Jack’s Story

Two-year-old Jack was at daycare, coming in from the playground, when his thumb got caught in the hinge side of a heavy wooden door. It slammed shut — right where his thumb meets his hand — fracturing the bone.

Thankfully, Jack’s parents were able to take him straight to the pediatric orthopedic clinic at Niswonger Children’s Hospital. Dr. Brandon Green, a pediatric orthopedic specialist, saw him right away. X-rays confirmed a fracture, but there was no need for surgery. Jack got a tiny blue cast to protect the injury while it healed.

The casting tech made the process smooth and easy. Jack never cried or questioned what was happening. “They were great,” his dad, Nick, says. “And he was a champ.”

“When I ask for a ‘tater,’ he gives me a fist bump with his cast. We call them ‘cast taters’ now – and he just laughs.”

Despite the injury, Jack hasn’t slowed down one bit. “He’s just as wide open as ever,” Nick says. He still helps us in the garden and even swims with a waterproof cover over his cast.”

Now, Jack is back to being his playful self. “When I ask for a ‘tater,’ he gives me a fist bump with his cast. We call them ‘cast taters’ now – and he just laughs,” Nick says.

It’s a story that started with a scare, but thanks to quick care and a resilient little boy, it had a happy ending.

Want to learn more about Niswonger Children’s Network?

The Niswonger Children’s Network is dedicated to improving the health and future of the Appalachian Highlands through expert pediatric care so that we can share more heartwarming stories like Jack's. Read more about the Niswonger Children's Network.

Read more Niswonger Children’s Stories here.