Horrible injury spawns heart-warming response

A week following a lawn-mower accident in North Augusta, Dean Perrin said the image of his son, Luke, propped underneath the family's riding-mower is like a 'still picture' embedded in his memory. When I try to sleep, it just flashes to him underneath that tractor, said Perrin Wednesday, minutes after admitting the two-and-a-half year old into emergency surgery at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. The picture of him haunts me. Luke, who underwent a second surgery Wednesday following the accident on June 29, appears to be recovering well, says his father, despite an enormous wound on his son's right leg. Now they're going to do skin grafting, where they take skin from his inner thigh and put it where the wound is, Perrin added. The procedure has a 95 per cent success rate, he said. But for both parents of the tiny, blonde-haired tot, the events of that day are never far from memory. On the morning of June 29, Dean Perrin began mowing his 38-acre property in North Augusta, including a large fenced-in dog run. As Perrin began mowing the inside of the 100-foot enclosed space, he saw that his son who loves running and playing outdoors was on the outside of the fence, and at the opposite end of the dog-run. When I was halfway to the back... I looked back and saw that he was still at the front gate outside the fence, Perrin said while recalling the incident. I drove another 15-feet, I hit a little stump... Put my foot on reverse and then I turned around and I don't know how he got there but he was right there, underneath the tractor. Perrin said he managed to lift the tractor with one hand while using the other to scoop his son out from under the tractor, ultimately fearing the worst. I frantically looked and just pictured him having no legs, said Perrin, while his wife, Theressa, was in the house with their other children. I said 'Oh my God' he has all of his limbs, and I turned him sideways a bit and I saw the massive gash. While Theressa Perrin called 9-1-1, Dean said he held Luke in his arms, knowing an ambulance might take 20 minutes to get there. I jumped in the truck, I yelled to my little seven-year-old, whos outside screaming, to go get mommy and a towel and get in the truck. Between the time of the accident and before arriving at Brockville General Hospital, Perrin said something miraculous happened. The family quickly sped towards Brockville, says Perrin, but just before arriving at County Road 6, he received a call from Ontario Provincial Police. They said: 'Okay, we're going to meet you and guide you to the hospital. Look for OPP and flash your lights. Driving between 130-140 kilometres-per-hour, Perrin arrived at Parkedale Avenue and North Augusta Road to find that OPP and Brockville Police had worked together to create a pathway. There were road blocks at three different intersections, and every street guiding us all the way to the hospital, Perrin said, referring to the effort has an amazing thing. Just 15 minutes after arriving at BGH, health-care specialists were preparing to transfer Luke to CHEO for further treatment and surgery. And while Perrin said he feels guilty for what happened, the family remains optimistic, hoping to raise an estimated $7,000 for two-months of uncovered home-care treatment. In an effort to help with home-care services and an advanced-healing vacuum unit, family members have set up a donation and Facebook page for anyone who may be interested in helping. But despite the accident, several surgeries and eventual home-care services, the Perrin's said they're just relieved to know Luke will play outside again soon.

FACTBOX: HOW TO HELP Donations for Lukes ongoing care can be made online at: http://www.gofundme.com/HELP-LUKE-WADE https://www.facebook.com/lukewaderecovery

See the rest here:
Horrible injury spawns heart-warming response