An exciting birthday party took an unexpected turn when a playful game of tag ended in a traumatic injury. During the celebration, 6-year-old Joey was bitten on the face by a dog, an incident that quickly changed the tone of the day.
Thankfully, his parents didn’t have to think twice about where to turn. As longtime patients of Nemours Children’s, they took their son to the place they’ve trusted for years. “We instantly knew we were in the best of hands considering the situation we were facing,” shares Joey’s mom, Shae. “Joey was in incredible pain, and his right lip was in a horrible condition. We were unsure of the severity of his situation, but we knew Nemours would be able to help him and provide him with trusted care. This was proven true upon our arrival.”
“The care offered to Joey and the whole family was immediate and genuine,” says Shae. “While we awaited the medical team’s plan, Joey was comforted with Uno cards and a Batman blanket, both of which he keeps today. There was also a wonderful nurse who talked to Joey to explain what to expect with surgery, even showing him what the surgical room would look like. All of this really helped him understand what was going on. The anesthesiologist and her team were likewise amazing. She was hilarious, exchanging jokes with Joey right before surgery. You could just tell how amazing she is at her job and how much she cares about her patients (and of course, Joey gave her a joke right back, before being wheeled back to surgery).”
“When we learned that Joey would need surgery with the possibility of a skin graft on his face, as parents, we were scared and worried for him,” says Shae. “When the hospital gave us the name of his surgeon, we immediately searched the internet for information on her. What we read put us at ease – Dr. Rhoda Powell specializes in pediatric surgery, and her profile reflects her expertise in cleft anomalies and maxillofacial surgeries. That of course sounds promising, but meeting her sealed the deal, as she put us at total ease. She explained what the surgery would entail and how Joey would likely recover. She answered all of our questions, and we wholeheartedly trusted her with our son.”
“Seeing Joey immediately following surgery was scary for so many reasons, but we were immediately thankful that she was able to reconstruct his lip,” Shae explains. “He had a lot of stitches, both internally and externally. Although his lip will never be the same, he continues on his healing journey, and we were, and remain, so thankful to Dr. Powell and her team. We feel so lucky and thankful to have such skilled surgeons and nurses in our area. This was such a scary time for Joey, and for us – to say we appreciate Dr. Powell, Nemours, the nurses, and everyone we encountered is an understatement.”
Joey and his family will continue to visit Nemours to monitor his healing and address any additional care that may be needed. While his parents are still curious about the potential for long-term scarring, they are grateful for Joey’s outcomes so far.
When asked what advice she would give to other parents navigating a similar situation, Shae shares, “Trust the team and the expertise at Nemours. Ask all of your questions along the way, because they are there to help and will not make you feel like you are being a burden.”
From the first urgent visit to the skilled hands in the operating room and the continued care during recovery, Joey and his family have been comforted by their Nemours care team. When the unexpected happened, their family found trust in Nemours Children’s Health.
