Saving Isabelle
A blue plastic riding car sits untouched, where 2-year-old Isabelle James last pushed it by the barn at her Worley home. Little legs flying, she joyfully imitated her brother, Louis, learning to ride his bike, while Mom cheered them on. Now, none of the family has the heart to move the little car.
Life was as serene as the rolling hills surrounding the home of Lee James, an attorney; and his wife Kim, a former speech pathologist, and their four children Dylan, 9; Louis, 5; Emma, 3; and 2-year-old Isabelle.
Then, July 21, tragedy struck.
Children secured in the house, Kim used the riding lawn mower to do five minutes’ worth of mowing. Kim backed up, unaware Isabelle had somehow slipped out of the house and ran up behind her. Unknowingly, Kim backed over her daughter’s little legs.
She heard her daughter’s screams.
Despite Kim’s horror and heartbreak, her instincts took charge.
Rushing into the house, she told her other children, “Get into the car, quickly.”
The children obeyed.
Kim began dialing 911, but knew there wasn’t time – every second counted, as Kim saw Isabelle was losing blood fast. Dropping the phone, she carried Isabelle to the car, secured her into her car seat, and son Dylan held Isabelle’s injured left leg up.
Kim sped off, yelling to a construction worker, “Emergency!” as the worker moved and let her pass. All she could think was to get her daughter help – and get it fast.
“At a stop light in Coeur d’Alene, I saw Isabelle was very white, losing blood, twisting out of the car seat. So I held Isabelle on my lap, holding up her leg,” Kim said.
Incredibly, she was able to do all this and keep the children calm, all the while driving to the emergency room at Kootenai Medical Center.
“When I said to pray, they prayed; when I asked them to help, they helped; they did whatever was needed. They were so brave,” Kim said.
They were as brave as their mother, whose quick actions saved Isabelle’s life.
“I’m just overjoyed that my daughter’s alive,” Kim said, as tears slipped down her cheeks.
“My wife and children saved my daughter’s life,” Lee says emphatically. “They reacted immediately, and the children knew to obey their mother without question. There’s no doubt in my mind – their responsible actions saved our daughter Isabelle’s life.”
Lee soon arrived at the emergency room – he was driving home from work when he received Kim’s call from the ER.
Emergency doctors stabilized Isabelle, readying her for transfer to Sacred Heart Medical Center. Kim and the children were driven there and Lee went with Isabelle in the helicopter. Isabelle was stabilized again by Sacred Heart doctors, who said Isabelle should be flown to Harborview in Seattle.
Lee and Kim are grateful to the two hospitals.
“The quick thinking of Kootenai and Sacred Heart Medical Center’s emergency personnel saved the rest of Isabelle’s left leg.” Her right leg was largely undamaged.
Once at Harborview, doctors Douglas G. Smith and Douglas P. Hanel, went to work.
Smith is an orthopedic surgeon and associate professor of orthopedic surgery at University of Washington. Also a professor of orthopedic surgery, Hanel has a specialty in vascular surgery. Both have dealt with the most difficult trauma cases.
Isabelle’s first surgery took place late that night. Lee says it was tough but he concentrated on love.
“I realized I loved my daughter so, so much. I thought about how beautiful that is; what a gift, that love is. That kept me going.”
Back home Kim fielded her children’s questions with sensitivity and honesty.
“The kids are coping incredibly well, and I tell them they did the right thing. The kids will remember this all their life and if we can handle it, they’ll know they can, too.”
Isabelle has had six surgeries and numerous skin grafts. Kim’s at her side every possible moment.
Lee has returned to work, and family and friends help with the children.
Isabelle now has four centimeters of leg below her left knee; the rest of the leg is gone. Doctors performed surgeries in an attempt to save growth plates so that Isabelle will have a limb to attach a prosthesis to.
The initial clean-out of Isabelle’s wound took seven hours but an infection set in, and she’s taking intravenous antibiotics to prevent a bone infection.
Doctors and staff are teaching Kim how to bandage and monitor the IV line which delivers Isabelle’s antibiotics.
The Jameses said they are deeply grateful to friends, medical personnel, neighbors, Trinity Lutheran Church of the Master and Christ the King Lutheran and co-workers.
“As an attorney, I’ve been on the other end of this. It’s a whole other thing to be on the receiving end of such overwhelming support,” Lee shares. “At first, I didn’t know how to accept it.”
“I couldn’t tell you how much neighbors, friends and family have done; even strangers. We’ve received cards from people we’ve never even met,” Kim said.
The James’ and Isabelle’s ordeal is far from over. Doctors say more surgeries will follow next year.
The little blue plastic car awaits the day Isabelle, prosthetic leg attached, can push it once again.
Kim and Lee James remain hopeful that day will come.