SAN DIEGO — There were tears and hugs at Oceanside Municipal Airport Wednesday as 10-year-old Declan Henson was reunited with the Mercy Air flight crew who helped save his life.
"It's amazing being able to have that closure, and to thank them personally," said Christopher Henson, Declan's father, his eyes filling with tears. "[It's] hard to put into words. You don't realize, you never think it could happen to you. We're just thankful."
Back in June, Declan was in an accident while riding his bike near the family's home at Camp Pendleton. His father is in the Navy.
Declan's handlebars hit his abdomen so hard, it punctured the main artery that supplies blood to his liver. The Mercy Air crew told CBS 8 that most people, adults and children, don't survive an injury like that. It's that serious.
Declan was able to call his mom for help through his watch. The Mercy Air flight crew landed in his neighborhood and airlifted him to Rady Children's Hospital. While en route, they were able to provide him with critical care, giving him the blood he needed to survive. Mercy Air is the only program locally that has the capability to do this onboard a helicopter.
Declan underwent six surgeries.
"That third procedure was very much exploratory, we had to sign a waiver so," his dad said trailing off, emotional.
Declan now has a large scar where they stitched up his abdomen. He spent 32 days in the hospital. Thankfully, he made a full recovery.
"Thank you for saving my life," Declan said to the crew Wednesday, tearing up.
"When we dropped him off [at the hospital] and turned him over, we really hoped he would make it to see his mom and dad get to the hospital at least," said Amy Marquez, a Mercy Air flight nurse. "Never in my wildest dream did I think he would walk out, and be able to come see us, and live his life as a 10-year-old boy."
Wednesday morning, the crew took Declan and his family up in the helicopter once again, for a special ride. He was very excited.
He is now back in school, back with his friends. He said he wants to grow up to become a professional soccer player.
Please press play below to watch the staff at Rady Children's Hospital give him a special send off.
