him given the severity of Brody’s injuries. Upon his arrival around 2 a.m., Paige will never forget seeing doctors, nurses, aides, and technicians rush into his room. Everyone was all-hands-on-deck to help Brody.
“Without St. Christopher’s, we wouldn’t have Brody today.”
On Brody’s second birthday, nurse practitioners Katie and Kurt made sure he was celebrated with signs, gifts, and visits from family. That same day, Brody reached another milestone when he no longer needed a breathing tube. As his recovery continued, specialists across St. Christopher’s worked together to support every part of his care. Orthopedic surgeons Dr. Nancy Campbell and Dr. Martin Hermann helped address his complex pelvic injuries, while the plastic surgery and burn teams, including Dr. Brooke Berkey and Dr. Christine Jones, cared for the wound on his back and supported his healing.
“To this day, I believe that’s why Brody can walk.”
Brody’s family praises the above-and-beyond care and support they received from the staff at St. Christopher’s. Through his many procedures, the care team of surgeons, physicians, occupational therapists, and physical therapists played a major role in helping Brody get to where he is today. He’s walking without a brace, trying to run, going up stairs, and learning to jump. All his restrictions have been removed, and as Dr. Hermann told the family,
“It’s Brody’s time to be a kid again.”
His family is thankful to all the nurses and nurse practitioners who supported them and Brody, especially Lisa Cork from the plastic surgery team, with whom the family has kept in contact.
Brody and his family are extremely grateful to St. Christopher’s. It took an entire team to help make Brody’s remarkable recovery possible.