CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. (WDBJ/Gray News) – A Virginia man remains hospitalized after being involved in a sledding accident last weekend, but doctors say it could have been a lot worse.
The situation happened last Saturday when Ashton Hodge, 18, and a group of friends were visiting Jefferson National Forest to have a fun night in the snow.
In the moments leading to the life-altering accident, Hodge’s best friend, Matthew Leiser, said he never expected what would happen that night.
The two were sharing a tube when it hit a dirt mound. Leiser said he flew right and Hodge flew to the left.
But his best friend was sent barreling headfirst into a tree.
“I thought he was fine, but then I saw blood coming from his nose and his ears and I realized he had a fairly traumatic injury,” Leiser said.
Immediately, Leiser checked Hodge’s vitals and cleared his airways. He and their other friends drove him to LewisGale Medical Center, where doctors say Leiser’s efforts kept Hodges alive despite a fractured skull and two brain bleeds.
“I was scared,” Hodge’s sister, Olivia Howell, said. “The worst was going through my head; I was in a panic.”
Nearly one week later, Howell said her brother’s condition has improved drastically from being in a medically induced coma.
“This morning, I actually walked into his room and he had his eyes open and he waved at me. He lifted his hand up,” she said.
But the recovery process is far from over.
Hodges remains in the intensive care unit and later will move on to the progressive care unit and rehabilitation.
“Just pray for him,” Howell said. “We also have a GoFundMe set up to help with medical bills. Any donations are very much appreciated.“
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