TEMPLE: FEATURE STORY
Overcoming the Odds...Twice
This rancher has a new outlook on life after a nearly fatal accident led to
the discovery of other severe health issues.
n Labor Day weekend, Tony see what kind of shape I was in, so when I Whittington and several friends realized how long I had been out, I started progressed from simply standing beside
were out touring his ranch when to panic,” he says. “I really pushed my his bed to walking with assistance up
the 2,000-pound ATV they were driving doctors to let me move because I felt like if I and down the ICU hallways. “I think they
flipped over on top of him. could just get up and walk, then everything realized that I needed to push myself,” Mr.
else would be ok.” Whittington says. “They let me heal the
“We were probably only going
Within days, Mr. Whittington
two miles per hour up an incline,” Mr.
Whittingon says, “but something made
the wheels stick and spin so fast that it just
flipped. I became the wedge that kept it
from rolling back down the hill.”
Although cell phone service on the
Whittington property is sparse, a friend
was able to get a call out to emergency
“What was done for me at
Baylor Scott & White not only
saved my life, but changed it.”
responders. Unconscious and turning blue
due to lack of oxygen, Mr. Whittington was
transported by helicopter to Baylor Scott
Mr. Whittington’s care team knew that
way that I felt I was supposed to heal.”
& White Medical Center – Temple. There, his mental health was important to the scans revealed broken ribs, injuries to the recovery of his physical health. While he without oxygen after the accident,
ligaments connecting his spine and skull, was confined to a bed, Mr. Whittington’s doctors estimated Mr. Whittington
and trauma to his lungs. care team visited often to make sure he would need to stay in the hospital for
stayed positive. “The hospital is a difficult two to three months. However, seeing
aids, and other people who put their hearts place to be, whether you’re a patient or his determination and subsequent
into keeping mine beating,” Mr. Whittington you work there every day, because it’s not healing, the care team sat down with Mr.
says. “They said they spent a good 45 like people go there when they’re feeling Whittington to create a plan that would
minutes trying to get me breathing again.” good. They go because they need help. get him home sooner. After 20 days in the
But it’s so amazing that all the staff have hospital, he returned to his regular job and
up with no memory of the accident or the such a positive attitude all the time,” Mr. working on his ranch.
days since, and a vigor to get home. “I didn’t Whittington says.
“There were so many doctors, nurses,
Nine days later, Mr. Whittington woke
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THE COMPASS / BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE CENTRAL TEXAS FOUNDATION NEWS / SUMMER 2019
Uncertain of how long he had been
“What was done for me at Baylor