“I knew I had to stop the When you ask bleeding or slow it down. Injuries Christina Brenner of that nature have about five minutes of life before you bleed to recount what out,” Brenner said. happened that hot In a surge of adrenaline and with July afternoon, she astonishing speed and agility, Brenner leapt out of the pool. will tell you she was Her friend described it best. just a mom doing “He said, ‘I swear you walked on what moms do. She water...it was like the pool was a trampoline. You jumped out of it, gets uncomfortable landed and ran.’ He never could have believed it if he didn’t see it for himself.” with the word hero, though that’s what her son, friends Bikini turned tourniquet and family said afterwards. Flying (quite literally) into action, Brenner’s
She insists she’s just a Mom. While it’s true there’s no greater force than a mother’s love, friends, family and even Brenner herself admit she exhibited a number of superpowers that day. Each action was critical. The difference between life and death. “Now looking back, I’m even surprised at myself. My brain opened up like a filing cabinet,” Brenner said.
Walking on water The evening started like any other late summer afternoon. Christina Brenner, a recent graduate from Scott Community College’s (SCC) nursing program, and her family were enjoying time at her parent’s farm. Brenner was relaxing in the pool while her son rode ATV’s with a friend. It was the perfect kind of summer night, one filled with laughter, family and friends. Suddenly, her 13-year-old son Peyton’s voice rang out, “Mom, I really messed up, I’m so sorry, so sorry.” Peyton had gotten into an ATV accident, running the quad into a fence and tree. He was able to hop off the ATV, but something was very, very wrong.
body and nurse training took over. She began yelling directions, telling Peyton to lay down and put his leg up.
“I knew I needed to stop the bleeding and I was screaming to call 911. I immediately put my forearm down and put all my weight against the wound as I tried to pull off my swimsuit to use as a tourniquet.” Another mom heard her screaming and rushed over, helping her get the swimsuit top off. Between her family and friends she had a trauma operating room, whether they realized it or not. “It’s still so fresh,” Brenner said as she described the scene. “I think I’ll never be able to tell this story without crying. Everybody did exactly as I asked.” One of the most remarkable things about this story is that Brenner knew exactly what to ask, say and do to direct her makeshift medical team and stop the bleeding.
“I was saying ‘what honey, what honey?’ There was a lilac bush in between where I was so I couldn’t see him at first,” Brenner said. “He ran to the edge of the bush and lifted his hand off of his leg. Bright red blood was shooting out, spraying like a hose.” She knew instantly he’d hit his femoral artery, the color of his blood like a flashing warning sign.
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Quick thin bikini to to incredib
