Casey
Schmitt
Heyburn, Idaho
Casey Schmitt likes “anything
on wheels with a motor,” he
says. In September 2006, Casey was involved in a roll-over
accident in a sand rail, an all-terrain vehicle with no sides.
The accident
broke 12 bones and nearly destroyed his trachea (windpipe).
Casey was transported from Minidoka Memorial Hospital near
his hometown
to St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise. Doctors there determined
that he needed specialized trachea surgery, and Airlift Northwest
was called to transport him to the University of Washington. “The
nurses were incredible,” recalls his mom Laurie. “They
clearly had things under control.” Casey recovered from
surgery at Children’s Hospital in Seattle, getting his
lungs and windpipe to work again. He spent another month in
rehab, gaining back strength and weight. After as many as seven
surgical
procedures, Casey is back home in Idaho and getting straight
A’s in his junior year in high school. He’s thinking
about doing anything with engines or computers. “I used
to always be the first to try something,” he says, “I’ve
toned down what I do.” Minidoka Memorial Hospital (Rupert,
ID) to St. Alphonsus Hospital (Boise, ID) to University of
Washington Medical Center (Seattle,
WA) to Chil-dren’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center
(Seattle, WA)
(More
patient and partner stories here)
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