Help Uma recover from her traumatic brain injury

About Uma

What Happened

On December 23, 2021, Uma was building a snow fort with her step-brother when a large chunk of snow fell from the roof of the 4-story hotel directly onto the two of them. Her step-bro, who had been standing at the time, managed to dig himself out looking frantically for Uma, who had been crouching under the fort when the snow fell— but now, she was completely hidden and buried alive.

 

No one was around them.  A guest jumped out of the first story window in pajamas to help the rescue. Another bystander called 911… family and first responders arrived on the scene with shovels to dig for her.

 

About 5-7 minutes later, step-bro’s shovel found her helmet, sill on her head.  Uma was unconscious. More digging and they pulled her out, but she had no heartbeat. No breath.  She was in cardiac arrest. 

 

Bystanders performed CPR first, then ski patrol and finally medics….it wasn’t until 15-20 min later that Uma found her breath.  She was hoisted through a window and stabilized for transport to emergency. 

 

Despite the fact she was resuscitated, it remains uncertain how much damage had been done—  both by the force of the snow and by the long duration of oxygen deprivation.

 

Uma was in a small mountain town when this occurred, and they had to get her to a Children's Hospital with the right resources for pediatrics to give her the best chance of surviving. 

 

She was prepared for transport to the closest Children's Hospital with availability, which was a 6.5 hour drive away through harrowing snow, ice, sleet and rain conditions. 

 

With the help of 3 different rescue teams and 3 ambulances, she arrived at Loma Linda's Children Hospital ICU at 2am on Christmas Day.

The MRI found that much of her thalamus had died - which the doctors said was consistent with a hypoxia event (lack of sufficient oxygen to the brain). 

 

The thalamus is the control center of the brain, which relays sensory and motor signals, as well as regulates consciousness and alertness. The doctors said that once a part of the brain dies, it cannot be revived and at best, the brain may be able to train itself to create new neuro-pathways but there was no guarantee, and it’s going to take time. 

The family was told to be “cautiously optimistic” — meaning that Uma may remain in this unresponsive state for a long period and that progress would be slow, but miracles could and do happen.

 

Journey So Far

About 2 days after arriving at the Children's Hospital, Uma gained consciousness, but she did not show any responsiveness - she was in a vegetative state. Though unaware, she seemed she was in a lot of pain as she spent most of her awake hours writhing in her hospital bed with a pained expression on her face, sometimes silently screaming.

A week later, Uma started breathing on her own.  She was ex-tubated, taken off ventilator, but still hooked up to EKGs, IVs and a feeding tube.  

 

Even though Uma wasn’t yet speaking or eating, she responded intermittently to videos of friends and family.  

 

Knowing that she was still slow to track people in the room and unable to follow simple commands, we strengthened our hope and resolve —

 

We are in this for the long haul and we are going to celebrate every little milestone she achieves!

 

Living at Loma Linda’s Children’s Hospital, Uma began intensive Physical and Occupational Therapy to see if how she would progress.

 

Maintaining eye contact, moving fingers or toes on command, swallowing, holding her head while sitting up - all these seemed like moving mountains for where Uma was at. 

 

Uma transferred to the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles's intensive inpatient rehabilitation program, where she would stay for the next month, receiving 3 or more  hours of therapy a day, 6 days a week.

 

Since her transfer to the incredible acute rehab program at CHLA, Uma has had miracle milestones each day. 

 

Blowing our minds and hearts,

Uma was discharged in early February to continue her therapies as out patient  elsewhere.  

 

Her parents are currently looking for space and availability at another rehabilitation center to continue Uma’s recovery. 

 

The doctors and therapists suggest 3 more months of intensive OT, PT and Speech before returning her to School, and another year before Uma returns to normal activities. 

 

OUR Journey Ahead….

While we are shocked by this event and  saddened by what this could mean for Uma, we are all rooting for her and hoping for a full recovery.  

 

Uma IS bright. A flame, who touches many — through her spirit, her heart, and her story. 

 

Her unflappable enthusiasm for life is infectious.  Makes us contemplate life, love, and the gift of time anew.  

 

She is trying hard each day to get better, to remember.  We want to help her get into the best facility and program she can for this type of brain trauma.  It will be her school and support system until next school year. 

 

What We Are Asking to Fund

 

The hospital bills have been coming in, piling on and insurance only covers a portion.  Many of the services Uma received, including ambulance transportation are surprise bills and not covered or out of network. 

 

This campaign is to help fund all Uma has been through in the healthcare system: the 6 hour emergency transport that required 3 rescue teams and 3 ambulances, the 2-week long Loma Linda Children's Hospital ICU stay and the month-long Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) intensive inpatient rehabilitation program.

 

We have the deepest gratitude for everyone who is here to send Uma their love, their prayers, to support her on this long and arduous, though inspired journey. 

 

We will post ongoing updates on Uma's recovery journey here.

If you'd like to opt to pay with Venmo, which unlike GoFundMe, does not take a percentage out of the donation, you can send to @UmaRehabFund or scan the QR code with your Venmo App: (thank you!)