Kyle
Preston
Wenatchee, Washington
When 16-year-old Kyle Preston got behind
the wheel to drive to his first full day of work at a local
golf course last summer,
he learned a powerful and painful lesson. A late night left
him simply too tired to drive. He drifted off to sleep, and
his car
crossed the center line into the path of an oncoming semi-trailer
truck. The driver swerved to avoid him, but Kyle collided with
the back of the truck as it passed, sheering off the side of
his car. Kyle’s seat belt held him tight to what was left
of the car, with multiple, life-threatening injuries. He was
rushed to Central Washington Hospital, and his mother Laurie,
who was on duty at the pharmacy, was called to the ER. After
emergency surgery to remove his crushed spleen, Kyle was transported
by Airlift Northwest to Harborview for surgery on compound leg
fractures, followed by surgery at UW Medical Center to patch
his torn aorta. He returned to Harborview for surgery on his
shattered shoulder. “Cars are definitely not a toy,” says
Kyle, who faces more surgery and physical therapy to regain his
strength and range of motion. “He’s incredibly lucky
to be here,” adds his mom. From Central Washington Hospital
(Wenatchee, WA) to Harborview Medical Center (Seattle, WA)
(More
patient and partner stories here)
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