Walk for accident victim set for Sunday

Deepa Bharath

Last year, Leilani Gutierrez’s family didn’t know if she would make

it out of the hospital.

But come Sept. 2, the 5-year-old will start kindergarten at

Newport Heights Elementary. On Mother’s Day in 2002, Leilani suffered

serious chest and head injuries when a vehicle that ran a red light

struck the Ford Explorer she and her mother, June Gutierrez, were in.

The car rolled and ejected Leilani from her car seat. The Costa

Mesa girl, who woke from a coma in June 2002, was left quadriplegic.

On Sunday, family and friends will hold the second Walk for

Leilani at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa to raise funds for the girl,

who is now back home.

Her mother has not been able to return to work and, although she

has medical insurance, it is not helping pay additional expenses such

as co-payments, medication, medical equipment and diapers, said Vicki

Gutierrez, Leilani’s grandmother.

“We’re now trying to buy her an electric wheelchair that she can

operate with her mouth,” she said. “We’re trying to raise money for

that through Sunday’s walkathon.”

Leilani is home, but she can only “talk and eat,” Gutierrez said.

Tiffany Valentine, who manages Every Blooming Thing flower shop in

Costa Mesa, is one of the sponsors.

“Leilani has got a great support system,” she said. “She’s got a

lot of energy. But she’s a little girl, and it’s tough for her.”

Leilani has been home-schooled for the last few months, but is

very much looking forward to going to school, Vicki Gutierrez said.

“As long as she’s feeling well, she’ll be at the walk, too,”

Gutierrez said.

She said money is the biggest challenge for the family.

“Eventually, we plan to have a foundation in her name so we can

help other children just like her,” Gutierrez said.