Dr. Dana Taylor of HCA Florida Ocala Hospital discusses gunshot victim treatment

Dr. Dana Taylor, a trauma surgeon for HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, appeared on "FOX & friends FIRST" on Aug. 19, 2025, with Aidan Perry, a 20-year-old Ocala man whom Dr. Taylor treated for a near-fatal gunshot wound.

Aidan was accidentally shot in the chest by a .40-caliber pistol on June 7 at a friend’s Sumter County apartment. Amazingly, he survived after a gold cross he was wearing around his neck deflected the bullet, which still entered his chest but ultimately exited near his armpit and struck his left arm, breaking his humerus.

HCA Florida Ocala Hospital is a Level 1 trauma center, the highest level of trauma care, and is part of the HCA Healthcare network of over 100 trauma centers nationwide. The trauma team was notified by, HCA Florida Trailwinds Emergency, a part of HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, that there was an incoming patient with a gunshot wound to the chest and they met him in the trauma bay.

"If he wasn't wearing that cross, the bullet would not have been deflected to the left and where it went through his arm," Dr. Taylor told the show's host. "It would have went into his chest and probably caused devastating injury to his heart ... and definitely would have been a different outcome for Aidan."

It is also very important that he received expert care so quickly. The first 60 minutes after a critical injury is called the "Golden Hour" because that’s the most important window for lifesaving care.

Aidan and his family have called his survival a miracle.

At HCA Healthcare, we are continuing to add access points for emergency care across Florida because we know minutes matter, especially with a critical injury.

Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life. This was a unique situation, but we also know each trauma case is unique, and our expert teams are always prepared to respond.