Jackson Taylor, along with his mom and a nine-year-old sister were traveling in their car the other day when the car collided head-on with another vehicle at 70 mph.
The force of the impact caused Jackson’s head to be internally decapitated from his neck. The toddler was airlifted from the scene of the accident and flown to Brisbane, Queensland, on Australia’s eastern coast, where a team of surgeons reattached his head during a six-hour emergency operation.
Dr. Geoff Askin, who has been called Australia’s “godfather of spinal surgery,” and is a pioneer in the field of spinal surgery, was the lead surgeon in the delicate operation. According to The Sun, Dr. Askin used a small piece of wire and a part of one of the toddler’s ribs to graft the two vertebrae together.
“A lot of children wouldn’t survive that injury in the first place,” Askin told 7 News Melbourne, “and if they did and they were resuscitated, they may never move or breathe again.” The doctor told the news station Jackson’s condition was the worst injury of its kind he had ever seen.
Andrew and Rylea Taylor, Jackson’s parents, told 7 News the surgery was “a miracle.” Andrew added, “We’re very, very thankful.” Jackson is expected to go home in a few days, and will need to wear a “halo” for another eight weeks. The halo was attached during the surgery, and keeps Jackson’s head immobile while he heals.