Troopers, Snowplow, National Guard Lead Toddler to Life-Saving Medical Care During Pa. Storm

The boy's mother says the child was in critical condition & could have died if he wasn't transported to the hospital Tuesday

The National Guard and Pennsylvania State Police teamed up with PennDOT to ensure that snow wouldn't stop a toddler in need of life-saving medical care from getting to the hospital.

Gov. Tom Wolf said a 23-month-old child was escorted by state snowplows and troopers through a heavy snowstorm from Mt. Pocono Medical Center in East Stroudsburg to Geisinger Children’s Hospital in Danville as heavy snow fell Tuesday. [[416153983, C]]

Troopers, guardsmen and a snowplow escorted the ambulance on its 80-mile trip Tuesday afternoon and "ensured everyone arrived safely," state police said.

The boy's mother, who did not want to be identified, told NBC10 her son was born prematurely and was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect that has required extensive medical treatment. She said the child was in critical condition and could have died if he wasn't transported to the hospital Tuesday.

"Pocono Medical Center is not equipped to care for critical pediatric patients," she said. "But they did an awesome job in caring for my son and following the specialist's requests to care for him until they could get him to Geisinger. Especially in my sons case, and with his extensive medical history. This hospital made sure to do everything they could to make sure our son got to his specialist to make sure to get him his best care."

The boy's mother said initial reports that the boy was headed for a heart transplant were incorrect. He is currently in stable condition.

The storm dropped more than 20 inches of snow and sleet in parts of eastern Pennsylvania, and snow continued to fall in some areas Tuesday afternoon. [[416147603, C]]

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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