Victim of accident remains at UCLA
Victim of accident remains at UCLA
By: Carol Holmes
Description: Five year old suffering from spinal-cord injury
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Posted by editor Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
Viewed 819 times
0 responses 0 comments The snowstorm that hit the area on April 6 played a key role in serious injuries to a small Tehachapi resident.
Monique Esmeralda Guerrero, 5, underwent surgery on April 13 to repair damaged bone near her spinal cord in hopes that the procedure would allow the little girl to at least sit up.
“They say she’ll be able to sit up,” said her father, George Guerrero. “She is in a lot of pain.”
George said the surgery revealed that Monique had broken vertebras in the thoracic area of her back. He also said she lost a lot of blood during the surgery and had to be given a transfusion.
George said one doctor reported that Monique will never walk again, but that another said to wait for two months to see what happens.
“Our church is praying for us; people all over the country are praying for us,” George said.
At press time, Monique was in ULCA Medical Center’s west intensive care unit.
Monique’s injuries occurred when her mother, Elizabeth Guerrero, was driving eastbound on Banducci Road in a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe, near Alpine Road, when her car slipped on ice and collided with a tree.
The California Highway Patrol office in Mojave reported that Elizabeth was driving 30 mph at the time of the accident. All passengers were restrained in seat belts.
Monique was immediately airlifted to Kern Medical Center, where she was diagnosed with spinal cord injuries, a brain concussion and a broken nose. She couldn’t move her legs and had pain in her arms. By mid-afternoon that day, she was airlifted to UCLA Medical Center.
Elizabeth, who had bruises from her knees down her legs and a severe whiplash from the accident, has been at UCLA since her daughter was admitted there.
The other passengers in the car included the Guerrero’s 7-year-old son, Israel, and 16-month-old daughter, Jazmine. With the exception of the bruises Israel received on his neck and chest from the seat belt, neither he or Jazmine were injured by the accident.
However, Jazmine was also at UCLA last week for medical testing. Jazmine is delayed in her mobile skills and can’t sit up on her own.
George said the testing included numerous blood tests and an MRI and although medical staff has ruled out Down Syndrome, they do not have a diagnosis. He said a brain-wave test is planned at some future time.
George is an employee at Lehigh Southwest Cement plant and said fellow employees have helped by donating vacation days and money to assist the family with the expense of being in Los Angeles to be near Monique and to take Jazmine for tests.
George was scheduled to take the test on April 20 to become a correctional officer but because he had to postpone the test, he must reapply and won’t be able to test for the position until next year.
To find out how to help the family, call George at (661) 343-5703.
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