Alexander catches some sunshine on the patio.
by Susie Scarlatos
Alexander’s Mom
At the end of March, our family visited Park City from Winter Park, Florida over spring break. On Friday, March 21st, while skiing down a run, my son Alexander ran into a pole. Several members of the Ski Patrol took him down the mountain and into the medical clinic. Alexander kept losing consciousness, and while there were no outward signs of injury, they quickly surmised he had some internal injuries.
The clinic staff mentioned a hospital in Park City, but the attending doctor strongly encouraged us to go to Primary Children’s Hospital. We rode to the hospital in an ambulance, where Alexander was immediately treated in the ER. He stayed in the ICU that night and then moved to a non-critical floor the next afternoon. He stayed there for a week until he was released and able to fly home to Florida.
It was the longest, most agonizing week of our lives, but the staff made all the difference in the world. We were met with an incredible kindness, professionalism, and caring demeanor from everyone we came in contact with. The staff never rushed Alexander, but only gave him words of encouragement. We were put at ease knowing he was in very capable hands.
While in the ICU, Dr. Douglas Barnhart met with us several times and took the time to speak with the head of Nephrology at Nemours Hospital in Orlando, Florida. They spoke via conference call about the surgery Alexander needed and his present state of health. Dr. David Skarda also spoke with the doctors at Nemours throughout the week to keep them updated on Alexander’s progress so that he would have a seamless transition going home. Knowing that the doctors at Primary Children’s would accommodate us by communicating with our hometown hospital gave us an enormous comfort during an unbearable situation. The doctors were very patient with us and tolerant of the many questions we had.
Recently, Alexander had a CT scan with contrast. He is left with 1/3 of his right kidney, but it is functioning properly. There are no traces of a urenoma or aneurisms. He is healing and I know that his progress is in large part to God, but also to the wonderful and expert care he received from the doctors that treated him and from the nurses and techs who helped nurture him while he was in the hospital. We are so blessed that Alexander is recovering and will heal in time.
Story Lines is a feature on Play Ground telling the personal stories and experiences of people cared for at the hospital. If you would like to share your experience on the blog, please contact us.
