Hope is a truly powerful force, and in spite of seemingly concrete medical facts and statistics, sometimes the unimaginable can happen. Happily, this has turned out to be the case for the Gonzalez family, in Idaho.
According to reports, four-year-old Killian Gonzalez has beaten the odds to survive being clinically decapitated, and is even expected to make a full recovery.
The little boy was travelling back home from his birthday celebrations with his mother Brandy, last Friday, when their vehicle was involved in a car crash.
Killian was internally decapitated in the crash, meaning his skull had separated from his spine. This is a rare condition, and statistics from previous cases offered Killian a survival chance of less than 1%.
So, what made Killian’s case different to all the others? A passing stranger who stopped to help the family held the child’s head in place for over half an hour until an ambulance arrived.
Leah Woodward was in the area with her husband when the accident occurred, and they immediately rushed to the family’s aid. After Leah’s husband smashed the back window, to get to Killian, Leah took stock of his injuries and supported his head.
It is thought that Leah’s actions helped to save Killian’s life. The child didn’t even require surgery for that injury, and he is expected to make a full recovery in hospital.
Speaking to local news outlet KTLA News, Killian’s mum Brandy said: “He’s doing amazing. He’s shocked everyone there. They keep telling me he’s the talk of the hospital.”
She added, of heroic Leah: “She saved my baby. She gave him back.”
Well done to this courageous lady for her quick thinking – she has undoubtedly saved a life.
