Auto Accident Father and Son Deeply Thank Surgeons and Therapists

On a cold winter's morning around 7:30 a.m. on March 18, 2024, 44-year-old Christopher Douglas from Delhi, New York, was driving the family's 2014 Chevrolet Traverse on a partially icy New York State Highway 28 between Oneonta and Delhi, taking his then 13-year-old son Jackson to school when, coming around an icy bend, another driver from the opposite direction hit Christopher's SUV head-on. Besides Chris, in his SUV was his son and nine-year-old yellow lab, Nora.

Mr. Douglas and his son were rushed to Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, where their lives were thankfully saved, but their injuries were severe. His son, who is OK these days and is now 14, fractured his back and also has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from the nightmare of the accident. Sadly, their dog Nora sustained injuries so bad the family eventually had to put her down. Chris was in the hospital's intensive care unit for 91 days, and doctors and nurses felt his outcome could go either way, but he thankfully survived.

"The team at Bassett saved my life," Douglas says with a heavy heart. "I almost didn't make it, but I knew in my heart that I needed to be there for my son. After being at Bassett, the therapists at Schenectady Center were there for me, and they listened to me. There, I wanted to progress faster, but I needed to listen to my body and the therapists."

Christopher Douglas, who has a history of muscular dystrophy since he was almost 20 years old in 2001, sustained multiple injuries and was in orthopedic surgery that day. His deep injuries included broken ribs, whereby his acute right lateral 5th through 8th rib were displaced fractures, but it doesn't end there. From the number of sternal fractures and spinal/vertebral injuries to his many massive leg and ankle fractures, Chris' recovery would take a long time. March 18 was only the first surgery, he had follow-up surgery on April 3 where he had Open Reduction Internal Fixation (ORIF) surgery where his fractures were too massive for a cast or splint on his ankles and legs. Additionally and subsequently, he was placed with a trach with ventilator support and a PEG tube.

Following his three months of survival and operations at Bassett Medical Center, Chris was transferred to the 240-bed skilled nursing facility Schenectady Center on Altamonte Avenue for both physical and occupational therapy on June 20. Led by Director of Rehabilitation Brian Reese, Chris was in bad shape, so he worked closely with his physical and occupational therapists carefully to take it slowly due to much of his injuries being primarily on the lower end of his left femur, which is at his left knee joint.

"We worked slowly and took each step one at a time to get him moving a bit when he first entered," said Reese. "I have tremendous faith in our therapists here because they hear the patient, listen to their sensitivities, and work with him to make progress in each session. In Chris' case, that works because Chris wants to get better, which is always the best attitude."

Mr. Douglas's firm desire to be with his wife and son back home drove him to get stronger, and by August, Reese's team at Schenectady Center saw the light at the end of the tunnel for Chris, and on August 17, Chris was discharged home, even though he still needs at-home care. Chris today is making excellent progress, and thanks to the team at Schenectady Center and at Bassett Medical Center for not only saving his life but also giving him his life back. Still, he strives to get better while at home.

"When I was there, I had a goal in mind to get better, and from day one, I've always wanted to get better and go home. I knew I had to pace myself and be patient, but at the same time, get better positively," said Chris.

Still, there's a road ahead of him, and on an August 27 phone call, Chris is now more at ease as he tries to put that incident behind him and thinks positively of the future.

"My son is doing much better, and things are moving well at home."