Annual Patient of the Year Award honors Thomas Keller

The Patient of the Year Award is presented by the Medevac Foundation International and recognizes an emergency medical transport patient whose survival and eventual recovery can be attributed to the medical transport and the team who performed the transport.

Thomas was severely injured earlier this year after a 315 lb. weight landed on his chest. The injury caused a significant tear in the right ventricle and swelling and bleeding around Keller’s heart. He was immediately transported to Rosebud IHS Hospital, which requested Oglala Lakota Air Rescue to transport him by helicopter directly to the operating room at Monument Health in Rapid City.

Early air transport saved his life

“When the patient arrived, the entire team thought he was going to die based on his presentation at that time. He was as close to death as you want to be,” explained Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon Dr Kalyan Vunnamadala with Monument Health Heart and Vascular Institute.

The team attributes Thomas’ recovery to identifying the severity of his injuries, the early activation of air transport, Oglala Lakota Air Rescue’s quick response and treatment of cardiogenic shock, and the medical crew’s activation of the Trauma Alert system with Monument Health where Keller underwent an immediate and successful open-heart surgery.

Thomas Keller and his family were recently able to reunite with the crew that assisted in his transport. No doubt an emotional union, Thomas honored the team with Star Quilts, a Lakota tradition, to thank them for their efforts on the very worst day of his life. Thomas has made a full recovery; he is back to work full time as a Sergeant in the Department of Corrections, as well as chasing after his seven-year-old daughter. Although the scariest moment in his life, Thomas stated that he has changed his view on life for the best and is enjoying all the small moments even more.

Earlier this year, AAMS has launched a free 40-week training program for clinicians.