A 10-year-old Australian boy had a lucky escape after being impaled in the back by a steak knife in a freak accident.
Landen Sturman was making grilled cheese at home when he tripped backwards into an open dishwasher and fell on to a steak knife that lodged itself in his spine, Perth Now reports.
Doctors said Landen escaped paralysis by a “millimeter’s difference”.
But after several hours of delicate teamwork by Perth Children’s Hospital’s specialist neurosurgery and orthopedic teams to remove the knife, Landen has no lasting nerve damage.
He made a remarkable recovery and returned to school last week proudly sporting a new “battle wound”.
Landen’s mom Emma said she was incredibly grateful for the care Landen received.
But she urged other families to avoid stacking knives pointing up in the dishwasher — an important reminder learned the hard way.
“Stacking the dishwasher is something so mundane that most people don’t think twice about it, but it goes to show how even the smallest actions can have a huge impact,” Emma said.
“Despite being such a traumatic event for our family, everyone at PCH was lovely. It really was the best outcome we could have hoped for.”
While in hospital, Landen also discovered a new talent during a creative workshop with the Di Filippo School of Puppetry, part of the Arts Program funded by the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation (PCHF).
On his first day out of his hospital bed, Landen found he was a natural at marionette puppetry.
The PCHF-funded Artist in Residence program brings professional artists, creative workshops, and performances to children such as Landen.
Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation CEO Carrick Robinson praised hospital staff for their role in Landen’s recovery.
“It’s wonderful to see Landen doing so well after going through such a traumatic accident thanks to the world-class care he received at PCH,” Robinson said.
“Despite Landen having a very tough few days at PCH, it’s also a positive to see him discover a new talent during his stay.”
“Creative workshops, like those provided through the Artist in Residence program, not only provide kids like Landen with a much-needed distraction, they also help to boost mental health, ease anxiety, and build social connections.”
Grateful for the support they received, Emma encouraged others to consider supporting PCHF, saying: “The overall experience we had throughout Landen’s hospital stay turned a traumatic experience into something positive.
“If we can prevent even one other family from going through what we did, that would mean the world to us.”
