Page 10 - Innovation-Spring-2016

ZACHERY GALLAGHER

Trauma patient’s life saved following serious motorcycle accident

On October 12, 2014, Shauna Durrwachter, arrived at Marian
Regional Medical Center in a panic after her son, Zachery
Gallagher, was in a serious motorcycle accident. Zachery slid
on concrete for 30 feet and was pinned under a van, requiring
emergency responders to use the Jaws of Life to remove him.

Zachery was on life support for one month following the
accident. He broke almost every bone in his body, suffered from
a collapsed lung, head trauma, multiple surgeries, and countless
other healing hurdles to overcome due to his serious injuries.

As Shauna arrived at Marian, she realized it may be the last day she
could see her son alive, but what stuck with her was the kind and Zachery Gallagher and his mother, Shauna, smile for a photo with two
confident manner in which the staff responded to her son’s case. of Zachery’s physicians, James Kasper (left), MD, orthopedic surgeon,
and Nicholas Slimack (right), MD, neurosurgeon. Other physician
caregivers included Barry Feldman, MD, intensivist, Stacey Harmon,
Shauna explains, “The high level of care that my son received MD, emergency services, and Han Soo Kim, MD, trauma surgeon, in
was indescribable. From the physicians, nurses, occupational addition to countless nurses, therapists, and health care professionals.
therapists, and physical therapists, to the front entrance and
cafeteria staff, they all brought my son a gift—some knew specializing in emergency resuscitation, surgery, and intensive
how to control his fever, heal injuries, and others knew how care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As Zachery’s story
to keep me positive. As my world was collapsing around me, shows, the survival of emergency and trauma patients depends
Emergency Department nurse, Macy, escorted me to see my on the quality and proximity to lifesaving medical care.
son. Before I entered the room, she held my hand and walked
in with me, offering the support I needed and making me feel Looking back on the experience Shauna states, “On the day
as if everything was going to be okay.” of my son’s accident, the medical professionals at Marian not
only saved one life, they saved two—both Zachery’s and mine.
As a designated Level III Trauma Center, Marian provides I was in the unfathomable position of possibly losing my son,
patients, like Zachery, with access to medical experts but today he is alive and well against all odds.”

Trauma patient Zachery Gallagher hugs Emergency Department physician Stacey Harmon, MD, alongside his mother, Shauna
10 Durrwachter (left), and registered nurse Macy Smith (right). This photo captures the first moment Zachery was reunited with the
Emergency Department caregivers that helped to save his life following a serious motorcycle accident.