Local teen, Paige Wood, will share recovery story at St. Charles Bend event

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- St. Charles Health System's Trauma Program will honor former trauma patients Wednesday, May 20, at St. Charles Bend. The event will feature 17-year-old Paige Wood, a local teen who will share her recovery story after surviving a traumatic car crash last summer.

Wood's crash occurred when she fell asleep while driving and her presentation aims to highlight the importance of avoiding tired driving.

The event will provide a space for survivors to connect with St. Charles caregivers, first responders and fellow medical trauma patients. Attendees can also visit therapy dogs, explore a resource fair and enjoy a free lunch. Speaking about her experience is a healing process for Wood and she seeks to spread a vital message about road safety.

Heidi Wood, Wood's mother, expressed her pride in her daughter's efforts. "I'm so proud of Paige. She's really trying to raise awareness," Wood said. "And as parents, we realized that in all our years of parenting, we had never talked to our kids about what to do if you're tired when you're driving."

Trauma survivors are invited to begin connecting with care teams and other survivors starting at 10:30 a.m. May 20. Lunch and speakers are scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Conference Rooms A and B and the outside patio at St. Charles Bend, weather permitting.

St. Charles Trauma and Emergency Services cared for more than 2,700 traumatically injured patients in 2025. This figure represents nearly three times the number of patients the department treated a decade ago. Falls account for the most common injury, followed by motor vehicle crashes, ATV/snowmobile/dirt bike crashes, motorcycle crashes and bike crashes.

Jeremy Buller, trauma program coordinator in Bend, highlighted the significance of the event for those involved in patient care. "We often see these patients on the worst day of their life," Buller said. "It's incredibly meaningful to also see them healing and recovering."

St. Charles Health System, Inc., headquartered in Bend, Ore., operates St. Charles Bend, Madras, Prineville and Redmond. It also manages family care and specialty clinics in Bend, La Pine, Madras, Prineville, Redmond and Sisters. The private, nonprofit Oregon corporation is Central Oregon's largest employer with more than 5,000 caregivers. Additionally, more than 400 active medical staff members and nearly 200 visiting medical staff members collaborate with the system to provide community care.

Former trauma patients who wish to attend the event and connect with their care teams can RSVP on the St. Charles webpage.