Vol. 30, No. 3
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Be a Hero for Children campaign
The entire cost to complete the Wallace Critical Care Complex was funded through the generous support of the many heroes who joined with Dayton Children’s to provide “Intensive caring at its best.”
We are grateful to our community for their support of this Heroes campaign priority, which enables Dayton Children’s to provide the very best care for children of this region.
Call 937-641-3405 to find out how you can Be a Hero for Children.
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| Dayton Children's Focus |
| Intensive caring at its best |
David Graham benefits from region ’s pediatric intensive care unit
On a bright spring day in April, David Graham, 13, of Franklin was passing the afternoon at a walking track near his house. He was on his skateboard and his dog Jack was pulling him along. His mother Noelle was walking nearby.
As two women approached David, he tried to move out of the way to let them pass. Unfortunately, Jack went the other way.
David, who wasn’t wearing a helmet, fell and hit his head. He was alert enough to call his mom from one of the ladies’ cell phones and she came running. Noelle walked David and Jack home, but as soon as they got home, David started vomiting very hard. Noelle called her husband David who came home, and they took their son to Middletown Regional Hospital.
The staff at Middletown took David for a CT scan and told his parents that he had injured his brain.
“I honestly thought he was going to have a concussion and would need bed rest,” Noelle says. “I was so upset because I hadn’t reminded him to wear his helmet. Hearing them say his brain was injured was the most sinking, helpless feeling. I couldn’t make it better.”
Middletown Regional’s staff called for Dayton Children's mobile intensive care unit, the hospital’s pediatric transport service.
Dayton Children’s has the region’s only pediatric transport team. The transport team provides free transport to Dayton Children’s from all hospitals in the region.
Noelle rode with her son to Dayton Children’s. Because of his injury, he didn’t really know what was going on, she says. He was in a lot of pain and would throw up every time he moved. By the time he arrived at Dayton Children’s, a baseball-sized lump on his head had changed into a bump shaped like an upside-down horseshoe.
“Dayton Children’s staff was waiting for us when we got to the emergency room,” Noelle says. “They let us stay with him every minute and never told us we were in the way.”
David had a large contusion – or bruise – on his left temporal lobe, just behind his eye, says Todd Maugans, MD, a pediatric neurosurgeon at Dayton Children’s. He also had some other small hemorrhages as a result of his fall.
“David’s brain was jostled considerably within his skull,” Dr. Maugans says. “Even with what may be perceived to be a minor injury, significant brain injury can happen. The brain is like any other part of your body. If you hurt it, it’s going to swell. That’s what happened with David and that’s why he had increased vomiting.”
David was admitted to Dayton Children’s pediatric intensive care unit, where he would spend the next few days. David’s injury required close monitoring, Dr. Maugans says. It was important that he be cared for in the pediatric intensive care unit, where specially trained staff could care for him and his family. (See below for more information.)
The latest technology and healing environment set a new standard for pediatric intensive care services in the region
“The expert training of the intensive care physicians and nurses played a large role in David’s recovery,” Dr. Maugans says.
“Our pediatric intensive care unit staff knew what signs to look for to see if he had progressive injury. The monitoring and attention they provided prevented David from having surgery.”
The Grahams were very pleased with the care they received at Dayton Children’s.
“Everyone was just wonderful to us,” Noelle says. “They were patient and kind, and they always explained what they were giving him and what was going on.”
Dayton Children’s staff provides family-centered care – involving parents in daily discussions about their child’s care and working closely with parents to address the child’s issues, including pain management.
“The staff stayed right with David and saw to his every need,” Noelle says. “Amazingly to me, they were just as concerned about me and my husband. They made sure we had everything we needed to get through that awful night. Their care made everything so much easier for us.”
About a week after the accident, David returned to school. He only had a couple of headaches and his latest CT scans show no signs of permanent damage. From now on David will wear his helmet while skateboarding, Noelle says.
“His recovery is just a miracle,” she adds. “The staff at Dayton Children’s took excellent care of our son and us, and now he is doing just fine.”
| The Wallace Critical Care Complex |
The Grahams were happy to learn that Dayton Children’s recently opened a newly renovated pediatric intensive care unit and intermediate care unit to help other kids like David.
The Wallace Critical Care Complex offers family-centered care in a child-friendly, healing environment with the most up-to-date technology for the most seriously ill and injured children. The region’s only pediatric intensive care unit offers even more amenities for families, including private rooms, a place for parents to spend the night in the room, a family lounge with shower, laundry and kitchen facilities and a PlayStation 2 in every room.
Unsurpassed pediatric care
- Conveniently located for quick access to the level II trauma and emergency center, surgery and medical imaging.
- Quick access to a full complement of pediatric specialists.
- Staffed by hospital-based, board-certified pediatric intensivists, specially trained in the care of critically ill children.
- All nurses have pediatric advanced life support training and have completed trauma nurse core curriculum.
- The specially trained staff also includes an advanced practice nurse, respiratory therapists and staff assistants.
For more information, visit here.
Table of Contents |
HealthBeat
Are you ready to hit the road?
Lawn mowing:
not for kids
Start early to prevent skin cancer
Features
Intensive caring
at its best
- Pediatric intensive care unit
- Wallace Critical Care Complex
- Be a hero for children campaign
A Survivor's Story
- Dayton Children's Comprehensive Care Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
- Dayton Children's expands partnership with Middletown
- New specialists at Dayton Children's
- Serving you better
- Free e-news from Dayton Children's
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