Tragedies often occur without warning or preparation but Mission Hospital’s Trauma Center is always ready. Just days before Thanksgiving, 24-year-old Alex was admitted to Mission Hospital. Alex had suffered a cervical spine fracture with traumatic brain injury during a waterslide accident while vacationing in Mexico with his family.

In the 24 hours immediately following Alex’s trauma, he was transferred to two Mexican hospitals and in four ambulances before he was finally taken by air ambulance to Mission Hospital. A team of nine physicians, including neurosurgeon Dr. Sylvain Palmer, helped Alex begin his journey to recovery.

After multiple surgeries, chest tubes, a pacemaker, and tracheotomy, Alex began to stabilize. Thanks to the amazing care that Alex received from our highly skilled and experienced medical team and his remarkable courage and personal strength, and the loving support of his family, he survived an event that would seem an impossible feat for most.

Alex spent five weeks at Mission Hospital before he was ready for the next step in his recovery, which includes aggressive spinal rehabilitation. Alex is one of the Mission Hospital miracles that your precious Spirit of Giving helped to make possible. We are forever grateful and so are Alex and his family.