HOUSTON – One August morning in 2010, Houston viewers heard about a car accident where only two passengers survived. One of the survivors was pregnant. Her baby is now a teenager.
Tony Pierre has grown up being treated at Shriners Children’s Texas.
“It was really just a blessing,” Tony said.
His mother, Krystal Pierre was only two months along in her pregnancy with Tony when she was paralyzed in that car accident.
“My sister was driving, had a stroke, and died immediately,” Krystal explained. “It had just newly rained, so there was nothing that we could do. The car just went over on the side of the road and hit an embankment.”
Krystal made it full term and says she knew from previously working at Shriners Children’s Hospital that if Tony lost his leg, they could heal as a family.
“I was more sad of the people I lost, not of the things that I lost. Because you can’t bring people back, but I could get a wheelchair and I could figure out how to walk, or we can get a prosthetic leg,” Krystal said.
Pediatric Orthotic and Prosthetic Services (POPS) is onsite at every Shriners Children’s location.
“He’s come here basically since he was a baby,” said prosthetist Elise Reagan.
The benefit of having POPS right on site is that the staff, like Reagan, works directly with children to create prostheses specific to their needs and abilities.
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Tony has needed a new leg every summer and this year it’s long overdue. Luckily, with POPS, they can create whatever he needs. During this visit, he got a longer leg and running blade.
Then he leaves moving, walking and running better than before.
“I can actually walk around, like, a lot easier, a lot more agile and a lot more sleek,” Tony said.
Since Shriners Children’s makes sure nothing holds him back, he can become the person he was meant to be.
“During all the surgeries I had, all of the comas I was in and medicine I had to take, and he stayed as long as he was supposed to stay and came out just fine, just with a leg problem,” Krystal reflected. “He’s my miracle. I just can’t wait to see what he’s going to become, what kind of man he becomes in the future.”
As always, the hospital is able to assist in miracle cases like Tony’s at no cost to the family.