Casey Schmitt

Heyburn, Idaho

Casey Schmitt likes “anything on wheels with a motor,” he says. In September 2006, Casey was involved in a roll-over accident in a sand rail, an all-terrain vehicle with no sides. The accident broke 12 bones and nearly destroyed his trachea (windpipe). Casey was transported from Minidoka Memorial Hospital near his hometown to St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise. Doctors there determined that he needed specialized trachea surgery, and Airlift Northwest was called to transport him to the University of Washington. “The nurses were incredible,” recalls his mom Laurie. “They clearly had things under control.” Casey recovered from surgery at Children’s Hospital in Seattle, getting his lungs and windpipe to work again. He spent another month in rehab, gaining back strength and weight. After as many as seven surgical procedures, Casey is back home in Idaho and getting straight A’s in his junior year in high school. He’s thinking about doing anything with engines or computers. “I used to always be the first to try something,” he says, “I’ve toned down what I do.”

Minidoka Memorial Hospital (Rupert, ID) to St. Alphonsus Hospital (Boise, ID) to University of Washington Medical Center (Seattle, WA) to Chil-dren’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center (Seattle, WA)