01/16/2026
While riding his four-wheeler on County Road 150 near his home in Arlington, 13-year-old Cullen was struck by a vehicle, suffering catastrophic injuries, including the loss of his leg. His grandfather, Jimmy, recalls the moment he arrived on the scene: “Cullen was lying in the field. He called me and said, ‘Papa… help.’ He kept saying, ‘Am I going to die?’”
Cullen was airlifted to Mercy Health — St. Vincent Medical Center, where he was met immediately by the trauma team.
“They couldn’t save his foot, but every person we came into contact with was amazing. The nurses, the doctors, the surgeons — they kept us informed every step of the way,” said his grandmother, Toni.
The road to recovery was far from easy. Cullen endured multiple surgeries, intense pain and the emotional weight of losing a limb. Through every challenge, his medical team remained at his side, offering expert care, reassurance and hope. His family credits the staff for their compassion and skill during the most frightening days of their lives.
Dr. Seth Phillips, Mercy Health orthopedic trauma surgeon and the Orthopedic Surgery Residency program director, noted that when Cullen arrived at St. Vincent Medical Center, he had a complete traumatic below-knee amputation, a complex right femur fracture, a metacarpal fracture and multiple other injuries. Initial care focused on wound cleaning and temporary stabilization, Dr. Phillips explained.
Over the following days, he and his team performed repeated debridements — the medical process of removing damaged tissue to promote healing — as well as surgeries to stabilize fractures. Ultimately, Cullen underwent a surgical below-knee amputation, preserving as much function as possible.
Cullen went home July 31, knowing he still had months of recovery ahead of him.
“Despite life-threatening injuries, Cullen demonstrated remarkable resilience,” Dr. Phillips said. “After months of intensive surgical and medical care, he is now on track to live a full, healthy and functional life with minimal long-term physical limitations.”
Today, Cullen is thriving. His wound continues to heal, and he is preparing for his prosthetic.
“I just thank God every day for allowing Cullen to come out of this,” Toni said. “It was 100% the doctors and nurses. I can’t say enough about them.”
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