A strong support network

In just four years of life, Costa Mesa resident Leilani Gutierrez

has been through far too much. But Leilani has support -- a lot of

it.

The Costa Mesa toddler suffered major head and chest injuries in a

traffic accident May 12 -- Mother’s Day, of all days -- and fell into

a coma. Less than a week later, Newport Beach resident Amanda Arthur,

who just five years ago was in a traffic collision that left her with

a permanent brain injury, rushed to Leilani’s hospital bedside to

support her.

This month, two events have been held to raise money for Leilani,

who woke from her coma paralyzed.

A walkathon in Costa Mesa’s Fairview Park last week raised $15,000

for the 4-year-old, and a concert Friday at the Hard Rock Cafe in

Newport Beach aimed to raise more to help with medical bills.

Were it not for a red-light runner on that Mother’s Day afternoon,

we probably wouldn’t know Leilani Gutierrez and, despite all of the

heartfelt support, she’d be better off. But she is fortunate to live

in a community as caring as ours.

We applaud those who have been there for her so far and hope they

stand by her side.