A family's life was changed in a few short moments after a tragic accident at their toddler's day care. While their 2-year-old son was at day care, the toddler got his foot run over by a riding lawnmower, injuring his leg. The toddler then had to have his foot amputated.
Since the incident happened, the little boy has been on the long road to recovery and remains hospitalized. There are still many questions about how the incident happened and what will happen next, but the family is mostly focused on healing.
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The toddler has been hospitalized since late June.
Two-year-old Mateo Pacheco Elliott, has been in a hospital in Seattle, Washington, since the end of June. According to a GoFundMe set up for the family by a friend, "Two-year-old Mateo wanted to speak to the owner. [He] went running up to the lawn mower, slipped and fell. Went under and his leg was amputated."
Further details explain that in addition to his foot, the toddler has injuries to his ankle, knee, and thigh that have required multiple surgeries.
Mateo's mother was at work when the injury occurred.
"It was a normal day," Mateo's mother, Stacey Elliott explained to NCW Life. She had dropped him off at day care, and then went about her work day. But then she got a call from the day care. Unable to answer, she texted an employee to find out what was going on. That's when they told her there was an emergency.
"I had to call them like four times before somebody answered the phone," Elliott said. Eventually she was able to get through to the daughter of the day care owner, who told her that Mateo was in the hospital. They provided no additional information.
"I was concerned and asking questions like, ‘Well, is it serious? What happened? Can you tell me what happened?’" Elliott said. "They were like, ‘No details. All we can say is that he’s at the Quincy hospital.’"
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What came next isn't something she could have ever anticipated.
On her way to Quincy Hospital, a doctor called Elliott.
"He said, ‘Did anybody update you on what’s going on?’ I was like, ‘No. They literally told me that they couldn’t give me any details.’ He said, ‘Well, your son was run over by a riding mower at day care. His foot was amputated and he has a severe abrasion to his upper leg,’" she explained.
The news made Elliott's head spin. She wondered if her son would survive the accident, what kind of damage had been done, and most importantly, why would someone be riding on a lawnmower while children were present?
When she arrived at the hospital, she was immediately taken to Mateo, who was lying "on a bed, covered in blankets and stuff." Elliott explained that there was "blood all around the blankets." Soon, doctors explained that Mateo would need to be airlifted to Seattle. And while Elliott is "afraid of heights," she pushed through it to be with her son.
The boy's mother says if it's 'not one thing,' about her son's health, 'it's another.'
Since he was admitted into the hospital in Seattle, Mateo has had a host of health problems in relation to the amputation. Mateo has had to receive skin grafts, which is a process, but has been healing well according to updates provided consistently on the GoFundMe. He has also been having trouble eating, and has been placed on a feeding tube, has been having lots of stomach problems. Now, he has tested positive for COVID-19.
Due to Mateo's hospitalization and frequent procedures, Elliott has been largely unable to work. Currently, the GoFundMe has reached about half of its $30,000 goal.
The incident is still be investigated.
According to King 5 News, the Quincy Police Department investigated the case, but didn't find enough evidence to send it to prosecutors for criminal charges. The Washington Department of Children, Youth and Families is conducting a separate investigation, and has temporarily suspended the day care's license.
The family is considering legal action against the day care, but is currently most focused on Mateo's healing and well-being.
