'Miracle' as boy survives decapitation; Toddler alive and well despite literally 'losing' his head in car crash in Australia
This might sound unbelievable, but is an astonishing real life story and is being touted as a "miracle" by many. Doctors from a hospital in Brisbane, Australia, successfully reattached the head of a toddler to his neck after it was internally severed in a horrific car crash.
Last month, on Sept. 15, 16-month-old Jackson Taylor was involved in a near-fatal accident with his mom and nine-year-old sister, when the car they were riding in collided with another vehicle travelling at 70 miles per hour.
Due to the massive impact of the crash, Jackson's head was ripped apart from his neck in what is called an internal decapitation. He was airlifted to a hospital in Brisbane from the crash site.
Spinal surgeon Dr. Geoff Askin and his team took on the seemingly impossible task of reattaching the young boy's head back to his neck, and saving his life in the process.
Askin, known as the godfather of spinal surgery in Australia, led a six-hour surgery on Jackson. The spinal surgeon's team started by attaching a halo device to Jackson's skull, so that it would be held completely still during the operation.
The team of surgeons used a tiny piece of wire to reattach his vertebrae. They also took a piece of the young boy's rib to graft together two of his damaged vertebrae, according to The Mirror.
Askin said the young boy's injuries were the worst he had seen throughout the many years he has practiced medicine.
"A lot of children wouldn't survive that injury in the first place, and if they did and they were resuscitated then they may never move or breathe again," the spinal surgeon said.
Miraculously, young Jackson survived the operation. He is now still wearing his halo device, which all going well is scheduled to be removed in eight weeks.
Doctors believe the young boy will be able to live a normal life after the surgery.
"It was a miracle," Jackson's mother, Rylea, said in a separate interview with 7NewsMelbourne.