From Tragedy to Triumph: Alex’s Journey of Healing and Hope

Last summer, 13-year-old Alex was riding his bike and was struck by a dump truck. He was rushed to Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital and taken to the emergency room in critical condition.

Dr. Diana Haddad, Blythedale's new inpatient medical director, was an attending physician at Maria Fareri and on call that evening. She helped stabilize Alex and admitted him to the intensive care unit in preparation for surgery.

Alex suffered multiple injuries to his lower extremities, including his pelvis, skin, arteries and veins.

“You hope as a physician that you can communicate your optimism,” Dr. Haddad said. “But I wasn’t sure because there were so many variables, and he was so sick.”

Over the course of three months, Alex underwent numerous complicated surgeries. Once medically stable, he was transferred to Blythedale Children’s Hospital in October to begin complex post-surgical rehabilitation, and receive clinical nutrition and medication management.

“When he came to us, our goal was to get him back to his normal life as much as we could,” said Jennifer Buckhout, PT, DPT, a physical therapist at Blythedale.

In the PICU, Alex had to keep his legs extended in front of him to allow skin grafts and other injuries to heal. Early therapy at Blythedale focused on gradually regaining knee mobility — just a few degrees at a time. The process was painful, as blood circulation caused intense tingling sensations in his healing legs.

After his daily therapy sessions, Alex’s family continued the exercises at the Hospital in the evenings, helping him slowly increase his flexibility. By March, he was able to bend both knees beyond 90 degrees.

The next goal was walking.

“The combination of Alex’s determination and excellent surgical repair made us believe he was going to walk again,” Dr. Haddad said.

In April, Alex took his first unassisted steps. His father, Andrew, captured the moment on video.

“He was practicing with his dad in the hallway outside the Village,” Buckhout said. "He had his hands on the railing. His dad said, ‘Just wait for it,’ and [Alex] lets go and starts walking—arms swinging. He looked amazing.”

Two weeks later, Alex was discharged from Blythedale's inpatient unit and transitioned to the Hospital's Day Hospital program. He continues physical therapy during the day while attending the Mount Pleasant Blythedale Union Free School District, and returns home each evening.

He now hopes to return to his community high school in the fall.

When asked what words of encouragement he would offer to others, Alex said, “Stay positive. Stay positive a lot. Don’t think of the bad things. Just try to think ahead. Think of the good things.”

From Alex's family: We extend our deepest gratitude to the dedicated teams at Blythedale Children’s Hospital and Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center for their unwavering support and compassionate care. Additionally, we express our heartfelt appreciation to our extended family, close friends, parish, and local community for their invaluable contributions during this challenging journey. With love and gratitude, Alex & family.