In July of 2023, Ka’Darian “KD” Hill had just finished his college football career at Ole Miss and was looking forward to prospects in the NFL. An accident on I-65 near Cullman left him trapped in his vehicle. First responders tried for hours to extract him. After it became clear nothing else could be done, trauma surgeon Dr. Donald Reiff arrived on the scene. Reiff started a program called SWIFT - Surgical forWard Intervention for Trauma - bringing trauma medicine to the scene of dire situations.
KD’s story highlights the full spectrum of care needed to save one patient. From the trauma communications center team, to the first responders, to the medical care provided on site, to the countless medical healers who touched him from first arrival all the way to getting his prosthetic. Hear KD’s story, told by his mom Arneta and KD himself.
This trauma survivor video premiered at the 2024 UAB Heroes and Healers Gala event on May 3, 2024 at the Haven in downtown Birmingham. The gala was presented by UAB’s Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery. To learn more about, or make a gift to, the UAB chapter of the Trauma Survivors Network, send an email to traumasurvivors@uabmc.edu.
Video by Chris Carmichael Multimedia.