It was a hot, sunny day in June. Jack and his big sister, Olivia, were enjoying a minor league baseball game with their grandparents in Youngstown, Ohio. An avid sports fan, Jack was cheering on the home team when a freak accident turned his world upside down.
A player stepped up to bat. With a crack, the batter hit a line-drive foul ball. In an instant, Jack was knocked backward, blood gushing from his nose.
The 8-year-old had been hit squarely in the face.
A hush came over the stands as ushers, medics, and ballpark employees hurried to Jack’s side. With his sister and grandparents in hysterics, Jack was placed on a stretcher and rushed to the nearest hospital.
A long way from home
At the time of Jack’s accident, his parents, Mike and Rebecca, were attempting to enjoy a weekend away in Charleston, South Carolina.
The couple had just sat down for dinner when the phone rang. Rebecca’s distraught parents explained what happened. “We insisted that they transfer Jack to UPMC Children’s because he’s previously received excellent care there,” Mike and Rebecca share.
Jack was transferred by ambulance to Pittsburgh and admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at UPMC Children’s. Unable to find a flight home, Mike and Rebecca rented a car and drove through the night to be with their son.
In good hands
For hours that night, trauma physicians worked to stabilize Jack. They determined that he had a broken nose and broken orbital bones. Later, they discovered that he also had a punctured artery. The incident caused Jack to lose enough blood that he needed three transfusions.
“When we got to the hospital it was really intense and scary,” Mike says. “There was so much blood. It’s all a blur.”
Despite their fear, Mike and Rebecca knew Jack was in good hands. “Upon our arrival, a social worker was there to comfort us,” they explain. “The entire PICU team could not have been better.”
A healing experience
After several days in the PICU, pediatric otolaryngologist Noel Jabbour, MD, performed surgery on Jack, successfully resetting his nose, cauterizing the bleeding artery, and stabilizing him.
“Dr. Jabbour was open and honest,” Mike and Rebecca share. “He’s a phenomenal physician.”
Throughout their time at UPMC Children’s, Mike and Rebecca were further impressed by the patient experience, which is largely funded by philanthropy.
Child Life helped both Jack and Olivia get through the hospitalization.
“Olivia saw Jack get hit with the baseball. She was traumatized,” Mike states. “Child Life provided comfort during an otherwise incredibly stressful time.”
One of the family’s most memorable moments from their time at UPMC Children’s was a visit from Major League Baseball (MLB) umpires in town for a Pittsburgh Pirates game. Together with the Pirate Parrot mascot, the umpires delivered Build-A-Bear gifts to the children.
Later that evening, the family watched the Pirates game from Jack’s hospital room, and Jack and Olivia excitedly pointed out the umpires they met that day.
It was a healing experience for Jack — one his parents think helped with his recovery.
One tough kid
After eight days in the hospital, Jack was finally discharged home. He continues to heal, with hopes of eventually returning fully to his normal endeavors, including fishing, riding his bike with Olivia, and even ice hockey.
“Jack is one tough kid, and has been through a lot,” his parents say. “He’s still battling some issues, but he’s resilient and we’re hopeful to have him back to full-speed activities soon!”
The family believes their story illustrates the impact of investing in the hospital and the significance of blood donations. “It’s so important to do what you can to help sick and injured kids,” Mike says. “Cash donations to the hospital are crucial, as well as blood donations for those in need.”
All the difference
Mike and Rebecca hope they never need to return to the hospital, yet they are grateful to have a resource like UPMC Children’s so close by.
“You can’t plan for an accident like this,” Mike says, “but UPMC Children’s was there for us.” Rebecca adds, “The doctors, nurses, and staff extend themselves to provide the best care to every patient, regardless of the circumstances. It makes all the difference.”
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