After Horrifying Fall One Year Ago, Madison Miracle Baby Doing Just Fine

From the Clark Family: 

"Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make every day a holiday and celebrate just living!" ~Amanda Bradley

Our Miracle Baby…One Year Later

It has been one year since our world was flipped upside down.

On the morning of June 8th,  we kissed our children, Landon, 14 months, and Emma, 2 years old, goodbye like every other morning.

Later on that day I received a phone call from our niece who was hysterical and the only thing I could make out was “Landon fell."

Knowing how much Landon likes to climb, I figured that maybe he tumbled off a kitchen chair, or worst case scenario, on the stairs.  However, I was wrong, way wrong.

Landon fell out of our 2nd floor window, down three stories to our walkout basement patio.  When my niece put a police officer on the phone, my heart just dropped.

“This is bad,” I thought.

Shortly after, our very caring neighbor called and told me to get to Yale New Haven Hospital right away.

I picked up my wife, Stephanie, at the school where she teaches. Four hours after kissing our beautiful healthy children goodbye, she was on the phone with the hospital giving permission to perform any life saving measures that were necessary.

As we frantically ran through the hospital doors, we were greeted by a social worker and chaplain.  They informed us that Landon was in critical condition, and to prepare us for what we were about to see.  Amongst the frenzy of doctors, we were able to catch a glimpse of our baby boy. I recognized his new grey overalls and orange shirt that were cut off, yet I wasn’t prepared to see his skull like that or to see him so quiet. I remember touching his toes, since they seemed the only safe place to touch.

I wanted him to know that we were there.

Shortly after Landon was wheeled away for a CAT scan and we began asking anybody that we saw if they thought he was going to make it. We wanted an ounce of hope from anyone who would give it to us.

Dr. Charles Duncan (Neurosurgeon) greeted Stephanie and me in the Pediatric ICU area.  He showed us the CAT scan images, and informed us that Landon would need surgery.

Although his injuries were serious, Dr. Duncan was confident that he would survive, yet they were still taking it hour by hour. During the three hour surgery, we prayed, we cried, and hugged one another as family and friends began to trickle in.

After surgery, we discovered that despite several skull fractures, a minor laceration on his liver, and a broken clavicle, miraculously, Landon had no injury to his brain.  From this point on, his prognosis was very positive.  After six days of healing and amazing care at Yale New Haven Hospital, Landon was released to go home.

Today, Landon is a very healthy active 2 year old.  He adores his big sister Emma.  He is a fish in the water and loves to play with trucks and balls.  Landon has no side effects from the injury, aside from an ear-to-ear scar-a reminder of the day we could have lost him.  Since June 8th, 2012, we make every effort to appreciate each day we have with one another, to appreciate the small ordinary moments, as well as the big ones, and to make sure our children know they are so loved.

We would like to thank the Town of Madison residents for all their thoughts and prayers.

We are so blessed to be raising our family in such a wonderful town.  Additionally, to the Madison Police, Fire, and Rescue squad we owe everything to you.  We thank God, for not only your prompt response and life-saving care, but for your words of comfort when we needed them.

Thank you again, to everyone and God Bless.

The Clark Family