UMMC surgeons reconstruct teen’s arm after life-threatening accident

Published on Monday, September 30, 2024

By: Rachel Vanderford, rvanderford@umc.edu

Photos By: Jay Ferchaud/ UMMC Communications

What started as an ordinary Tuesday quickly turned into a day Charles “Tripp” Pender III won’t soon forget. While out playing with his two-year-old niece, Pender was accidentally struck by a bullet that nearly cost him an arm. 

Thanks to first-aid training from his father, a local sheriff's deputy, Tripp was well-prepared for emergencies. Carrying a medical kit equipped with a tourniquet, he was able to stop the bleeding and stabilize himself. He then rushed back home with his niece in his arms. 

His grandmother drove him to Choctaw Regional Medical Center in Ackerman where he was treated before being airlifted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center. 

"He had to be airlifted because he was bleeding internally,” his mother, Evelyn Pender, said. “[The UMMC AirCare Flight Team] was there within 30 minutes. When we found out that he was coming to UMMC, we knew he was coming to the best hospital.”

Pender and his siblings are no strangers to the children’s hospital. Evelyn Pender notes that she has always felt confident in the care that her kids have received at Children’s of Mississippi. She said that when one of her children contracted scarlet fever, the care team was very thorough. “They handled everything about it,” she said, “every single thing.”

When his family arrived at UMMC, she said Dr. Clayton Rooks, a surgery resident, was the first face they saw. "He told me they were going to do everything they could to try to save his arm.” 

Several hours later, Dr. Mrinal Shukla, an associate professor of surgery and vascular surgeon, met with Pender's parents to discuss the surgery. Shukla, motivated to learn from and operate alongside Dr. Marc Mitchell, division chief and a leader in vascular surgery, began working at UMMC in 2023. 

The bullet had injured Pender’s brachial artery, and the surgeons had to carefully work around vital structures to prevent further damage. Using a vein from Pender’s leg, Shukla was able to repair the artery and restore blood flow to his arm, ultimately allowing him to keep it.  

“Tripp’s injury required multiple teams to come together and work quickly to maintain arm function,” Shukla said. “I am very grateful for the opportunity to take care of him and for Dr. Shauntaye Batson and our trauma team, Dr. Marc Walker and our plastic surgery team, as well as Dr. Peter Mittwede and our orthopedic surgery team. Together, we were able to treat and improve what could have been a life-changing event for Tripp.” 

One of the surgeons that operated on him was Dr. Steven Childress, an orthopaedic surgery resident who had the exact same accident Pender had when he was 16. “He told us that he went on to play football at Baylor and now he’s a surgeon,” Pender’s mom shared. “He told us to tell Tripp that it can happen—that he will recover. 

“As big as this hospital is, I feel like I’ve known his team of doctors and surgeons my whole life,” Evelyn Pender said. “They just make us feel so comfortable. I don’t care if I sit there and ask a million questions, I know they’re going to answer every one of them.” 

After three days in the ICU followed by an additional week of recovery, Pender was back at home.  

“Just the prayers that were lifted up for him... When he was in surgery and we didn’t know what the outcome was going to be, I’ve never been more scared in my life. But at the same time, I’ve never felt more at peace. He has always put others first," his mother said.  

Pender’s mom said she considers it a blessing that her son was under the care of Shukla and Rooks. 

“We were up here visiting a friend and Dr. Shukla and Dr. Rooks got off the elevator, recognized us immediately, and shook Tripp’s hand,” she said. “They asked him how he was doing and even took his pulse right there. You just can’t find that kind of care anywhere. They are two of the most compassionate people I’ve ever met in my life.” 

Pender is now back in school and even playing football. His next goal, he said, is to be able to do push-ups again. 

“Nothing can slow him down,” his mother said. “He always has to be moving around, doing something. I think that’s been a big part of why he has recovered as quickly as he has.”