MIAMI – A 5-year-old boy is recovering after remarkably surviving a terrifying drop, suffering serious injuries.
Less than a week after falling from his fourth-floor Miami apartment, Dantavis Ponder is slowly recuperating.
Miami police responded to the Little Havana apartment building near Northwest 13th Avenue and Second Street Thursday after they received a call that a child had fallen.
Relatives believe Dontavis was looking out of a screened-in window just after 4:30 p.m. when it gave way and he fell down four floors.
Miami Fire Rescue said paramedics quickly responded and rushed the boy to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition.
Relatives told Local 10 News’ Roy Ramos that Dontavis suffered bruises to his face, a punctured lung and a bruised liver.
His back was also severely injured, and for days he was forced to be intubated and sedated.
On Tuesday, the Broadmoor Elementary School student, the brave brother, the fierce fighter with the will to get better one day at a time and one step at a time showed Local 10 News that he’s been taking those steps.
With his family and medical staff at Holtz Children’s Hospital by his side, Dontavis continues his remarkable recovery into his sixth birthday — coming up on Thursday.
His family said Dontavis will be home-schooled and remain in physical therapy for the next six to eight months. They have created a GoFundMe page to help with medical expenses.