A five-year-old Texas girl is preparing to start kindergarten just over a year after a rattlesnake bite left her with a serious hand injury.
Sadie Crow’s father, Dillon, told NBC affiliate KXAS that the incident happened in June 2024 while the family was at their ranch.
“They were throwing rocks in the pond,” Dillon recalled. “She was standing right next to me and reached down to pick up a rock. Apparently, there was a rattlesnake under a leaf, and when she reached for it, the snake bit her on the top of her hand.”
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On the way back to their vehicle, Dillon said Sadie began to lose consciousness. They rushed her to a local hospital before she was transferred to a Lubbock medical facility.
Since then, Sadie has been receiving treatment at Scottish Rite for Children and is set to begin kindergarten on Monday, Aug. 11.
Dr. Scott Oishi, director of the Center for Excellence in Hand at Scottish Rite for Children, explained that before arriving at their facility, Sadie underwent emergency surgery known as a fasciotomy. “They open up the area over the muscle, because otherwise the muscle will die and lead to permanent loss,” he said.
Upon her arrival, Dr. Oishi recalled, “she was really scared” and had severe swelling in her hand and forearm. Despite that, he said, Sadie “has really been a champ through this.”
A few months ago, she had another surgery to loosen joints and tendons in her hand. “We were able to open it up to give her more function, but she’s had to do therapy three or four times a week right after that surgery,” Dr. Oishi noted. “It’s a lot of commitment from her and her parents.”
While she may still need another procedure, Sadie has regained “great” use of her hand, which is nearly back to normal.
“Seeing her go from a scared little girl when she first came in, to now being confident and using her hand again, has been incredible,” Dr. Oishi said. “She’s a tough little girl, and I think she’s going to do great.”
