For children facing serious injuries, getting the right care often begins long before they arrive at a children’s hospital.
For 14-year-old Lilli Woods, that journey began during during a rodeo competition in January 2025 when she was thrown from a bull and trampled under its feet, suffering significant injuries.
Emergency responders took her to a local hospital for emergency evaluation. There, providers quickly realized the extent of her injuries required specialized pediatric care and activated the McLane Children’s transport team.
Expert pediatric care in motion
The McLane Children’s transport team is specially trained to care for infants, children and adolescents during interfacility transfers to a higher level of care at Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Medical Center.
Transport is not simply about moving a patient from point A to point B. For pediatric patients, it is a continuation of care often involving advanced monitoring, rapid response to changes in condition, and age‑specific comfort and safety considerations.
For Lilli, the transport team ensured the next phase of her care began without delay.
Supporting the athlete behind the injuries
At McLane Children’s Medical Center, imaging revealed three broken ribs, a hematoma to her spleen and previously undetected fractures in her back. Lilli did not require surgery, but spent several days in the hospital under close observation, followed by strict activity restrictions and a carefully monitored recovery plan.
From the moment she arrived, care teams focused on treating the whole child, not only her injuries. That approach extended beyond physical healing to include emotional support, clear communication and goal‑setting that acknowledged what mattered most to Lilli—returning to the sport she loved.
“For many young athletes, their sport becomes part of their identity,” said Dr. Little, chief of pediatric surgery at McLane Children’s. “They need to know that part of their life is not over, and that we’re going to work toward the goal of getting them back to what they love.”
“Rodeo is what I love,” Lilli said. “It’s always something I wanted to do.”
After leaving the hospital, Lilli continued her recovery through rest and physical therapy, gradually rebuilding strength, confidence and endurance. By spring, just months after her injury, Lilli was able to gradually return to the activity she loved most.
Transport is where pediatric care begins
Lilli’s experience highlights the essential role the McLane Children’s transport team plays in pediatric care. For many families, transport is the first direct connection to McLane Children’s, and it can shape both outcomes and the care experience.
By delivering pediatric expertise beyond hospital walls and ensuring children receive specialized care as early as possible, the transport team helps lay the foundation for recovery from the very beginning.
At McLane Children’s, helping kids get back to what they love doesn’t start at the hospital doors. It starts the moment a child needs help and continues every step of the way.
