Montana Ritter

In the early morning hours of June 12, Montana Ritter awoke in a panic. The 9 year old — who had recently battled a nasty cold — could feel her throat closing shut. She let out a noise that brought her family to their feet.

“At first, I thought she was just congested,” said her older sister, Shyanne. “I told her to blow her nose. But, when I heard that sound I knew something was really wrong.”

Fearing the worst, the family quickly ushered Montana to the Citrus Hospital ER. “I wasn’t expecting so many people to surround us,” said mother Christy Ritter. “I’d been to this ER in the past and the experience wasn’t great. I was so scared, but this team was impressive.”

RN Preceptor Tiffany Thomason, ER Physician Dr. Julio Sanchez, along with registered nurses Ernesto Pablico Co, Katie Del Torro, Natalia Bartolomei Peraza and ER Director Sharon Stevens — who was serving as charge nurse for the night — immediately went to work. They first attempted to intubate the little girl, but her throat was so swollen they couldn’t get through. Dr. Sanchez made the decision to perform a cricothyrotomy — a last ditch effort to establish an airway. His first attempt was unsuccessful, and the clock was ticking. But the CMH ER team knew that if anyone could save Montana’s life it was Dr. Sanchez. A longtime instructor, one of the courses he’s most well-known for is “Difficult Airways”. The second attempt was a success and the girl was quickly vented while awaiting air transport to All Children’s Hospital.

Down the hall, Sam Ritter paced with tears streaming down his face. “I’d never seen him like that before,” said Christy. “We shudder to think what could have happened to our little girl that horrible night If this team had not been there.”

Montana was flown to All Children’s Hospital where she remained for three days. When she was discharged she reached out to the CMH ER. “Hi, this is Montana Ritter. I came into the ER early Wednesday morning where you, Dr. Sanchez and the staff took care of me,” she said in a text message. “I have something special for the doctor and staff. Can you tell me when they will be working again so I can hand deliver it and thank you for all you did for me?”

Her care team came together after Montana was discharged to celebrate a 10th birthday that almost wasn’t. Montana and her new nurse friends shared birthday cake and stories; they took photos together and hugged. When asked if she knew what happened to her Montana quietly responded, “I stopped breathing and I came to the hospital. Do you want a piece of cake?”