Laurel Man Finds Hope Through Forrest Health’s Orthopedic Trauma Surgery Program

When Michael Harris opened his eyes, he was lying outside his vehicle on the side of an interstate in Virginia hundreds of miles from home.

It was April 4, 2025, and the 28-year-old Laurel man was headed out of town for work. He and a friend had traveled through Tennessee and made it into the edge of Virginia when, in an instant, a car wreck changed everything.

Harris does not remember the crash itself. He does not know exactly what happened or who called 911. What he does remember is looking down and seeing his right leg badly broken, the bone having pierced through the skin.

“I remember rolling over and seeing my leg,” Harris said. “At first, I don’t remember a lot of pain because of the adrenaline. Everything happened so fast.”

Harris had been ejected through the windshield and thrown several yards from the vehicle. His friend, who was also injured, remained inside the car upon impact. Harris remembers trying to stay calm and calling out to him.

“I wanted him to talk to me,” Harris said. “So much had just happened, and I still didn’t really have awareness of it all. I didn’t want to panic.”

Harris was airlifted to Johnson City, Tennessee, where he underwent emergency surgery. A plate and multiple screws were placed in his leg in an effort to stabilize the injury. He also had a punctured lung and fractured ribs. His friend was carried by ambulance to a hospital near the crash site.

Back home, Michael’s mother, Nicole Ward, received the call no parent wants to receive.

“They told me he had been in an accident and was being airlifted,” Ward said. “I was frantic. I wanted to know if he was OK. They told me he was stable, but that he would be going into emergency surgery as soon as he arrived.”

A few days later, his family brought him home to Mississippi. At first, it seemed as though his leg might be healing. But as the weeks passed, the wound would not close and a deeper insidious infection took hold.

Harris was referred to Dr. Joseph Radley, an orthopedic trauma surgeon with Forrest Health’s Orthopedic Trauma Surgery Program at Forrest General Hospital. The program is the only one of its kind in the region, providing specialized care for complex fractures, pelvic and acetabular injuries, limb-threatening trauma, and difficult cases that often require advanced reconstruction.

For Harris, that level of expertise close to home proved critical.

“That night (September 18), Dr. Radley called me,” Harris said. “I was upset, crying. He told me if we didn’t do surgery then, I might lose my leg.”

The infection had been eating away the bone of his ankle joint. Harris was facing the possibility of amputation below the knee.

Dr. Radley and the orthopedic trauma team moved quickly.

“They told us, ‘If you can get here tonight, we’ll get him prepped for surgery,’” Ward said, “reassuring us they were ‘going to save his leg.’”

Early the next morning, Harris underwent a surgery that lasted more than seven hours. Dr. Radley removed the hardware that had been placed during the original surgery, cleaned out the infection, and removed the deteriorated bone. This included roughly two inches of his tibia and four inches of his fibula. The team then began the process of growing Harris’ bone using a specialized external fixation device known as a MaxFrame.

The circular frame, secured with multiple pins and adjusted over time, helped stabilize the leg and gradually stretch and restore the bone.

“It was scary, because I didn’t know how it worked,” Harris said. “But they showed it to me before surgery, so I would know what to expect when I woke up.”

Harris required multiple surgeries. The initial limb salvage procedure with bone resection to help clear infection was followed by the distraction osteogenesis to “regrow” a new tibia, and subsequent ankle fusion.

The journey that followed was long and demanding, but Dr. Radley and the orthopaedic trauma team had given him the expert care he needed to face what was ahead.

Every pair of pants had to be cut to fit over the frame. Harris could not drive. He could not shower normally. Sleeping was difficult because he could not turn over. The majority of his life took place from the couch, with his leg elevated and the frame in place.

There were daily pin-care routines to prevent infection. He received antibiotics at home. Forrest Health Home Care visited twice a week to clean wounds, draw blood, and monitor his progress. Harris also had to make adjustments to the frame as directed, a process that required patience, discipline, and trust.

“It takes a lot to be compliant with something like that,” said Laura Miley, director of Ortho Trauma. “But I think him realizing he almost lost his leg helped him understand how important it was. He did what he was supposed to do.”

Harris credits his mother, family members, his home health team, and the orthopedic trauma team for helping him through the hardest days.

“I love everybody out there,” Harris said. “Dr. Radley, Kaylin, Laura, the nurses, registration — everybody was so nice to me. I had full trust in Dr. Radley and the team.”

He also found motivation in an unexpected place: his young son, who was learning to walk around the same time Harris was working to do the same.

“He started walking a little bit before me,” Harris said. “That gave me encouragement. He would get behind my leg and push me. He would bring my crutches to me.”

After more than a year of treatment, Harris recently had the MaxFrame removed. He has started walking again, slowly, as he works through stiffness and rebuilding strength following months of limited movement. He still has therapy ahead, but he is moving forward.

On a recent visit, Harris surprised Dr. Radley by walking into the clinic.

“It was overwhelming,” Harris said. “I was excited. I’m happy I went through the journey, even though I didn’t understand why all of this happened in the beginning. I still don’t know why it happened, but I leave it to God and let Him lead the way.”

Now, he is focused on getting stronger and returning to normal life — not rushing the process, but determined to keep making progress.

“I’m a working man,” Harris said. “I want to get back to work. I’m still able to walk. I’m blessed.”

Ward said watching her son’s determination has been emotional.

“He has stayed so positive,” she said. “For more than a year, he has kept going. He has done great.”

For Forrest Health, Harris’ story reflects the importance of having a specialized orthopedic trauma program available in South Mississippi. Without the need to travel hours away, patients with complex injuries can receive advanced surgical care, ongoing follow-up, home health support, and rehabilitation close to their families and support systems.

For Harris, that meant being able to continue his fight at home — surrounded by the people who helped carry him through.

“I thank God every day,” Harris said. “I know how blessed I am. I could have lost my leg.”

Now, each morning, Harris gets up and walks. Sometimes it is down the street. Sometimes it’s a trip to the store. His gait is slow due to the tightness in his ankle. Dr. Radley hopes therapy will help loosen joints of the foot to compensate, but if not, there are some backup options.

No matter what, each step is a reminder of how far he has come.

His goal is simple: keep walking, keep healing, and keep moving forward.

“I’m ready to get back to normal,” Harris said. “It’s been a long journey, but I’ve come a long way.”

For more information about orthopaedic trauma services, visit https://www.forresthealth.org/medical-services/trauma/orthopaedic-trauma/.