Lawn Mower Accident: Toddler's Final Surgery Called a Success

If all goes as planned on Tuesday, 2-year-old Ireland Nugent will awaken from anesthesia and will get to see her family again. 

"I can not wait to just love her and hold her and tell her it's all going to be okay," said Ireland's mother Nicole Nugent, 31, during a news conference Monday, after the Palm Harbor toddler completed her fourth surgery at Tampa General Hospital (TGH).

The toddler was airlifted to TGH last Wednesday evening after she was accidentally run over by a riding lawn mower at her home. The accident severed both of Ireland's ankles. During Monday's three-hour surgery, doctors amputated the toddler's left leg just below the mid-calf region and amputated her right leg at mid-calf. Surgeons also competed skin grafts using skin from this child's thigh.

"It was very successful," said the family's pastor, Reverend Dennis Reid of Trinity Presbyterian Church.

Ireland's anesthesiologist decided to keep her sedated until Tuesday because of the amount of anesthesia the toddler received and the length of time she's already been under. Ireland's parents are looking forward to being reunited with their daughter again when she awakens.

"I know they keep telling me she can hear me. But I want to see her look back at me when I can tell her that were going to get through this," said Nicole.

Ireland's father, Jeremiah Nugent, 47, fought back tears Monday when speaking of his daughter, whom he accidentally ran over while putting the lawn mower away Wednesday evening.

"I just want to hear her say she loves me and hug her and hold her, that's it. She's my angel. The tragedy of it, I've got to work through. But, when she opens her eyes and she sees me and she smiles and she says she loves me and we hold each other, a lot of pain that is in me right now is gonna leave," he said.

Doctors told the family it could be six to eight weeks before Ireland is up and walking on her prosthetic legs. A TGH psychologist will help Ireland deal with the emotional aspect of the loss of her legs. She already knows they are gone, shortly after the accident the toddler was asking where her legs were.

The Nugent family has had plenty of support from the community and from former pro-wrestler Steve Chamberland, an amputee who lost a leg in a motorcycle accident in the 1990s. Chamberland heads up the charity 50 Legs, which will be providing Ireland with prosthetic legs throughout her life. Chamberland has been at the Nugent family's side every step of the way since the accident.

"The first thing he did when he walked in the door, he said 'Don't even worry about this.' He's become a part of our family," said Jeremiah Nugent.

"This family is probably the nicest family you'll ever meet, just keep reaching out to them please. They need to know whatever help people can give," said Chamberland at the news conference.

Nicole Nugent also expressed her astonishment at the amount of support the family has received from strangers. "The support from the community is beyond anything I could ever even imagine," she said.

The news conference brought a few smiles to the faces of Nicole and Jeremiah Nugent, who've had a lot to deal with during the last week. Nicole described her daughter's spunky personality and how it's helping the toddler get through this difficult time.

"She's very feisty, if she wants to do something she always does it. She hates to wear clothes. She hates to wear shoes," said Nicole.

She has things that she likes her way, definitely, and she's been doing that here the whole time, just fighting, fighting and fighting and its working, she's succeeding."

You can keep up with Ireland's progress and leave messages for her on a Facebook page that her church created: "Ireland Nugent Support Page"

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