BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- In April 2008, Lee Lyle was riding his motorcycle when he became the victim of a hit and run. The accident left him with a fractured skull.

Lyle was taken to Kern Medical Center for treatment. Massive bleeding and brain swelling led doctors to remove part of Lyle's skull to relieve pressure and treat his injuries. The piece of skull was placed inside Lyle's abdomen, so it could be preserved and re-attached later.

But KMC would not complete the medical treatment because Lyle was not insured and didn't qualify for a publicly funded medical program, like MediCal.

So for over a year, Lyle lived with a caved in cranium.

That's when he called the Eyewitness News Tipline for help.

He told us, "I just want to be put back together again so I can get past this and get back to my life again, and just be like everybody else."

Lyle would soon get his wish. An employee of Bakersfield Reconstructive Surgeon Vipul Dev, M.D. saw Lyle's story and told the doctor about it. Dr. Dev agreed to do the procedure free of charge. "This is a great way for me to give back," explained Dr. Dev. "It's a small token, but I know how to do (the surgery), and just thought I'd help the man out."

Lyle's family was more than grateful. "When we got the phone call I was in tears," recalled Lyle's daughter In-Law, Tabitha Lyle. "I dropped to my knees in tears, and I couldn't believe that someone wants to help us."

On Friday, June 26, 2009 at 7:00am, Lyle went into Bakersfield Memorial Hospital for surgery.

Dr. Dev says it wasn't too complicated. "We elevated the entire skin flap above where the brain was, then I opened up the belly pulled out the bone and we matched it up to make sure it would fit into the right location, just like a puzzle," he explained.

After an hour and a half, the surgery was done, and Lyle was whole once again. "Humpty Dumpty's put back together again!" laughed Tabitha. "It's an awesome feeling though it really is."

While his family is certainly happy, no one was more excited to see the finished product than Lyle. In fact, according to Tabitha, that was the first question he asked when he came out of surgery. "He was like, 'How does it look?' I said, 'You look good' He said, 'Of course'."

Lyle is currently doing well and goes home from the hospital on Saturday where he will complete his recovery. Dr. Dev was very happy with the surgery and says his patient will be able to return to normal life, barring any harsh physical contact, right away.