Six-year-old Kiera O'Sullivan's ‘miracle recovery’ puzzles parents, doctors

A six-year-old girl is back to riding her bicycle and playing on her family's farm just weeks after a heavy log crushed part of her skull and facial features in a traumatic accident.

Kiera O’Sullivan from Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal, has made a remarkable recovery that has amazed her parents and medical team alike. After spending only 12 days at Netcare St Anne's Hospital, she has returned home with virtually no visible signs of her ordeal beyond short hair and a scar.

"Our prayers were answered, and by the grace of God, Kiera has been restored to us," her mother Shaydeen O'Sullivan said.

"She's doing amazingly well. She is riding her bicycle again and running around the farm. She loves animals, and she tells us she wants to be a cowgirl one day."

At Netcare St Anne's Hospital, a multidisciplinary team performed intricate surgery to repair multiple facial fractures and address severe brain bruising.

The accident in Ballito necessitated immediate intervention. A helicopter emergency service flew Kiera to the hospital in just 25 minutes, a journey that would have taken nearly two hours by road.

Trauma surgeon Dr Howard Wain, emergency medical physician Dr Steve Feris, and the experienced team at St Anne’s Hospital were prepared for Kiera's efficient transfer by helicopter.

“I received advanced notification of the child being rushed to the hospital by helicopter, having sustained a head injury,” said Wain. 

“Anecdotally speaking, Kiera’s journey turned out to be a remarkable story of hope – not only for the good outcome she achieved so quickly considering the extent of her injuries but also for the faith, calm and peace her parents showed at their daughter’s bedside.”

Neurosurgeon Dr Sandile Ngwenya and maxillofacial surgeon Dr Ciaran Lalor reconstructed her skull and face, while she was kept in a medically induced coma to allow her brain to heal.

“The contusions, or bruising on Kiera’s brain were quite severe and after the surgery she was moved to the intensive care unit, where we kept her in neuroprotection. This is a medically induced coma that provides time for the brain to rest, allowing the swelling to dissipate and the injured nerves to heal before we wake the patient,” Ngwenya explained.

“Kiera’s reconstruction went beautifully; she did well clinically and fortunately, she made excellent progress rapidly.”

Kiera spent only 12 days at Netcare St Anne’s Hospital before returning home to Greytown, and her parents are amazed at how their daughter has bounced back in the short time since her accident.

“As a family, we want to give glory to God for the miraculous recovery of our child. Our sincere gratitude to Dr Ngwenya, Dr Wain, Dr Lalor, paediatricians Dr Zamaswazi Ntombela and Dr Mthokozisi Cele, and the entire team at Netcare St Anne’s Hospital,” the parents said.

The family plans to celebrate Christmas together on their farm, giving thanks for their daughter's miraculous recovery.

Cape Times