Four-year-old to make full recovery after he was clinically decapitated, thanks to Good Samaritan

BOISE, Idaho -- A four-year-old boy is expected to make a full recovery after doctors say he was internally decapitated. The boy's family is thanking a Good Samaritan who held his head perfectly still until paramedics arrived after a terrible crash.

It was a stormy day when four-year-old Killian and his mother, Brandy decided to make the trip back home to Nevada from Boise, Idaho after celebrating Killian's fourth birthday.

Ice on the road caused their vehicle to skid out of control, crashing into another car.

"I'm trying to turn and I'm just sliding at this point. And then 'bam' and we hit. And the last thing I remember is looking back at my baby," Brandy Gonzalez said.

At the same time, a Nampa, Idaho police officer and his wife were headed down the hill. The crash happened right before their eyes.

PHOTO: GoFundMe.com

"We could hear a kid screaming -- a little baby screaming. And my husband took a hitch -- somebody had a hitch, and he smashed out the back window of Brandy's vehicle. We finally got in and got him and had him sat up. I'm trying to stay calm but inside I'm panicking. And I'm thinking 'I don't know what I'm doing.' And it was the worst feeling I've ever had to not know how to help," Woodward said.

Woodward held Killian's head straight for over 30 minutes -- a move that likely saved his life.

"If they would have moved him a bunch, or taken him out, then it could have been much worse," Gonzalez said.

Killian was taken to St. Luke's Boise Medical Center, and his mother was across the street at St. Al's. They weren't able to see each other after the crash.

"It's just so hard because I'm in the same town and I haven't been able to see him. It's just hard knowing he's in so much pain and I can't be there," Gonzalez said.

Killian ruptured his spleen and broke his arm along with multiple ribs.

"His (injuries) were horrible. He was clinically decapitated," Gonzalez said.

Clinical decapitation is a rare condition where his skull separated from his spine. Less than 1% survive the injury. Those who do, need extensive surgery and wear a halo brace. This miracle child didn't have to undergo any of that.

"He's shocked everyone there. They keep telling me he's the talk of the hospital," Gonzalez said.

After the crash, he was able to eat, walk and even sit up by himself -- all without surgery.

Gonzalez broke her arm, femur and the top of her tibia.

"This leg I shattered my ankle. The ankle is just a bunch of pins at this point," Gonzalez said. "There's a reason we're here -- and we're just going to try every day to figure out what that reason is."

This crash has brought together two mothers who will now be life-long friends.

"She saved my baby..." Gonzalez said.

"No mom should lose their child and she gets to have her boy. That's really awesome," Woodward said.

CLICK HERE to access a GoFundMe.com account set up for Brandy Gonzalez and Killian.