My 7-year-old grandson, Luis Aguilar Romero Sanchez, was a normal little boy in every way until this past summer. Now he is totally different, not at all like the lively, vibrant child he once was.
Last July, on July 7, 2002, he was struck by lightning.
Ever since, he experiences heart irregularities, intense pain caused by involuntary muscle spasms, numbness in his arms and legs, hearing loss, and emotional trauma. He is in a wheelchair, and he can't control his limbs. He also has vision problems, and he requires a lot of extra attention.
I remember that day as if it were only yesterday. He was outside with his mami and papi and his little brothers, Miguel Jose' (5) and Lukas Roberto (3), as well as his older sister, Hildega Rosita (11). He was playing in the backyard pool, laughing and having the time of his young life, when a sudden storm blew in; and as he was getting out of the pool, to get inside, a bolt of lightning snaked down, and there was a bright flash, as bright as the sun, and a powerful *BOOM* that shook the house and rattled the windows, it was so loud. Everyone screamed at the noise, but nothing like when we saw Luis lying on the ground, his body smoking and charred. He was not moving; he looked like he was dead.
That's when everyone started screaming at once. We were all sure that Luis had been killed. We went running back outside, oblivious to the rain that was now pouring down; and we went to where Luis was lying. He was as limp as a wet rag, and his eyes were closed; and smoke was rising from his body. His shorts were charred, and there were several marks on his body. When Luis' mami picked him up into her arms, she discovered, to her horror, that he wasn't breathing! She screamed at me to call for an ambulance.
The paramedics came in just a few short minutes. Within seconds after they had arrived, they went to work, trying to revive my little grandson. They were pushing on his little chest, and they were sticking some kind of tube into his mouth and then attached a bag to it, where they started squeezing the bag every few seconds. Another paramedic started an I.V. going into one of his arms, and a fourth was busily attaching heart monitor pads to his chest and sides. Shortly after, still working over the little boy, they put Luis onto a stretcher, belted him into place, and rolled the stretcher to the back of the waiting ambulance. Once he was settled in the rear of the ambulance, the doors were then closed and locked; and the ambulance soon left for the hospital at a rather high rate of speed.
It turned out that Luis was in the hospital for a month. He was in a coma for two of those weeks; and the following two weeks he was receiving intense physical and occupational therapy. It turned out that Luis would probably have some lasting physical, emotional, and neurological damage from the effects of the lightning strike.
There was some doubt as to whether he would ever walk or talk again. Ever since that day he came from the hospital, our home has been filled with incredible sadness, and we are having problems adjusting to Luis' needs. We aren't sure as to whether he will ever recover from his injuries, and it saddens all of us greatly, especially when his little brother, Miguel (he's 5, remember) says things like how "he wishes the old Luis would come back; this Luis is no fun, and I don't love him anymore". He knows his older brother was in an accident, but he really doesn't understand all of the implications that went along with his older brother's lightning-induced injuries. All he knows that his brother isn't the same boy any longer, and it upsets and frustrates him.
((((((((((((((Karen)))))))))) what an amazing powerful write, this series is coming along wonderful!
God Bless
~Michelle~
Reviewed by Birdie Houston
1/22/2003
I love this you are such an amazing writer looking forward to reading many more of your poems and stories...keep up the great work. (HUGS back)......... Birdie
(((karen))) this is a powerfully written story...ALL of your stories convey much information and research, without talking down to us. great job, karen! (((HUGS))) and love, karla. :)
Gary Grasshopper and friends travel to another field to celebrate the birthday of Gary's best friend, Freddie Firefly. While there they encounter a group of cicadas who have been underground for thirteen years.
