Devastated father receives counseling
On a sunny afternoon, on Sept. 8, 4-year-old Alexis Revere was riding in a Big Tyke’s wagon hitched to the back of her father’s lawnmower as he cut grass.
The wagon that Alexis was riding in then tipped over, causing her right hand to get caught in the blades.
Doctors were forced to amputate.
“She lost a lot of blood, and had to be given a pint when she arrived at the hospital,” Alexis’ mother Joanna said. “It was an accident. He (Wayne Revere) went to turn and the front wheels on the wagon didn’t turn and the wagon turned over and her arm went underneath the lawn mower.”
The family says little Alexis was brave, and didn’t shed one tear.
“She keeps me strong,” W. Revere said. “She loves the outside and she wanted to stay with me instead of attending a baby shower with her mom.”
W. Revere says the events of that day left him devastated and he has since started seeing a counselor to help him get through the rough spots.
“I can deal with what happened fairly well because it was an accident, but sometimes, when I’m not busy, the incident comes across my mind and those are the times it’s hard to cope.” he said.
W. Revere advises parents to be careful and says he had allowed Alexis to follow him in her wagon to cut the grass a couple of times before, and never dreamed anything like this would ever happen.
“I just never imagined that something that we normally did could have turned out like this, but she knows I love her and it was just an accident,” he said.
“We were so proud of her because she didn’t even cry,” J. Revere tearfully said. “She kept her dad calm the whole time, and I’m just so proud of her.”
Alexis has a long road ahead of her and she’s already going through the process of getting fitted with a prosthetic hand.
“The family came into the clinic and we’ve already had an initial evaluation to determine what type of prosthesis Alexis will need,” Brian Moore, a certified prosthetist and orthotist said. “We’re waiting for the limb to heal and a prosthetic sock will be placed on the limb after about two weeks.”
Moore says the hand will then be ready for a cast to form a shape for the prosthetic limb. The average cost is anywhere from $3,000 to $4,000.
As Alexis grows, the hand will need to be upgraded to adjust and fit to her needs.
“Something we are looking at towards the future of Alexis is a hand that can range anywhere from $16,000 to $35,000,” Moore says. “Every year she’s going to have to be refitted for the prosthesis as she grows, the cost varies depending on what she will want to do with the hand.”
Alexis won’t be able to drink or feed herself, with preparatory prosthesis, using her injured hand, but as she grows, adjustments can be made to improve the things she will be able to do.
“It takes children about four to six weeks to get adjusted to using a prosthesis,” Moore said. “Knowing where the hand is in space is the most difficult part, and occupational therapy generally helps the children to adjust to that.”
Moore says the hands runs off of batteries, that cost $300 a piece, Alexis will need two for her hand.
Big Al Saloon is hosting a benefit dinner on Nov. 3, 2007, featuring food and a live band, in Gretna at 2010 O’Connor St. Old Fireman’s Hall is hosting a benefit Nov. 18, 2007, in Westwego, and a car show benefit will be held Nov. 10, by Louie’s Wrecker Service, at the St. Charles Plaza in Boutte.
To make donations, call Rai Lynn Dufrene at 504-650-0713.
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