Kauai woman partially paralyzed, household asks for assist after swimming accident

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Gia-lynn Pacheco, a 12-year-old woman from Kauai, was swimming together with her cousins in Hanapepe River a number of weeks in the past when she dove into shallow water and hit her head.

“She felt tingling in her legs and she was trying her best to swim but none of her arms or legs were moving,” Pacheco’s father Brandon Pacheco stated.

At first, Pacheco’s cousins thought she was joking.

“You know, kids, the cousins were telling her ‘stop playing, stop playing,’” Brandon Pacheco stated.

But quickly after, Pacheco’s cousins realized she was drowning.

“One of her cousins jumped in soon enough and pulled her to the edge of the river mouth,” Brandon Pacheco added.

At Wilcox Medical Center, medical doctors found Pacheco had fractured her neck.

Pacheco was then flown to Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children on Oahu.

The subsequent day, Pacheco had bother respiratory, and medical doctors realized her left lung collapsed.

“So they told us they had to intubate her. So we was like, okay, do what you got to do,” Brandon Pacheco recalled.

More issues adopted, leaving Pacheco on a ventilator, and Brandon Pacheco stated she is barely getting round two hours of sleep at a time, nonetheless can’t really feel her legs, and has been struggling persistent fevers.

“Reaching as high as 106 degrees,” Brandon Pacheco stated. “Thankfully, that 106 only lasted for an hour, but daily fevers.”

Brandon Pacheco was within the National Guard and stated seeing his daughter endure is extra making an attempt than his expertise serving.

“I would say this is the lowest point in my life,” Brandon Pacheco shared. “I’ve deployed a couple of times but nothing compared to this. This hits home. I’ve been catastrophizing, but trying to stay positive at the same time.”

Pacheco’s family is grateful for those who donated to their GoFundMe page, which has raised thousands of dollars.

“A big thank you to everyone praying. Strength in numbers. We can’t thank you enough,” Brandon Pacheco shared.

It is unclear when Pacheco’s tube will be eliminated, however Brandon Pacheco stated as soon as it’s, medical doctors will determine whether or not she’s going to want additional therapy on the mainland.

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