Staff Writer
ASHLAND – A local toddler is recovering in a Bangor hospital after being run over in his driveway Sept. 2.
“The accident happened on Route 163 at the outskirts of town,” said Chief Cyr Martin, of the Ashland Police Department. “It’s my understanding the child was in the house. When a relative got in a vehicle to back out, the boy got out to go with his father. The relative didn’t see him, the child was knocked down and the vehicle ran over his head.”
Martin said the relative, identified only as the child’s uncle, and the father, later identified as Gary Whitmore, immediately drove the boy, age 2, to a health center in Ashland.
“They didn’t wait for an ambulance. From there, officials called 9-1-1 for the Ashland Ambulance Service. The child was then brought to The Aroostook Medical Center, and from there flown to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor,” said Martin.
No charges are pending at this time, Martin said.
Initially, doctors told family members the prognosis didn’t look good and that recovery from such a serious head injury was unlikely.
“The doctor said Devin (the child) had maybe a 20 percent chance to survive. My wife (Denise) and I didn’t want to believe that and began to pray,” said Whitmore.
Whitmore said at first, it was hard to believe Devin would make it through, but as days passed, the boy continued to improve.
“I knew kids were resilient and could withstand a lot, but if you’d seen what I’d seen, you wouldn’t have thought Devin would survive,” said Whitmore.
As of Monday, Sept. 8, Devin remained in the ICU Unity at EMMC but was slowly showing signs of improvement.
“He’s doing rather well, compared to four days ago. They (doctors) took the breathing machine off Monday – sort of a test run to see if he could breath on his own. So far, he’s doing ok,” said Whitmore in a phone interview Monday afternoon.
Whitmore said the right side of the boy’s skull was crushed in the accident and that he’s had a couple seizures as a result of the injury.
“They were able to control the seizures with medication. Doctors have kept Devin in a semi-drug-induced coma to prevent further injury to his brain,” said Whitmore.
“He’s gonna live; that’s all that matters. They said he may have to deal with seizures the rest of his life. But we’ll deal with whatever he has to deal with. I don’t care if I have to carry him around, just to have him alive and with us. He’s our son and we love him. We’ll do whatever it takes. You do what you have to do for your children,” Whitmore said, adding the family is no stranger to children with special needs, having an older son, age 4, who’s autistic.
Whitmore said Devin’s a “spunky pain in the butt and always has been.” He said that has been evident to even the doctors treating him.
“Even with the coma, he seemed to be trying to pull tubes out. They’ve kept him in a coma because CAT scans are still showing a lot of blood on the brain. But he’s a fighter and has amazed all of us, including the doctors, in the week he’s been at EMMC,” said Whitmore.
It will be a slow road to recovery, with a lot of medical treatment required to help Devin heal. To help offset some of the expense, a number of fund-raisers are being planned to help the family.
“Spud Speedway is doing a couple of fund-raiser in the next few weeks. Area churches and others have contacted us and said they’re putting on events as well,” said Whitmore.
Girl Scout Troop 241, of Ashland, will be holding a bottle drive Saturday, Sept. 13, to help with medical expenses. Troop 241 will again be helping the family on Saturday, Sept. 20, when they plan to hold a bean hole bean supper as a fund-raiser for Devin.
Whitmore said the fact Devin is even alive is a “miracle.”
“I now believe in miracles. Devin was given about a 20 percent chance to survive. Doctors have since upgraded that to about a 90 percent chance. The doctors keep telling us they don’t know how Devin came through this – to do so well. But I know the power of prayer now. We’ve had so many people praying and doing all they can for Devin. It’s nothing short of a miracle he’s still with us,” said Whitmore.
The outpouring of concern for his son and efforts by the medical staff who’ve been treating Devin have been unbelievable, said Whitmore.
“So many people have offered prayers. The medical staff have been amazing. Strangers have made donations. We’ve had so many offers of help. There’s probably close to 100,000 people who’ve touched our lives since this happened. If we could, we’d thank each one individually. A simple thank-you just doesn’t seem enough,” said Whitmore. “We’re (the family) is just so grateful to see Devin improving. It’ll take time, but just knowing he’s alive is what matters the most. I’m just glad to still have my little boy.”
Cards, letters or donations for the family can be sent by mail to: Gary Whitmore, 905 Presque Isle Road, Ashland, ME 04732.
