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Reandeau has surgery, moved out of PICU

After a surgical procedure Friday, Kimberly Reandeau, who sustained serious injury when a village of Tupper Lake snowplow truck backed over her Feb. 16, has been moved out of the pediatric intensive care unit, according to her mother, Bethany Cassell.

Reandeau’s injuries include a fractured skull, shoulder blade and ribs, a collapsed lung, injuries to her spleen and liver, a fractured femur, three fractured vertebrae, a broken wrist, and possible knee issues in the same knee as the fractured femur. On Friday, she had surgery on her leg at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington.

“Everything went well,” Cassell wrote on her Facebook page Friday evening. “A rod and some pins were put in her leg; her knee looks OK for now. They put a splint on her wrist. When they intubated her they found and removed a large clot of blood/mucus, after which her breathing improved.”

She said Reandeau’s oxygen levels improved significantly since the blood clot removal, and she was able to sit up and eat some pudding Saturday morning. She was transferred out of the PICU onto the children’s floor.

“The nurses said she was the bravest and toughest patient they have had,” Cassell wrote Saturday afternoon. “Although she was in considerable pain when they got her up, she refused to give up.”

By Sunday evening, Reandeau’s condition had continued to improve, according to Cassell.

“They were able to remove the chest tube on her left side!” Cassell wrote. “I was able to (very carefully) lay down and snuggle with Kimmy for a few minutes.

“She was much more alert today and even was able to video chat with her dad and siblings for a few minutes. She still struggles with a lot of pain, which we are trying to control.

“When she’s awake, I read her some of people’s comments (and) messages and tell her about all the wonderful things people are doing for her and our family. She is amazed and has said, ‘Wow, I didn’t know so many people cared about me.’ Thank you for all the love you have shown our family.”

Since the accident, the community has rallied around Reandeau and her family. A gofundme campaign, which can be found by searching “Team Kimberly” on www.gofundme.com, has already raised over $13,800 of its $15,000 goal as of press time since its creation Wednesday.

Interested parties can check www.facebook.com/KimberlyReandeau for opportunities to assist the family and for updates on Reandeau’s condition.

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