Toddler Makes Miraculous Recovery After Getting Key Lodged in Brain

SP08 Toddler makes miraculous recovery after getting key lodged in brain

A toddler has baffled medical experts by making a miraculous recovery after a key became lodged in his brain.

By Murray Wardrop

A toddler who has been hailed a miracle after getting a set of keys lodged in his brain.

Nicholas Holderman accidentally fell on his parents' keys while playing at their home, forcing one of them through his eyelid.

Remarkable X-ray scans show how the car key penetrated the 20-month-old's brain, leaving him in a critical condition.

The American boy's parents Chris and Staci heard his screams and immediately called for emergency services.

He was rushed by helicopter from the family home in Perryville, Kentucky, to hospital where doctors initially believed the toddler's right eye had been ruptured.

Medics were able to remove the key during surgery without Nicholas suffering any damage to his brain.

But they were astounded when just 15 minutes after the operation they discovered that the boy's eyesight was unaffected.

Mrs Holderman said: "I'll never forget that moment. Nothing can prepare you for something like that. We knew that he was injured seriously."

His brother Isaac said: 'When I looked at it close I saw the key in his eye."

Mr Holderman added: "It was a very horrifying sight to see this happen to your baby." After just six days in hospital, Nicholas was allowed home and has now made a full recovery. His eyesight is perfect, his parents say.

Relieved Mr Holderman said: "Fifteen minutes later for another doctor to say nothing was wrong, we knew it was a miracle from the Lord."

His wife added: "We all grin and look at him and are so thankful, and are reminded every day of what a miracle it truly is." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3521441/Toddler-makes-miraculous- recovery-after-getting-key-lodged-in-brain.html [Accessed on 25 Nov 2008]