‘She’s a fighter’: Out of tragedy, a ‘miracle’
Maddy Wilford, 17, took 3 bullets, but a rescuer’s call helped her survive.
DEERFIELD BEACH — Two vital signals — one fortunately missed, the other fortunately heard — played a critical role in saving the life of Maddy Wilford, a junior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who suffered at least three gunshot wounds in the Feb. 14 attack at her school.
Wilford and her parents, David and Missy, appeared at a news conference Monday at Broward Health North along with doctors and first responders who outlined critical decisions that led to her remarkable recovery.
“I’d just like to say that I’m so grateful to be here and it wouldn’t be possible without the doctors, officers and first responders and these amazing doctors,” said an emotional Wilford, wearing a Douglas High sweatshirt. “And especially all the love that everyone has sent.”
Wilford originally wasn’t supposed to be transported to Broward Health North. A dispatcher directed the ambulance to Broward Health in Fort Lauderdale — 26.8 miles from the high school — because it’s a Level 1 trauma center. But in the hectic efforts to treat her in the back of the ambulance, Lt. Laz Ojeda of the Coral Springs Fire Department was unaware of that command. When a semi-conscious Wilford was able to con-
vey to Ojeda she was only 17 years old, he made the call to go to Broward Health North, 11.9 miles away.
“She would have kept on bleeding,” Ojeda said, if they went from Parkland to Fort Lauderdale. “When you make a determination to bring her to the closest trauma center and the doctor says that saved her life, it validates the thought process of myself and the crew.”
Doctors still are unsure if Wilford was shot more than three times. She was shot in her upper right extremity, right chest and right abdomen, underwent three surgeries within a 40-hour period and still has bullet fragments in her.
Dr. Igor Nichiporenko, medical director of trauma services at the hospital, said her chest and abdominal injuries are completely healed, which he attributed to her young age. Wilford has tendon damage in her right arm, and when she appeared Monday, her right hand was wrapped.
Medical director: ‘I believe in miracles’
Nichiporenko said Wilford should be able to return to school next week and believes if she responds favorably to occupational therapy, “she’ll be fine” to resume playing basketball for Douglas next winter.
“I believe in miracles,” Nichiporenko said. He added, “She’s very lucky. Very, very
‘In all honesty, I was so full of adrenaline that I missed that part.’ Lt. Laz Ojeda Coral Springs Fire Department, on not following directive to take ambulance farther away
lucky, because we’re talking about large-caliber bullets penetrating through the chest and abdomen.”
Wilford’s parents thanked first responders and those who have relayed well wishes and prayers.
“I’m grateful to be sitting here next to my daughter alive and well today,” David Wilford said. “There’s a lot of people to thank for Maddy’s life.” After crediting Coral Springs police and the Broward County Sheriff ’s Office, he paused to compose himself.
“Sorry,” he said. “There’s a lot of emotions going on and it’s hard for me to feel anything but gratitude and thanks for the miracle that’s happened with her and the way that she’s been blessed.”
Her mother, Missy, added, “I could probably spend an hour talking about my daughter. She’s a fighter.”
Ojeda detailed the actions taken by his crew that saved Wilford’s life:
He believes his ambulance was the third on the scene, but because the shooter had not been captured, his crew was forced to remain in a safe, “yellow” zone. Coral Springs police entered the classroom, the “red” zone, and found Wilford. She was so pale, officers thought she had died, realizing she was alive only after shaking her and getting a response. They applied a chest seal and carried her out on a plastic stretcher lined with handles for such emergencies.
Ojeda and his crew took over. “I gave her a sternal rub,” Ojeda said. “I go, ‘Hey, how old are you?’ No response. Second sternal rub. ‘Hey, how old are you?’ She told me she was 17. At that point, I looked at Will (another crew member). I go, ‘Will! We’re going to North Broward. It’s only 10 miles way.’ ” His call superseded earlier instructions from the transportation officer.
“In all honesty, I was so full of adrenaline that I missed that part and I apologize,” Ojeda said. “Something made me disregard that faraway voice.”
Wilford was able to supply her name, medical history and allergies. The crew revitalized her, administering fluids and oxygen while treating her wounds. They arrived at the hospital.
Hospital recently had an active-shooter drill
“This place was — wow, I’ve never seen so many doctors, so many staff in the ER,” Ojeda said.
Dr. Evan Boyar, medical director of emergency services for the hospital, called it a “seamless process,” attributing it to an active-shooter drill the staff had performed about six months prior.
His hospital typically accepts patients 15 or older, although in such situations, that age rule is waived.
Wilford first underwent what Nichiporenko called “damage-control surgery” on her abdomen, during which “she did extremely well.” Next was surgery on her upper extremity, followed by surgery on her shattered ribs. Nichiporenko said because his facility is a trauma center, it sees similar injuries about every other day.
“Because of our experience treating these patients, we did an outstanding job,” he said. The Wilfords think so. “Just thinking about all the letters and gifts that everyone has given and just all the love that’s being passed around, I definitely wouldn’t be here without it,” Maddy Wilford said. “I just want to send my appreciation and love out to all of you.”
In the days following the shooting, Ojeda was handling another call that took him to Broward Health North. He ran into one of Wilford’s doctors, who took him up to her room for a poignant reunion under markedly different circumstances.
“You don’t always get to perform a life-save,” said Jeff Unger, a member of Ojeda’s crew. “Lt. Ojeda made a great call, bringing her here, getting her age. We brought her to the closest facility and the doctor validated our decision as a crew. It’s rewarding to see somebody be able to talk away from this.”
Said Ojeda: “Sometimes it’s a thankless job. But this one — this is a career call.”