PLEASANT HILL, Mo. — Nine year-old Maddux Lowry was hurt nearly two weeks ago when a tree fell onto the blacktop and hit him Tuesday, Oct. 29 at Pleasant Hill Elementary School.
Maddux's grandmother Sherri Lowry says the fourth grader won't be going back to school until at least December, adding that it may be after the holidays.
Last week, Maddux was released from Children's Mercy in Kansas City, Mo., but just a day and a half after getting out, he had to go back.
"He lost almost all the hearing in his right ear," Sherri said in an interview with FOX4 Monday. "He'll never be able to regain that."
Maddux went back for a cochlear or hearing implant last week. Sherri says he still has multiple fractures to his face. His eye socket was fractured. There's still swelling there, and he may need another surgery that's specifically for his eye. He still has to do physical and speech therapy too. Maddux has two older sisters, Isla, who's 11 and Sadie, who's 14.
"When he was in the trauma unit, Sadie went up to him and whispered in his ear, his right ear, and he was like, 'I can't hear you, what?' She said it again and whispered. He says, 'I can't hear you,' and that was her realization. She goes, 'Mommy he can't hear me,' and it's like, 'That's right, he can't,' and that's when she kind of realized it, and it was like, 'Well what were you telling him?' She was like, I was telling him, 'I love you.'"
Sherri sent pictures to FOX4 Monday of Maddux. One of them was of Maddux in June of this year when the family was on vacation in the Bahamas. We asked Sherri when she looked at that picture specifically, what went through her mind.
"You're going to make me cry," Sherri said in response. "Happy-go-lucky, but now with the implant, it's going to change his life."
After our interview with Sherri at her workplace in North Kansas City, Mo., FOX4 went down to the elementary school. We noticed students back on the blacktop Monday afternoon, but the tree's been cut down. Pleasant Hill Schools Superintendent Wayne Burke would not do an interview with FOX4, but he says the students are back on the blacktop because the tree that fell on Maddux and three other students has been fully cut down.
"We are keeping our student in our thoughts and prayers and are hoping for a very speedy and pain free recovery," Burke said. "The student and the student's family have been in contact with our principal. She has shared well wishes and notes from the staff and students to the family."
Sherri says she's just angry at the situation in general, not criticizing the school district or the private owner of the property where the tree stood before it blew over in the wind onto the district's blacktop.
"Luckily, he's nine," Sherri continued. "Hopefully he will be able to adjust to his new life and his new hearing."
Maddux's parents, Kelsie and Kyle Lowry have hired an attorney from DiPasquale Moore to represent them. Monday, Kyle and Kelsie released a statement to FOX4 through DM Law Attorney Garrett Tuck:
“Thank you for your concern about Maddux. He was able to leave the hospital on November 5th but still has a long road to recovery ahead of him. We are very grateful for the help from our family and friends. This incident caused Maddux to suffer injuries that will require lifetime care and attention. If you would like to make a donation to help us with medical bills, here is our GoFundMe. We ask that you please respect our privacy. For any inquiries, reach out to our attorneys at DM Injury Law.”
