THE scariest night of Derick and Kristin Bendickson’s lives started like any other holiday. On Memorial Day weekend, the Bendicksons and their three children, Kolin, 8, Katie, 6, and Ethin, 2, were returning to their Troy home after visiting relatives in Tipp City. The winding road and dark night made their usual drive more difficult. As their van rounded a corner, it went out of control and struck a tree.

Ethin, who was in his car seat, was scared but safe. Katie was buckled up, but disoriented. Kolin, who was out of the van, had slid almost 10 feet into a steep ditch. A nurse, who was the first to arrive on the scene, helped Kolin while Kristin removed Ethin from the van. When Kristin moved Katie, the little girl immediately started screaming in pain.

"We knew something was really wrong with her," Kristin says. Emergency services arrived as the nurse tried to keep Katie conscious. She was badly injured and rushed by helicopter to the regional pediatric trauma center at The Children's Medical Center of Dayton.

Kristin and Ethin were discharged quickly and immediately came to Children's to see Katie. Eight-year-old Kolin remained; he would later be transported to Dayton Children's in one of the hospital's mobile intensive care units.

"When I walked in, I didn't know if Katie was alive," Kristin says. Thankfully, Katie was not only alive, but she was out of surgery when Kristin arrived at the hospital. Mark Rowin, MD, a pediatric intensivist, immediately talked to Kristin about Katie's injuries. "The way Dr. Rowin explained Katie's injuries to me was so calm, cool and collected that I never got the feeling of hopelessness," Kristin says. Katie had two liver lacerations, several broken ribs, spleen injuries that required its removal, and a large hole in her stomach.

The stomach injury caused septic fluids to seep into her intestines. Because of such When Katie arrived at Children's, staff from the trauma center, surgical services and pediatric intensive care collaborated throughout the night to ensure Katie received the very best care. "The communication between the trauma center, surgery and the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) was excellent," Derick says. "Everything went very smoothly. There was never a hiccup."

Katie went to surgery, where she benefited from the experience and expertise of Dayton Children's doctors, who perform more than 12,000 surgeries a year.

While Katie was being taken to Children's, the rest of the family was sent to a Miami County hospital. Kristin and Ethin were discharged quickly and immediately came to Children's to see Katie. Eight-year-old Kolin remained; he would later be transported to Dayton Children's in one of the hospital's mobile intensive care units.

"When I walked in, I didn't know if Katie was alive," Kristin says. Thankfully, Katie was not only alive, but she was out of surgery when Kristin arrived at the hospital. Mark Rowin, MD, a pediatric intensivist, immediately talked to Kristin about Katie's injuries.

"The way Dr. Rowin explained Katie's injuries to me was so calm, cool and collected that I never got the feeling of hopelessness," Kristin says. Katie had two liver lacerations, several broken ribs, spleen injuries that required its removal, and a large hole in her stomach. The stomach injury caused septic fluids to seep into her intestines. Because of such massive bleeding and shock, Katie needed several days to recover. All of her injuries were from blunt force trauma.

Charles Goodwin, MD, director of trauma and pediatric surgery, performed Katie's surgery. Assisting in Katie's care were Children's intensivists, Mark Rowin, MD, Meera Ramakrishnan, MD, and Amit Vohra, MD. Pediatric surgeons Jeffrey Christian, MD, David Hitch, MD, and Victor Nanagas, MD, also provided follow-up care for Katie. "Their talent and collaborative effort saved our daughter's life," Derick says.

When Kolin arrived at Dayton Children's via the mobile intensive care unit, he was treated for a broken left femur and left clavicle by Michael Albert, MD, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon.

"Dr. Albert and his staff fixed Kolin's broken leg with a couple of pins. This technology is the greatest thing. He didn't have a cast or restricted movement," Derick says. "Dr. Albert was attentive and did a good job of telling us how Kolin was doing," Kristin adds. Additionally, Kolin worked with a physical therapist Dorie Marek who was very helpful.

Katie spent eight days in the pediatric intensive care unit until her health improved. She was then moved to three east, an inpatient pediatric care unit. The family formed some special bonds with Children's staff. Karen Zynda, RN, Gregory Doyle, respiratory therapist, and the rest of the nursing staff in the PICU were a great comfort to the family. On three east, the nurses were "wonderful," Kristin says.

"We never felt like 'just' the patient's parents," Kristin says. "We always felt included in decisions about Katie's care. We stayed calm because everyone told us what was happening. The staff is so talented and nurturing."

The Bendicksons also were impressed by other services available to them. They visited the Family Resource Center, a family library that is open to the public. Making a trip to the Family Resource Center was a "healing motivator for Katie," her parents say.

The family stayed at the Ronald McDonald House, across the street from the hospital. "The Ronald McDonald House was a blessing," Derick says. "Until you need it, you don't know how valuable it is." Children's physical amenities and caring staff helped the family cope with their accident.

"We are so fortunate to have such a high-quality facility so close by. Our family has been blessed by the very special medical staff at Children's. The staff went above and beyond to ensure our comfort," Derick says. "When it comes to sick children, there is no sense in going anyplace else," Kristin adds.