Girl thanks men who helped save her leg
SMITHFIELD – Over a year ago, Sara Bowman didn’t know if her daughter would ever walk again. Saturday night at the Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department’s Annual Awards Dinner, Hilari Bowman, not only walked but also presented a plaque of recognition to the men who saved her life.
“Thank God they were here,” said Sara, “because I don’t think she would have made it to Uniontown Hospital.”
On May 4th last year, Hilari, now 5 years old, was accidentally run over by a riding lawn tractor at her grandparents home in Smithfield. According to her mother, Hilari sustained severe injuries to her left leg and foot.
“It just happened so quick, she was on the porch and then I heard George yell, ‘No,’ said Sara. Hilari’s father, George Bowman, was on his way to Uniontown Hospital with Hilari when he decided to stop at the fire department for help.
“Right away, we just started working on her,” said Fire Chief Bruce Graham. “It was pretty serious. She is a lucky little girl,” he said.
The firefighters were able to get the bleeding stopped and Hilari was flown by helicopter from the fire department to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh.
According to Sara, Hilari had surgery that placed pins in her toes and skin grafts from her right leg to her left to close the wounds, but the damage done to the growth bone was more serious. According to Sara, her daughter spent months in a body cast and not until the last few months has she been able to walk, a sight that the firefighters were happy to see.
“A bunch of the guys wanted to see her,” said Graham, “Being a young kid, they were concerned.”
It seemed Hilari was eager to see them too. In a blue flower print dress with her big, brown eyes twinkling, she talked to the firefighters.
“I’ll show you how I can walk,” she said, as she strolled easily around the room.
According to Sara, the family just wanted to give the firefighters something to show their appreciation for all their help, so they had a plaque made in their honor.
As for Hilari, she just wanted to see the men who have become her heroes, and her future aspiration.
“I want to be a fireman when I grow up,” she said.