MIAMI – A 3-year-old boy who accidentally shot himself while looking for an iPad is expected to be released from Jackson Rehabilitation Hospital within a week or so after receiving extensive therapy.
University of Miami Health pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Sarah Jernigan performed emergency brain surgery on Darnal Mundy after the Aug. 4 shooting, removing part of his skull to relieve pressure on his brain.
"Because he is so young, his brain has the ability to rewire (and) use other parts of his brain to take over the parts that are damaged," Jernigan said
According to hospital officials, Darnal was shot shortly before 6 a.m. after he climbed onto a chair and reached into a drawer while searching for an iPad. Instead, he found a gun and accidentally shot himself once in the head.
The shot woke up Darnal's parents, who found the boy lying on the floor crying.
Darnal's father picked him up while his mother grabbed the car keys and drove them to Holtz Children's Hospital.
"We jumped out of the car, ran in and were met by doctors and nurses," Dorphius Jean said. "They grabbed my son and I kept yelling, 'Please save him, please save him.'"
Darnal spent three weeks in the pediatric intensive care unit before being transferred to Jackson Rehabilitation Hospital, where he underwent intensive physical, occupational and speech therapy, as well as neuropsychology and nutritional guidance.
Doctors said Darnal is now walking and talking and regaining his strength. He will celebrate his fourth birthday in two weeks.
Darnal said he most looks forward to returning home to play with his toys and his three dogs, Snow, Gucci and OJ.
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