Dalton Hazlett’s story of survival personifies grit.
Dalton, a 20-year-old from Pilot Grove, Missouri, was on a family ATV ride celebrating Mother’s Day in 2023. Then, a crash quickly changed the day’s outlook.
Life-flighted to University of Missouri Health Care Center, Dalton had sustained a severe brain injury and multiple fractures to his skull, face, arms and ribs.
“They gave him a near-zero chance of survival,” Angela Hazlett, Dalton’s mother, said. “We got Dalton’s affairs in order.”
However, Dalton, known for being stubborn, kept fighting. His family agreed that if Dalton wasn’t going to give up, neither would they. Following multiple recommendations, the Hazletts brought Dalton to Madonna’s specialized brain injury program, where he was admitted first to Madonna’s Specialty Hospital. Unable to walk, talk, or eat on his own, Dalton’s care team rallied to create a plan that pushed him from day one.
“[Our Specialty Hospital staff] are there to achieve medical stability, and we are going to ramp up therapy as much as possible,” Dr. Matthew Driewer, MD, said. “We tell people, ‘be ready, that first day is going to be a challenge.’ Our therapists are going to push them a little bit and maybe even push them beyond what they think they can do. People gain confidence when they see that they can do more.”
A former three-sport athlete, Dalton channeled the determination he had on the field and thrived in this intense environment. After three months, he transitioned to Madonna’s Rehabilitation Hospital.
“He knew how to push himself to work hard,” Karen Eilers, PT, DPT, CBIS, inpatient physical therapist, said. “It was definitely a great motivating factor. He wanted to get back to moving around and being able to work out. We used that to our advantage.”
Using different assistive devices, like walkers and canes, Dalton progressed in his mobility, and his Madonna care team found creative ways to work on balance and control with the 6-foot-4-inch young man. They focused on high intensity gait training, adding ankle weights and had him pull weights behind him while walking and doing stairs.
In October, Dalton discharged from Madonna’s inpatient care and transitioned to Madonna’s outpatient Rehabilitation Day Program. He continued to improve his strength, balance and vision while finding ways to have fun.
“One of the things we used was the [Microsoft] HoloLens, which uses prisms to help bring that right eye in and work together with the left eye, but it uses [gaming] technology and a [virtual reality] headset that played into his age,” Grant Baker, OTD, OTR/L, outpatient occupational therapist, said. “We also used the Armeo®Power that has a robotic assistance piece that helps him move his arms as well gives weight support to that arm. Those video games really get him to buy into things.”
For his part, Dalton really appreciated using Madonna’s specialized, video-game-like technology.
“I play video games and basketball and football,” Dalton said. “I enjoyed it a lot.”
Additionally, Dalton’s athletic background and prior physical strength played a role in his recovery.
“In PT or OT, we could relate things back to sports and that really resonates in his brain,” Baker said. “His size and strength he had prior made all the difference of where he’s at today.”
Seven months after his accident, Dalton returned home. Thanks to his community’s support, he also had a new addition on his house. His hometown rallied together and built an accessible guest home, meeting all of Dalton’s needs.
Meanwhile, Dalton has aspirations of going back to college and has been cleared to return to the gym. He and his family will never forget Madonna.
“Madonna’s the reason Dalton is here today and where he’s at,” Angela said. “Madonna was heaven-sent to Dalton and our family.”