Primary Children’s Medical Center saves local boy again

The Primary Children’s Miracle Network Telethon is this Sunday on KIDK.

Each night this week, we’ve highlighted the impact this hospital has had on the lives of eastern Idaho families. Dalon Pinnock made a quick recovery from his latest visit there. His first was 12 years ago.

A week before his 5th birthday, Dalon took his sister’s bigger bike for a ride in his cul-de-sac, but then the bike hit a truck. Dalon’s head hit the truck, too. He was air-lifted to Primary Children’s Medical Center. That was his first visit, when he spent two and a half weeks in a coma.

“They are just amazing. They are set up to help families and to really listen to parents as they even evaluate your child,” said Kristy Pinnock, Dalon’s mother.

Dalon would have to relearn everything through seven weeks of therapy.

“My middle daughter became his speech therapist. And my older son became his physical therapist,” said Kristy.

From there, Dalon made a full recovery, even playing tee ball and making more appearances for Primary Children’s Miracle Network. But things still weren’t perfect for Dalon. He has suffered for years from grand mal seizures. That is, until about two weeks ago, when he returned to Primary Children’s Medical Center and had his brain mapped. Doctors found the source in Dalon’s left frontal lobe of his brain, on the backside of the outer cortex. They removed a portion.

“And by the time we left there, he was walking and saying words and doing great and eating a ton,” said his mother.

Dalon will still have to relearn a lot of things for a second time, but he wasn’t about to miss the end of his junior year. He was back to school a week later.

“What did you tell them to call you at school?” asked Dalon’s mother.

“Scar,” said Dalon. His friends and classmates all rallied around Dalon, even the school nurse.

“He’s gone through a lot and still is happy to be around people, happy to interact with people, which I think says a lot about him,” said Sarah Drollinger. And his teacher, Russ Rapp, is thankful he’s there.

“Just a joy, an absolute joy to have in class. Then he goes and has surgery, you know, and we’re worried because it’s serious and we’re wondering if he’ll lose functions or abilities. And here he comes back a week after surgery and comes into the classroom and shares cupcakes and it’s emotional; and we’re all crying and thanking God and knowing that our prayers have been answered,” said Rapp.

Remember this Sunday, KIDK will join the fundraising efforts for Primary Children’s Medical Center by hosting our annual telethon from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Also note that all CBS programming during the telethon will be moving over to KXPI, which is Channel 21 on Cable ONE and Digital 3.2 over the air.