Injured on the Slopes, Treated on the Island

Ten-year-old Dylan has been swinging golf clubs since he was only 3 years old.

When he is not out on the course, he's casting a fishing line or getting ready to join his school band as a drummer. In other words, Dylan keeps his arms busy. So, when a snowboarding accident at Lake Tahoe left him with a broken radius and ulna in his right arm, finding excellent orthopedic care suddenly became the top priority.

Dylan's grandparents had surprised the family with the trip, marking just his second time visiting Lake Tahoe. The vacation had been going smoothly. Dylan was making the most of his time with his twin sister, older brother, parents and grandparents. On one of their final days, Dylan was snowboarding, something he had only tried once before. His older brother sped past him, and Dylan wanted to catch up.

Suddenly, his feet became caught in the snow, and he fell forward onto his wrist.

“I fell over and was yelling for help,” Dylan said. “That’s when the ski patrol came.”

After being stuck in the snow for nearly fifteen minutes, ski patrol moved Dylan to safety and bandaged his wrist. The next day, his family visited an urgent care in Tahoe, where X-rays confirmed fractures to both bones in his right arm. Dylan was temporarily cast before returning home to Texas two days later. Once home, he still needed follow-up fracture care to ensure his bones were healing properly. Unfortunately, local orthopedists were booked for months. For Amanda, Dylan’s mom, the unexpected delay quickly became stressful.

Thankfully, a staff member at Dylan’s primary care office suggested Shriners Children’s Texas, because of its Friday fracture clinic and casting availability. The hospital was close to home for the family, who live in Bayou Vista just minutes from Galveston. Amanda, who had grown up hearing about Shriners Children’s Texas, did not hesitate.

“Everyone was completely booked solid for months, but Dylan needed a new cast,” Amanda said. “His primary care office told us, ‘Shriners Children’s Texas has a casting clinic.’ As soon as we arrived, I felt more at ease. He was going to receive excellent care."

He was seen promptly, which gave his family instant peace of mind. Dylan describes the hospital staff as being "super friendly." He even enjoyed a Mardi Gras event at the hospital during a follow-up outpatient visit.

With his cast set to come off soon, Dylan is eager to get back to the activities he loves. He is especially excited to be hands-on again in science class, his favorite subject. As he looks ahead to sixth grade and new experiments, Dylan and his mom are grateful for the timely care that is helping his arm heal.

“All of the staff here are just amazing,” Amanda said. “I just can’t recommend Shriners Children’s Texas enough.”