Patient Stories > Austin McAstocker

Austin McAstocker was riding his bike home from his aunt's house when a pick-up truck struck him. An ambulance took the 13-year-old to the closest Emergency Room, where physicians could see that he had suffered major injuries to his leg. But the hospital did not have a pediatric program, so they contacted St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, where Austin would be able to receive the specialized pediatric trauma care he needed.

St. Christopher's Pediatric Critical Care Transport Team quickly mobilized, sending a specially equipped ambulance to pick up Austin from the other hospital. The Transport Team provides resuscitation, stabilization and inter-facility transfer of pediatric patients requiring care and treatment for a variety of medical and surgical diagnoses, including trauma patients like Austin.

Austin had orthopaedic injuries as well as significant internal bleeding. He initially underwent orthopaedic surgery to address the fractures of his leg growth plates -- areas of growing tissue near the ends of the long bones in children and adolescents -- and relieve excessive pressure in his leg muscles. Later he required additional emergency surgery due to an injury to a major blood vessel and an injury to his colon.

The rapid response of the Transport Team allowed his surgeon and the Trauma Team to address Austin's needs when every moment was critical.

His parents are grateful for the excellent care their son received and the time Austin's doctors took to explain everything to them in a way that they could understand. His mother says that everyone at St. Chris was so caring and made them feel like family.

Now that Austin's injuries have healed, he has returned to the activities he enjoys -- riding his scooter, biking and performing with the school drama club.