Emergency care: Heath Brinkley
As he walks the halls of HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, CT Tech Heath Brinkley receives many big smiles and warm greetings from colleagues who are very glad to see him back on the job.
That’s because it’s likely a miracle that Heath is seen anywhere.
On the night of May 14, 2024, Heath went from being caregiver to patient at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital.
After a long shift of helping the HCA Florida Ocala Trauma Center treat victims of the deadly migrant bus crash in Dunnellon that day, Heath was headed to a workout at his gym on Ocala’s north end. He never made it.
A motorist who was reportedly looking at his phone turned in front of Heath’s motorcycle, causing a horrific crash.
Paramedics rushed Heath back to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, where he later learned he had suffered 29 separate fractures throughout his entire body. According to Heath, some of his injuries included a brain bleed, a broken bone in his neck, and an open leg fracture that left a 5-inch bone fragment by the side of the road.
Heath, who has spent 15 years as a CT tech at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, notes, “I saw my scan and I can honestly say I’ve never scanned anyone with as much damage as I had. I’ve scanned worse, but they’re usually paralyzed or worse.”
“If I had seen that scan on someone else, I would have freaked out.”
Over the past 11 months, he has endured nine surgeries and weeks upon weeks of painful and painstaking physical rehabilitation.
Heath finally returned to work during the first week of April.
“It’s not pleasant,” he admits, noting that the residual pain of his many injuries continues to nag him. But, he adds, “it’s better mentally that I can do stuff for myself.”
Heath says he understands his body likely will not be what it was before the crash. Still, he adds that he pushes himself through strenuous workouts to regain as much strength, mobility, and flexibility as he can.
As for those greetings from well-wishing colleagues, Heath describes them with one word: Awesome.
“I realize how bad it (the crash) was by seeing their reaction. A lot of people know I survived, but they probably thought, ‘He’ll be in a wheelchair the rest of his life,’ or ‘He’ll never come back to work,’“ says Heath. “But it’s wonderful. I’m kind of shocked when people remember me. I never would have expected that. It’s super-encouraging and flattering.”