'He avoided paralysis by just a millimetre': Perth mum's urgent warning

“If we can prevent even one other family from going through what we did, that would mean the world to us.”

A Perth mother has issued a warning to other parents after a kitchen accident taught her and her son a valuable lesson.

Landen Sturman was preparing himself a cheese toastie when, suddenly, his lunch plans took a dangerous twist.

The 10-year-old tripped, falling backward into the open drawer of the dishwasher—landing on the blade of a steak knife, which became lodged in his spine. 

Landen was incredibly lucky, with doctors revealing he escaped paralysis by just a “millimetre’s difference.”

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"Something so mundane" 

After hours of work by doctors at Perth Children’s Hospital, the knife was successfully removed, and Landen was left with no lasting nerve damage.

The close brush with permanent injury has left his mum, Emma, urging other families to take their experience as a warning. She says something as simple as turning the knife face down can prevent the worst from unfolding.

Image: PerthNow

“Stacking the dishwasher is something so mundane that most people don’t think twice about it, but it goes to show how even the smallest actions can have a huge impact,” Emma told PerthNow.

The mum says she’s grateful for the care her son received. 

“Despite being such a traumatic event for our family, everyone at PCH was lovely. It really was the best outcome we could have hoped for.”   

Image: PerthNow

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"Handles up, blades down"

Paediatric nurse Sarah Hunstead from CPR Kids says it’s a timely reminder for parents who get caught up in ticking off a cleaning to-do list and overlook potential hazards.

“When loading the dishwasher, it’s best to place knives with the handles up and the blades down—this helps prevent any accidental cuts when unloading," she explained in a statement to Kidspot.

"Plus, many dishwasher manufacturers recommend this method for both safety and cleaning efficiency!” 

She added a reminder to keep washing products, such as detergents, out of reach, as young children could ingest the contents.

A small silver lining

“The overall experience we had throughout Landen’s hospital stay turned a traumatic experience into something positive,” Emma shared.

She explained that as part of the hospital’s arts program, he took part in a puppetry workshop—quickly discovering he has a natural talent. It’s an initiative that made his hospital stay a little easier for the family.

She hopes that Landen’s story will keep other children away from emergency rooms.

Grateful for the support they received, Emma encouraged others to consider supporting PCHF, saying: “The overall experience we had throughout Landen’s hospital stay turned a traumatic experience into something positive.

“If we can prevent even one other family from going through what we did, that would mean the world to us.”

The youngster has since returned to school, proudly sporting his “battle wound” and surely warning his classmates of the dangers—just as his mother is.

To help create more positive experiences for WA kids such as Landen, donate to Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation at pchf.org.au/donate.

This article originally appeared in Perth Now and has been reproduced with permission.

Originally published as 'He avoided paralysis by just a millimetre': Perth mum's urgent warning