Open House, and Life Flight welcome for 6 year old Jace

The Intermountain Medical Group is excited to announce the Public Open House of the newly constructed Intermountain Rose Canyon Clinic. Located at the crossroads of the Riverton and Herriman communities at 5541 West 13400 South, the entire community is invited to attend the free Open House on Thursday, August 23rd from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm to meet the providers, tour the clinic, and receive giveaways. At approximately 5:00 pm Life Flight helicopter will be landing onsite with a special passenger, six-year-old Jace Toponce who miraculously survived falling out of a two story window three years ago. His story is below.

The Intermountain Rose Canyon Clinic will be the home to board-certified family practice doctors who care for the general medical, psychological and developmental needs of families — focusing on both adult and pediatric care. The Rose Canyon Clinic is excited to welcome Drs. Michael J. Peterson and Gregory S. Daynes who have a long-standing reputation in the community as providers at Herriman Family Medicine since 2003. They are also pleased to welcome Dr. Brian C. Hancey who is currently practicing at the Intermountain Southridge Clinic at Riverton Hospital and Dr. Douglas N. Esplin who is relocating after nine years at the Logan Instacare. With personal connections dating back to high school and their medical school days, these four physicians are eager to join practices in this new clinic.

The Intermountain Rose Canyon Clinic will be located at 5541 West 13400 South in Riverton. With approximately 11,500 square feet, this clinic will offer Family Medicine and Physical Therapy as well as lab and X-ray services. The clinic will officially open on Monday, August 27th. However, they are already scheduling appointments and accept most insurance plans. Patients or new patients can currently schedule an appointment by calling 801.871.4700.

We invite community members to visit rosecanyonclinic.org or follow us at facebook.com/rosecanyonclinic for ongoing updates.

Jace Toponce Story

“Jace is crying and I can’t find him and his window is open” were the first alarming words Tricia Toponce heard from her five year old daughter. A few minutes earlier, Tricia had put 3-year-old Jace and his 5-year-old sister down for an afternoon nap. Then she laid down herself for a rest.

“I didn’t think he could have fallen out of his window,” Tricia says, “the window was closed and the blinds were down when I left the room. But I decided to run outside first to make myself feel better.” To her horror, Jace was lying on the concrete driveway in a fetal position, crying.

Living in Herriman, Tricia feared it would take extra time to wait for an ambulance. So instead, she carefully lifted Jace into her arms, laid him in the car, and told her 5-year-old to talk to him to keep him awake while she drove as quickly as possible to Jordan Valley Regional Medical Center. Though she didn’t see any obvious blood or broken bones, she knew Jace had to be badly hurt.

Tricia called her husband, Shane, who met them at the hospital. By the time she arrived a medical team was waiting outside the emergency room for Jace.  They immediately attended to the little boy, but before they could take x-rays Jace began vomiting up blood. “That changed every single person’s actions,” Tricia says.

Immediately they called Life Flight at Primary Children’s Medical Center. “The worst part is to give your hurting child to the Life Flight team and not be able to fly with him,” Tricia says. She and her husband immediately drove East up 90th South toward Primary Children’s Medical Center to meet Jace. “By the time we reached I-15 we received a call from the ER at Primary’s saying Life Flight had already landed and they were taking care of Jace,” Tricia says. “I don’t even know how they got our cell phone number, but I was so grateful and comforted when they called.”

When Shane and Tricia arrived, they were met by a family counselor who updated them on the tests Jace was receiving and calmly answered questions as they waited. “She stayed with us the entire time, updating us until we could be reunited with our son,” Tricia says.

Jace was diagnosed with a severe skull fracture and traumatic brain injury. He stayed in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for 24 hours and then spent a week in the Neuro Trauma Unit. Jace was very fortunate. It appears that because the fracture in his skull curved toward his ear, the bleeding which normally causes severe swelling and brain damage actually drained through his ear canal and into his stomach. 

After a week, Jace became much more aware and talkative. “After days of being quiet and lethargic, it’s like he switched over to being a normal kid again.” Tricia says. Doctors felt it was safe for Jace to return home, but cautioned his parents against activities like running and jumping. They encouraged several follow up visits with an ear nose throat specialist, neurologist, and their family doctor, Michael J. Peterson, MD who had visited him at the hospital and could continue care in their own community. Doctors sent Jace home with a positive prognosis.  They said there was a slight possibility that, as Jace entered school, he may face acute learning disabilities as a result of the traumatic brain injury. Otherwise, he would have no further problems.

Jace, however, is now a happy, vivacious six year old who successfully finished kindergarten this year. His mom says he’s excelling in his schoolwork and definitely keeps up with others his age.  Jace has one disappointment after the whole experience: He doesn’t remember flying in the Life Flight helicopter.

As part of the Intermountain Rose Canyon Clinic Open House, Life Flight helicopter will be landing onsite at approximately 5:00 p.m. Children of all ages will have a chance to climb inside, take pictures, and learn more about the teamwork involved in lifesaving medical care. Jace Toponce, will have the opportunity to fly from Intermountain Medical Center to the Rose Canyon Clinic as part of this event. We invite family, friends, and the entire community to join us in welcoming Life Flight, meeting our new providers, and enjoying the Open House celebration on Thursday August 23rd from 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm.

Photos are courtesy of the Toponce Family
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