Ford Smith was airlifted to Oklahoma University Children’s Hospital on Dec. 19 after being attacked in his yard by a Bull Mastiff.
Bitten on the throat, Ford’s worst injuries were to his trachea. He spent six nights in intensive care and two more nights in a pediatric room before returning to Covington to resume life at home, so healed that some of the scars are difficult to spot.
“The doctor said he’s very lucky,” said Ford’s mother, Tiffany Smith.
Because of scar tissue on Ford’s vocal chords, his voice is soft now.
“I do have a voice,” Ford said.
“You have a voice, it’s just kind of quiet,” his mother responded.
It’s not known yet whether his voice will return as strong as it was before, his parents, Tiffany and Brian Smith said. It may come back on its own, or he may require more surgery. But they are amazed at how rapidly Ford has healed, and warmed by the outpouring of care and affection for the lad during his ordeal.
Other than his voice, nothing else about Ford could be described as “weak.” On Thursday afternoon, Ford drove the same Power Wheels police cruiser he was driving around the yard when the dog attacked him.
His brother, Parker, 6, is the one who alerted their parents that day Ford was in trouble. Riding along in the car when the dog appeared, Parker jumped out and ran to tell Brian what was happening. Good thing he did, since Ford was unable to cry out because of the holes in his trachea.
“He couldn’t make any noise because of the throat injury, and the dog wasn’t making any noise either,” Tiffany said.
Brian drove the dog away from Ford while Tiffany called 911.
Tiffany said people kept up with Ford’s progress as he healed by checking on her Facebook page for status updates. Messages of support poured in from people the family didn’t even know, Tiffany said.
“It was just amazing. People who don’t even know him were praying for him,” Tiffany said.
Ford had a Christmas Eve visit from Bob Stoops, head football coach at the University of Oklahoma. He was one of 186 visitors who stopped by the hospital, brought cards and brought food.
Tiffany teared up when she recalled the EagleMed paramedic’s assessment of Ford.
“He said he was so brave, the bravest patient he’s had all year,” Tiffany said.
The air ambulance staff has promised to take Ford up for another flight — one he can enjoy instead of suffer through.
But little Ford isn’t the only one in the family who’s tough.
“We’re probably all stronger because of this,” Brian Smith said. “It was a tough first six days. It’s tough to watch your son go through that much pain. I think we’ve all learned a lot from it.”
(Enid News and Eagle, December 31, 2010)