By Davi Stuhlsatz

 When a massive tree fell on spectators at a Winfield swim meet July 13, people held the tree up off of those injured until emergency crews could arrive.

In the days since then, people have held the three most seriously injured women’s spirits up, with greeting cards, gift cards, flowers, meals, lawn mowing, a wheelchair ramp and other kind gestures.

Christina Squires, Paula Kim and Dr. Lorraine Alvarado all sustained injuries to vertebrae and although each is making progress, they still face long recuperation periods from the serious injuries they sustained that day.

“We have been overwhelmed by the cards, meals, and everything else people have done for us,” said Dan Squires, Christina’s husband. “We have been blessed.”

Christina had a head injury, a broken rib, an air pocket in her lung and a crushed lower vertebrae.

She had surgery to fuse the crushed vertebrae to the two vertebrae above it and two below it.

“She has been home since Wednesday, July 25, and has a back brace now,” said Dan. “She’s getting around pretty decent and doesn’t have to use the walker. We go back to the doctor on the 28th for an evaluation. We expect it will be six to eight weeks from her back surgery until she is able to go back to work.”

Alvarado, a doctor at Derby Family Med Center, will probably be off work several weeks, said an office representative.

Kim’s injuries included breaks at both ankles, a broken femur and four damaged vertebrae. She had two surgeries soon after the incident and will need a third surgery.

Kim spent approximately a week at a rehabilitation center following her hospital stay, and was finally able to return home on Sunday.

Because of her injuries, she needed a wheelchair ramp to the house, an expense not covered by her insurance.

When the Derby Band Boosters heard of the need for a ramp, they began a collection to help defray the cost. Band members took donations to band camp this week.

“Kim had two friends who were engineers and they took it upon themselves and built it,” said Siobhan Fugle, a member of the boosters club. “The family had to pay for the lumber, so the donations will go to cover the cost of the materials and other expenses that may arise as the three continue to recover.”

To donate towards the ramp, contact Fugle, 640-9418 or skfugle@aol.com.

“We have been abundantly blessed and realize now more than ever how precious sweet life is,” said Kim’s daughter, Ashley.

User Comments

• My daughter...so proud of her!

  "My daughter made up her mind when she was 6 that she would become a doctor. From then on she was focused and undeterred working toward her goal. In this same spirit she worked on her recovery from this horrific accident. As her mom, I am so proud of my little girl! She is greatly loved by so many that prayed her through this tragedy. Thank you for a lovely article that says it all!"

  Posted by Vangie Bender on May. 16, 2013