May 11th was just another workday and Leon Birmingham was on his way to pick up his daughter when faulty steering sent his truck into a skid. He was sent flying from the vehicle, sliding down the pavement while other drivers struggled to avoid hitting him on the road. Then his own truck careened toward him, causing massive injury to his head.

Within thirty minutes he was airlifted to The MED for emergency trauma care. Things didn’t look good. His massive brain injuries included a skull base fracture, temporal fracture, and multiple brain bleeds in the frontal lobe.

Fortunately, the prompt and exceptionally skilled care he received at The MED gave him back his life.

“If I had been taken somewhere else to be treated, I probably would not be here today,” Leon notes. “Every minute counts when you’re dealing with trauma.  I will deal with my injuries for the rest of my life, but that is minor compared to what my family would have gone through if The MED had not saved my life.”

It was three weeks before Leon woke up to see his wife and daughter, and he still has a long way to go to fully reclaim his life. However, thanks to the knowledge and skill of The MED’s trauma doctors and staff, and the care he received since, he has made great strides in his recovery.

“I have been told by many doctors that it was a miracle I made it, but The MED is the miracle in my life. I would not be spending the upcoming holidays with my family if The MED hadn’t been there for me on May 11th. I’m only 33 years old, so we all need to understand that accidents can happen at any time,” Leon notes. “Memphis is extremely lucky to have a trauma center like The MED.  They save the lives of people who wouldn’t otherwise make it. The staff is absolutely wonderful.”

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