Orlando based teenager Mackenzie Smoley loves her electric scooter and often goes out for a ride. One Saturday evening, as she was out for a spin, a raccoon appeared causing the panicked teen to try and turn around.
Her scooter hit a curb causing her to fall with the handlebars driving into her midsection, knocking Smoley to the ground. The 14-year-old had no bruises or scratches.
Mackenzie’s mom, Sharon Smoley, didn’t think the injuries were serious even though her daughter had some discomfort.
Smoley took the entire Sunday to rest but as she returned to school Monday, the pain returned even to the point that the teen was unable to walk up stairs. She then went to the school nurse.
The nurse called Sharon and suggested that she take Mackenzie to see a doctor.
Sharon Smoley took the advice and took her daughter to AdventHealth Orlando ER.
Doctors went ahead and performed a scan that revealed something truly unexpected. Mackenzie had a lacerated kidney with internal bleeding.
If it had been ignored, she could have lost a kidney, or worse.
“Grade 4 laceration of the kidney is a very serious situation,” said Dr. Pat Casale, pediatric urologist at AdventHealth for Children. “It would be impossible for the parent to know the child’s condition on the inside, but that’s why you bring them to the ER for evaluation. I’m glad she came in when she did.”
All that because of a raccoon.
“The doctor just said you know, what we have found is pretty rare. So rare that I have a bunch of residents in my office right now reviewing the scan. But it looks like she has lacerated her kidney,” Sharon shared.
Mackenzie was then admitted to the ICU for a stage 4 kidney laceration with internal bleeding. But it was unclear at the time if her kidney would heal or have to be removed.
“A grade 4 renal laceration is very severe for the kidney,” Dr. Pat Casale, a pediatric urologist, said.
Fortunately, Dr. Casale said they were able to stabilize Mackenzie without the need for surgery.
He went on to say that Mackenzie’s symptoms were very vague early on so it was understandable why the teen’s parents didn’t know how badly she was injured.
It was a good thing Sharon listened to the school nurse.
The teenager’s mom says that if your child has any type of traumatic accident, a trip to the ER is always worth it.
“For us, the lesson was if there’s ever a question, you go,” Sharon said.
The Smoleys are beyond grateful that Mackenzie’s kidney has healed well with no complications.
And it was a good thing she wears her helmet. A head injury would have been far worse.
Doctors say that two symptoms of a possible kidney injury are back pain and blood in your urine.
So if you have a hard fall, especially near the area of your kidneys, go get checked out.
Check out Mackenzie’s story in the video below!
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