Mason’s Story

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It was a warm, breezy afternoon on October 23rd, 2002. My three-year-old son, Mason, was playing on the front porch of our home when my wife began to mow the back lawn. I would have never believed that tragedy would hit within moments and instantly change my life and that of my family forever.She put the lawn mower in reverse, not realizing that Mason had ventured off the porch to tell her something. Normally, he would never have never thought approach us if he saw us mowing; but on this day he did. Then the nightmare unfolded. He was struck by the furious lawnmower blades when he walked behind the mower in my blind spot as I was backing up. My wife screamed in horror as she realized what had taken place. I ran down the stairs and out the door to help. We hurriedly worked to lift the mower off of him, not knowing what we would find. Covered in his blood, my wife tried to stop his bleeding. Mason had a hole in his abdomen so gaping that I could see through him to the ground underneath. He also suffered a substantial injury to his left arm an the growth plate had been chopped off the tip of the elbow by the blade. I desparately pleaded with the 911 operator for help. I ran from house to house searching for immediate solace. An off-duty deputy who lives near by rushed to the scene to help save Mason. When the ambulance arrived, the we were shocked to learn that the paramedics, too, heard the call and responded during their time off. That agonizing 6 minutes of waiting is something my wife and I will never be able to erase from our minds.

Mason was Life-Flighted to Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center and was immediately rushed into the operating room. He had sustained critical injuries to his diaphragm, stomach, lungs, arm and ribs. Mason lost all but 6 inches of his small intestine in the accident. Doctors later told Mason’s parents that for all intents and purposes Mason should not have survived the traumatic accident and the following surgeries due to the massive extent of his injuries.

The hospitalizations were frequent in the initial 16 months after the accident. Mason had over 13 major surgeries and countless other procedures prior to leaving the hospital. A plastic surgeon flipped the muscle in his back to fill the hole in his abdomen. Mason’s recovery was aided by a gastrointestinal tube, a colostomy bag and total parenteral nutrition (TPN).

But Mason did survive and touched lives all along the way. What began as a nightmare of a young child being in the wrong place at the wrong time became an incredible tale of strength and courage. A story of loving North Carolina civil servants and medical staff saving a young boy’s life by being at the right place at the right time.

In September 2003, Mason’s heroic battle dubbed him a champion. Mason was chosen as the North Carolina Foresters Champions Across America 2004 representative for the Children’s Miracle Network. He travelled to Washington, D.C. to represent not only all the hospitalized children in North Carolina but the 17 million kids who receive care in Children’s Miracle Network member hospitals each year. He was also chosen as the Duke Children’s Hospital Miracle Child that very same year. He was celebrated onstage at the Duke Children’s Classic by comedian Jeff Foxworthy who serves as the celebrity host for the annual event.

Mason thrived and amazed everyone for two and a half years after the accident.

His smile outshined any inconveniences he dealt with on a daily basis. The consequences of the traumatic accident eventually took a toll on his system though. After a successful reconnection of his small and large intestines that put him another step toward complete recovery; he contracted an infection in his iv line that spread through his system. The impact of the iv nutrition, infections and frequent antibiotics took a toll on his liver. Ultimately, those factors became too much for his body to overcome and Mason was lost in May of 2005.

We continue to share and celebrate Mason’s life through the Mason Lindley Miracle Foundation. This non profit weaves music and medicine to reach out to other families with children facing medical challenges. The Foundation serves as a regional coordinator for the non-profit Oley Foundation (iv nutrition support) and as an official affiliate of the United Ostomy Associations of America.

As we move forward in our lives, we are humbled by how Mason’s story continues to inspire and change people’s lives when they hear it. We will always be blessed by that. We sincerely hope that our nightmare will serve as a stern wake-up call for others to take every precaution to heart when it comes to addressing lawnmower safety for their own families.On a broader note, we hope that those we touch will learn to take everything they can from each day and make every moment with you children as truly special as it can be.Chuck Lindley
** The above photo was featured in USA Today Thursday,June 15,2006**

Mason with President Bush March 2006(front in blue)

A smile to end all smiles!

Mason and big sis,Lizzie,with buddies Jeff and Gregg Foxworthy 5/04

Mason and Lizzie hamming it up at the Duke Children’s Classic 5/04

Honorary Captain of Univ of N.C. Tarheels Spring football game 04/04

Honorary Grand Marshal of Hooters Cup Nascar event at Ace Speedway 5/04

Filming promotional commercial for Duke Children’s with Nascar driver,Jeff Burton 3/05

Receiving Governor’s Proclamation for Bravery and honored N.C. state flag flown over capital in his honor 3/04

Getting cozy with Marie Osmond(co-Children’s Miracle Network founder) 3/04

Celebrating the spoils of victory with his buddies from Hendrick’s Chevrolet of Durham,N.C. 9/03

Duke Miracle Buddies:Mason and Joshua Holdner(2004 and 2006 Duke Miracle Child,respectively) 04/05