Knox County deputy injured in June needs lifesaving surgery, looking for hospital

KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — Knox County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Dalton Swanger is searching for a hospital to perform lifesaving surgery in his continuing recovery from the head injury he received in June, said his girlfriend, Stephania Pumphrey, Saturday night.

Swanger’s trachea is narrowing, a condition that “can turn fatal very quickly,” she said. She explained that, after realizing something was wrong, they went to the emergency room in late August and learned that his trachea was only 8 millimeters wide when it should have been 16-18 millimeters. This may have been caused by Swanger being forcibly intubated while seizing or from fighting the breathing tube while sedated, she said.

Medical professionals attempted three surgeries trying to fix this, but it continued closing to under 6 millimeters, around the size of a straw, making it very difficult for him to breathe, said Pumphrey.

“The next and only option is a tracheal resection, where they open him up and cut out the part of the trachea that has narrowed, then stitch the good ends together,” she explained. “It is a huge surgery with an extremely long recovery time.”

Swanger and Pumphrey asked people to pray as they continue reaching out to the few hospitals in the country capable of performing the surgery. So far, they have not been able to get it scheduled, although they “got some hopeful news” on Friday. She thanked everyone for prayers, well-wishes and kindness.

“You all have been a light in the darkness for us, and we are eternally thankful,” Pumphrey said.

According to court records, on June 21, Christpher Michael Hensley, 44, hit Swanger with a large rock or brick, causing severe head trauma. Hensley faces charges of attempted second-degree murder, among other charges. The incident was caught on video during the filming of the show “On Patrol Live.”

After the incident, Swanger was taken to the hospital in critical condition. He returned home in July. He released a statement later that month.