A 6-year-old boy from Burkesville is celebrating a remarkable recovery after being struck by an SUV on a highway near his home last October, exemplifying the life-saving impact of specialized pediatric trauma care at UK HealthCare.

Oliver Blair was struck by a vehicle traveling over the speed limit on Oct. 1, 2024, while chasing the family dog across the road. His mother, Donna Blair, performed CPR after finding him unresponsive and turning blue, applying military medical training that likely saved his life until the ambulance arrived.

Oliver was airlifted to the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital and treated at the Makenna David Pediatric Emergency Center, one of only two Level 1 pediatric trauma centers in Kentucky. Doctors diagnosed him with severe traumatic brain injury, a broken collarbone, fractures in both femurs, lacerations and a punctured lung.

The injuries required complex treatment prioritizing his head injury. Oliver spent nearly two weeks in a medically induced coma in the pediatric intensive care unit before gradually improving. A turning point came when his older brother, his best friend, was allowed to speak with him via FaceTime—helping Oliver regain awareness and connection during his recovery.

After two months at UK HealthCare and Cincinnati Children's Inpatient Rehabilitation, Oliver returned home. One and a half years later, he has resumed activities he loves, prompting the Blair family to be selected as one of the trauma survivor families to share their story at UK HealthCare's annual Trauma Survivors Day celebration.

"National Trauma Survivors Day is an opportunity to honor the extraordinary resilience of survivors and their families as they journey from survival to strength after life-altering injuries," said Amy Lambert, outreach and education coordinator for the UK Trauma Program, according to the university's official announcement.

The Makenna David Pediatric Emergency Center is the only dedicated children's emergency center serving Central and Eastern Kentucky, with specialized staff trained exclusively for pediatric emergency and trauma care.