![]() This is a magical moment to see her like this.” To see how many people it took to get her to this point puts everything in perspective. She has overcome everything and exceeded our expectations for where she would be at this point. “I know how much of a struggle this has been for her. It’s incredible.”įor Levine, this reunion was the first time he had seen Curiel since she gave birth to Leah. This is the first time they’ve done something like this for us. “I’ve been with the Highway Patrol for 27 years. “We didn’t think we’d ever see her alive again,” CHP Flight Officer Shaun Bouyea said bewildered as he looked at Curiel holding Leah. Leah was the star of the event however, being passed around from police officer, to H-30 team member, to CHP officer, to nurse, to doctor. ![]() The team then gathered for photos with the family. Curiel thanked them profusely for their efforts in giving her a second shot at life. “This is why we do what we do,” remarked Castillo.Ĭuriel’s surgeons, Levine and Robert Jacoby then approached the family. This was the first time Castillo had seen Curiel since her hospital stay. From a mom to a mom, from a female to a female, I wanted her to know it was going to be ok.” To be able to have this reunion is such a blessing. In emergency medicine, you don’t get the full picture all the time. “I knew she was gonna live, although we didn’t know if we were going to be able to save her legs. “I’ve been doing this for 22 years,” said Castillo. Castillo said she refused to leave her side, due to Curiel’s concern over her baby’s safety.ĭespite Castillo being in full protective gear due to COVID-19, Curiel still remembered her caring eyes. Curiel cried even harder as Castillo grabbed her face.Ĭuriel said she remembers Castillo holding her face just like that, telling her she was going to be ok.ĭuring Curiel’s hospital stay, Castillo stayed at the head of her bed to watch over her breathing. Next came her respiratory therapist, Annie Castillo. ![]() She repeatedly thanked them for saving her life and her baby’s life that day. Tears began flowing as Curiel remarked that she remembered their faces. Seeing the faces of those who helped her while she was in peril was incredibly emotional for her. Curiel was shocked to see the H-30 team, who she was not expecting to be there. But, she was walking and her team stood, amazed.Įach doctor, nurse and first responder took turns walking up to Curiel, reintroducing themselves. The scars on Curiel’s legs were visible below the hemline of her royal blue dress. Police, CHP, doctors, surgeons, nurses and helicopter pilots gathered for an emotional meetup. Levine walked in with a bouquet of flowers and a stuffed animal.Īs the group anxiously held up their phones to record video and take photos, in walked Curiel with her partner, who was pushing baby Leah in her stroller. In a conference room at Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center, chairs lined the perimeter of the room. On Tuesday, Curiel, Zepeda and their daughter were able to have a reunion with all of the surgeons, doctors, nurses and first responders who were there during Curiel’s darkest moments. In November of 2022, Curiel and Armando Zepeda welcomed their baby girl, Leah Tamara. Through an abundance of resilience and strength, Curiel began walking again, a feat her care team believed would never be possible. She received physical therapy and constant care for three months. The most important thing on her mind was that her baby had survived.Ĭuriel was later discharged to Kaiser’s home health team. Ultimately, her legs were saved.Ĭuriel then began a 40-day stay at the Kaiser. Over the course of three weeks, Curiel had seven additional surgeries to close her wounds and repair muscles using muscle flaps. So, a few days later, Curiel had to undergo a second 10-hour long surgery. Major veins and arteries needed to be repaired and reconnected, which was not done in the initial surgery. He was initially shocked that she was even conscious. Vascular surgeon Michael Levine said her first surgery took 10 hours and they were unsure if they would be able to save her legs. Her first surgery required two vascular surgeons and a trauma surgeon. The emergency room trauma team acted immediately upon Curiel’s arrival at Kaiser, administering a massive blood transfusion and then rushing her to the operating room. These first responders who are also fathers and mothers wanted nothing more then to save them both. First responders recall Curiel repeatedly telling them she was pregnant and to please save her baby.
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