Amanda Martínez received the call that no mother wants to get on the morning of September 3: her daughter Rosa Flores, 19 years old, had been trapped in the wreckage of a destroyed car in front of the Kendall campus of Miami Dade College, after being struck by a pickup truck.
From that moment on, as reported to Telemundo 51, her entire life came to a standstill.
The young woman survived the accident but suffered serious injuries that keep her in rehabilitation and in need of constant care. Amanda, a single mother, had to stop working to take care of her, while medical expenses and the family's needs continue to rise. In light of this situation, a family friend organized a fundraising campaign to help them.
Three weeks in a coma and several surgeries
Rosa was traveling as a passenger with two other people when the vehicle attempted to turn to enter the campus and was struck by a truck. The collision was so violent that the video circulated on social media.
The young woman was urgently transferred in critical condition.
"She had internal bleeding and in her skull, so they had to operate to drain the blood. She had bruises all over her body," Amanda described in statements reported by Local 10.
Rosa remained three weeks in an induced coma and underwent several cranial surgeries.
"Seeing my daughter fighting for her life, not knowing if I would have her with me at Christmas, not knowing if I would be able to hug her again... it was killing me inside. I wouldn't wish this on any mother, not even my worst enemy," she confessed.
Relearn how to walk, speak, and swallow
Today, Rosa is in a rehabilitation center with a feeding tube, relying on others to walk, talk, swallow, bathe, and move.
"She is a miracle. That she survived this impact is a miracle from God. Now she has to learn to walk, talk, to swallow... things that are so simple for us, she has to learn to do them," her mother explained.
According to Amanda, the doctors explained that Rosa will need rehabilitation to regain those basic functions.
A leisurely life since September
Amanda is a single mother and had to give up her job to take care of Rosa full-time, without knowing when she will be able to return to work.
"I can't work. My daughter needs assistance 24 hours a day, help with bathing, eating, for everything, to move around. I don't know when I will be able to work again," she admitted.
In addition to the medical and rehabilitation expenses, there is also the total loss of income, which has further complicated the family's situation.
"I am still traumatized. I don't know what a bed is, what a home is, what a home-cooked meal is. Since September 3, my life has come to a halt. The world goes on; everyone has to work, go about their day. For me, everything is on pause; for me, everything stopped," says the young woman's mother.
How to help Rosa
The family friend Rachel Palma organized a campaign on GoFundMe in Amanda’s name to cover medical, hospital, transportation, and family expenses, with a goal of $35,000.
On the campaign page, Palma describes Rosa like this: "She has a beautiful heart, a beautiful soul, and a smile that can brighten up an entire place. She has left a lasting mark on the hearts of those who know her."
As of the closing of this note, the campaign had raised $14,535 from 84 donations.
The accident is still under investigation, and the other occupants of the vehicle are out of danger.
The dreams that await Rosa
Before the accident, Rosa was starting her first year of university with the hope of working in medical imaging technology. She also taught herself to play the guitar and sang.
"My daughter is a little girl who enters any room and brightens it up. She brings peace, joy, and is very sweet," said Amanda.
Her mother believes that Rosa will be able to recover: "I know that she deserves a second chance. She is a girl with a bright future ahead of her."
Amanda also took the opportunity to send a message to drivers: "Pay attention, let's not be in a hurry. It's better to arrive than not to arrive. We need to drive carefully."
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