In the summer of 2012, 6-year-old Landon was camping with family and friends at a local horse-riding ranch in the beautiful back hills of rural Ohio. Landon’s father, Jeff Reese, recalls hearing faint screams while he was preparing breakfast with the other adults one Sunday morning, only to discover that his son was involved in a tragic accident nearby.

Minutes later, Landon was found lying in the weeds with a severe injury to his skull from being kicked by a horse. Landon was airlifted to a nearby children’s hospital in Dayton, OH where he underwent emergency brain surgery due to the life-threatening injuries he sustained from the powerful head strike.

“His skull had been kicked away by a horse,” Dr. Klein of Dayton Children’s Hospital said. “Frequently people don’t survive these types of injuries. [Landon] required additional surgery for the reparation of his skull, as it was broken away in so many pieces it.”

After his surgery Landon remained in a medically induced coma for the next 7 to 8 weeks as his medical team slowly attempted to wake him. As he awoke, he began to smile, respond and move his body. Soon, Landon regained full consciousness and began his long and miraculous road to recovery.

Landon, with the love and help from his parents, family and community, has regained a lot of his former freedoms and physical abilities. He still loves to play sports, go on hikes and goof around with his siblings, but he now requires a wheelchair for most activities. While some aspects of life can be easily adjusted to accommodate this type of change, home modifications, like the ones Landon’s impairments demand, are often the hardest due to their high cost.

With the help of another nonprofit, Holton’s Heroes was able to fully fund a bathroom renovation for Landon and his family, so that he can not only enter his bathroom in his wheelchair, but also appropriately use the shower and toilet independently.  

“This will serve Landon for many years,” Jeff excitedly told us. “The shower is wide so I can help him if needed with a bench built in. The tub has jets to help massage him. This wouldn’t have been possible without you!” 

In regard to Landon’s incredible physical and cognitive recovery, Dr. Klein adds, “I think it says a lot about his own will to survive and his lust for life.”