BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — Monica Villarruel and Felipe Guzman say they need a miracle for their little girl, Nina.
She turned 9 months old on Friday.
Since Sunday, she has been at Broward Health Medical Center fighting for her life.
“She took head trauma, swelling of the brain with the head, and now, you know, her hard stuff on her having difficulties because her brain is not sending the signal,” Guzman said.
On Mother’s Day, the family was among the five vehicles involved in a deadly crash on I-75 near Weston. They were on their way to Guzman’s mother’s house, but never made it.
Villarruel’s mother and aunt died at the scene.
“It was as if I had two moms,” Villarruel said in Spanish.
Investigators arrested Cira Quinones-Lewis, a driver in another vehicle involved in the crash. She remains in ICE custody on an immigration hold and is charged with driving while her license was suspended.
“We would like justice. We don’t know much about what’s going on. We would like some justice,” Guzman said.
The family says photos and videos taken about 30 minutes before the crash are now all Villarruel has left to remember her mother and aunt.
“They were exceptional women,” Villarruel said. “My aunt was a teacher in Ecuador. She loved the kids. These last few weeks I spent with them, we were very happy with them. They played with my baby a lot. My mom, the same.”
While the family waits for answers and for the investigation to continue, their focus remains on Nina.
“Just prayers. We can’t do nothing about the deceased, but we need all the prayers for the baby, for Nina,” Guzman said. “We need her. We need a miracle. My baby is very critical.”
Villarruel said Nina remains in very critical condition.
The tragedy has been even more difficult for the family because Villarruel’s mother and aunt had been visiting for a month to help care for Nina while Villarruel recovered from thyroid cancer surgery.
The family has started a GoFundMe to help cover funeral costs and Nina’s medical expenses.
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