Patient stories highlight tenth annual WVU Medicine Jon Michael Moore Trauma Center Night of Recognition
On Oct. 10, the WVU Medicine Jon Michael Moore Trauma Center honored three patients during its tenth annual Night of Recognition.
The WVU Medicine Marketing and Communications Department produced three videos that tell the patients' stories.
Chase Doyle
Chase Doyle was on his way to his first grade Halloween party on Oct. 27, 2018, when he was hit by a car. His skull was fractured and he had bleeding in his brain, which caused difficulty breathing. His pelvis was fractured in two places.
After 11 days in the hospital, Chase went home and began physical therapy. Five months later, he was back on the soccer field. Click here to see Chase's story.
Michaelyn Davitian
On Sept. 30, 2018, Michaelyn Davitian was riding on the back of a motorcycle with a friend near Parkersburg and was involved in an accident.
The motorcycle struck a car in front of it, and she was thrown from the motorcycle. She sustained multiple life-threatening injuries and had significant bleeding in her abdomen, liver, spleen, and kidneys. Her right kidney and spleen were ultimately removed. She underwent an angiogram, a type of interventional radiology procedure that uses X-ray technology to guide a small catheter through the patient’s major arteries, and had three surgeries.
About a month later, she began rehabilitation and is now in school training to become a physical therapist.
Click here to see Michaelyn's story.
Chris Bertugli
Chris Bertugli hopped on his motorcycle one July morning last year and headed to work. But a terrible accident sent him to WVU Medicine's trauma center, where the quick, expert work of WVU Medicine trauma surgeons – and the use of a new emergency treatment device – saved his life.
Bertugli was bleeding to death because of a badly broken pelvis. Doctors used a novel procedure, called resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) to block the blood to his pelvis and legs just long enough for surgeons to quickly repair the hemorrhage.
Bertugli survived but had extensive broken bones, spine injuries, abdominal injuries, kidney damage, injured limbs, and a shattered pelvis. He had 15 surgeries in 12 days and was in a coma for 14 days.
Click here to see Chris' story.
Also, WVU Medicine Marketing and Communications Department produced a 10th anniversary video, commemorating the best patient stories from the past 10 years.
“Over the last 10 years, we’ve recognized dozens of patients and hundreds of individuals who participated in their care,” Alison Wilson, MD, executive chair of the WVU Critical Care and Trauma Institute, said. “At the heart of this event is the recognition of many people who often go uncredited and participate in each trauma patient’s care. Without all of these professionals, these trauma victims would not go on to become trauma survivors. It is our honor to celebrate these hardworking individuals.”
To see a photo gallery from the event, click here.