"67 days ago, we were devastated when the doctor told us our son's life was in danger and there wasn't much hope," the boy's mother said on 14/7. "Thankfully, a miracle happened, giving him a second chance at life."
The accident occurred on the afternoon of 7/5 while the boy was riding on the back of his father's motorbike. They were stopped at a red light on Hung Vuong Street, in front of Van Lang Park, when a nearly 5-meter-long tree branch, almost 10 centimeters in diameter, fell approximately 20 meters from a tree, striking the boy. It was raining and windy at the time. He was immediately rushed to the hospital.
Dr. Tran Huy Hoan Bao, Head of Neurosurgery at Cho Ray Hospital, said the boy was in a deep coma upon arrival, with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 6 (normal is 15; the lower the score, the deeper the coma). Doctors intubated him for assisted breathing, provided intensive care, and performed imaging scans.
A CT scan revealed diffuse cerebral contusions and hemorrhages, along with a skull fracture. The patient had diffuse axonal injury, a severe form of traumatic brain injury with a high risk of complications. Surgery was not immediately possible, and he was transferred to the Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit. At the time, doctors gave a "guarded prognosis" due to the "very severe brain injury."
After two weeks of intensive medical treatment, the boy gradually improved, eventually able to breathe on his own, and his Glasgow Coma Scale score increased to 8. He was then transferred to the Neurosurgery Department for surgical evaluation.
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Dr. Tran Huy Hoan Bao, Head of Neurosurgery at Cho Ray Hospital, examines the boy's brain scan. Photo courtesy of Cho Ray Hospital |
Dr. Tran Huy Hoan Bao, Head of Neurosurgery at Cho Ray Hospital, examines the boy's brain scan. Photo courtesy of Cho Ray Hospital
According to Dr. Bao, further examination revealed the skull fracture and dural tear were causing cerebrospinal fluid to leak. The surgical team removed the bone fragment embedded in the dura and repaired the tear.
10 days after the first surgery, the boy's consciousness improved, but remained impaired. A CT scan showed ventricular enlargement following the dural repair. A second surgery was performed to drain cerebrospinal fluid from the ventricles into the abdomen. The boy's condition significantly improved after the second surgery. He began to recognize his family and respond to some commands.
"The boy still has some residual effects from the severe brain injury. We are discharging him for neurological rehabilitation at home, with follow-up appointments," the doctor said.
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The patient has been cared for at Cho Ray Hospital for over two months. Photo courtesy of Cho Ray Hospital |
The patient has been cared for at Cho Ray Hospital for over two months. Photo courtesy of Cho Ray Hospital
The mother expressed her joy at her son's discharge, grateful for the chance to have him back home. Nurses have been instructing her on how to care for him, as he still requires tube feeding and ongoing family support.
"His journey to this point has been a miracle," the mother said, expressing her hope that he will fully recover and reintegrate into life. She dreams of him being able to personally thank the doctors and nurses who helped their family so much.
The boy's medical expenses were waived under the direction of Dr. Nguyen Tri Thuc, Deputy Minister of Health, who oversees Cho Ray Hospital, upon the boy's admission.
Last year, Ho Chi Minh City saw several cases of death and serious injury due to falling tree branches. In 9/2024, a 52-year-old woman was killed by a branch falling nearly 20 meters on An Duong Vuong Street, District 5. Earlier, a 25-meter-tall tree dropped a branch in Tao Dan Park, District 1, killing two people and injuring three others. The city's tree management department has since invited experts from Singapore to conduct training for staff to improve tree care and management.
Le Phuong
