Published in Moms & Dads Today magazine, July/August 2017
Responding to Traumatic Events
How St. Luke’s Helped a Student Recover from an ATV Accident
For high school student Isabelle (Izzy) Stauber, August 9, 2015, was just
another day. Until it wasn’t.
“I was at my cabin with my cousins one Sunday, and we decided to
take the four-wheelers out,” Izzy explained. “One second,
I was driving the ATV down the road, and then suddenly, I was stopped.
My cousin told me afterward that I had swerved into the ditch and hit
a tree.”
Her cousins knew she was badly injured. One of them sprinted back to the
cabin to alert his dad (Izzy’s uncle), who immediately took her
to St. Luke’s Regional Trauma Center. Izzy’s family met her
there, where everyone was in tears and in shock from what had happened.
While it was clear her left wrist was broken, the doctors were more concerned
about internal injuries. An emergency doctor, trauma surgeon, neurosurgeon,
and orthopedic surgeon each thoroughly evaluated her. “It was so
reassuring having each specialist come in and look Izzy over,” said
Izzy’s mom, Jessica Stauber, who works at St. Luke’s. “I
knew if anything was wrong, they would find it.”
At the time of the accident, Izzy was wearing a helmet, but it flew off
when she hit the tree. The doctors determined she was suffering a concussion,
also known as a traumatic brain injury. A CT scan revealed a small bleed
at the base of her brain. “It was so scary because we didn’t
know how badly her brain was injured,” said her mom. “We needed
to monitor and wait. Our entire family prayed and prayed and prayed.”
Izzy went into surgery to have her broken wrist set. St. Luke’s Orthopedics
& Sports Medicine’s Dr. David Rust. He inserted a large metal
rod into her wrist to keep it in position during the healing process.
Izzy spent that night in the ICU. “I stayed by her side the whole
night, still not knowing how bad her brain injury was,” said her
mom. “She never lost consciousness, she was not paralyzed –
we had so much to be grateful for.” Early the next morning, another
CT scan was done, and showed the bleeding had stopped. “Our prayers
were answered.”
After one more night at St. Luke’s, Izzy was able to go home. But
the effects were lasting. Her concussion and broken arm affected her into
the school year, keeping her from soccer and hockey practice. Through
it all, Jessica appreciates how well St. Luke’s took care of not
only her daughter, but her whole family.
“Most parents would trade places with an injured child in a heartbeat,”
said Dr. Mark Monte, Izzy’s trauma surgeon. “That’s
why we’re always open and honest with the patient’s family,
reassuring them throughout the process.”
Avoiding ATV Accidents
According to Dr. Monte, “ATV accidents are far too common in our
region,” mostly due to the abundance of outdoor space. Even with
the best precautions, accidents can happen. And those accidents can be
especially tough on children.
“The severity of injuries in accidents can be higher in children
because of their size, but also because children likely haven’t
experienced an event that would cause them to be more careful,”
Dr. Monte explained. “Most people don’t think trauma will
happen to them, and that’s especially true for younger people.”
Dr. Monte continued by pointing out that both the American College of Surgeons
and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that no child under the
age of 16 should drive or ride an ATV. Knowing that it may still happen,
Dr. Monte recommends wearing a helmet (at any age), taking a proper training
course and keeping youth on youth-model ATVs. Adult ATVs are too powerful
and fast for children.
What to Do After a Traumatic Event
If something does go wrong, St. Luke’s Regional Trauma Center –
the region’s first trauma center – can provide immediate expertise and care.
“In trauma, we’re ready to provide outstanding care to whomever
comes through the doors 24/7, 365 days out of the year,” said Dr.
Monte. “At St. Luke’s Regional Trauma Center, we’re
trained and committed to responding immediately, bringing the needed skills
to every patient.”
Ultimately, the decision of where to go in a traumatic event comes down
to comfort and trust. For Dr. Monte, there is no question. "I am
profoundly confident that the team at St. Luke's is who I'd want
taking care of my family."
BELOW: Isabelle (Izzy) Stauber is grateful for good health after a four-wheeler
accident in August 2015. She recently celebrated the confirmation of two
of her cousins who were with her the day of the accident, Jaxson Stauber
(left) and Levi Stauber (right).