Anthony's life took an unexpected turn when, at the age of 3, he experienced a traumatic lawn mower accident. The incident resulted in the amputation of his left foot above the ankle and the loss of his heel pad on his right foot. Anthony has undergone five surgeries to address the aftermath of the accident. His two-week hospital stay was filled with uncertainty and anxiety. Wound vac changes became a routine part of his recovery, lasting for a challenging 11 weeks. Laser treatments aimed to soothe itching skin grafts, providing relief and, most importantly, sleep; he was restless from the itching. Anthony's body reacts negatively to anesthesia, causing delirium each time he is put to sleep. He’s had a total of 21 procedures. As parents, witnessing our child's distress during these moments is heart-wrenching. We grapple with guilt, wondering if we could have prevented the accident. The realization that a seemingly routine task like lawn mowing can have life-altering consequences weighs heavily on us. Our hearts ache for what our sweet boy has endured. Wondering if we could done something different that day to prevent this life-altering experience. Anthony's story serves as a powerful reminder to all parents: merely checking our surroundings is not enough. We must take additional precautions to keep our children safe while we mow the lawn. They must wait indoors until you’re finished cutting the grass. Before the accident, Anthony was an active child who preferred Tonka dump trucks over screens. He spent most of his days outdoors, unable to sit still for more than five minutes. Our main goal now is to see Anthony run again. His current prosthetic limits his mobility, but we remain hopeful. Running holds the promise of opening doors to other sports and activities as he grows older. We want Anthony's resilience and our commitment to safety serve as a beacon for other parents. Join us to learn from his experience and take every precaution to protect our children from such preventable accidents. Together, we can create a safer environment for them; if you are already in a situation like us, let’s ensure that they can thrive despite life's challenges.

This story was submitted by the child’s parent exclusively for use by Operation Dez Strong.