ORANGE, Calif. — Sitting on a wheelchair as she leaves the hospital, Blanca Tamayo is joined by her only child left, Louis Tovar.
“It’s a miracle," said Tovar. "She was injured pretty badly, I’m just happy to have her back on Mother’s Day. I’m just happy to have her back.”
Tamayo can’t describe the loss she’s feeling for the death of her youngest child, her 9-year-old son, Matthew Farias, pictured on the t-shirt she and her son, Louis, wore.
“God have me here in the world and brought me here to recover even though… even though you know,” said Tamayo.
The mother arrived at UCI Medical Center’s trauma center on March 31 after a gunman entered her workplace and killed four people, a longtime coworker, her daughter, her daughter’s father and her youngest son Matthew.
“He was just an angel and he’s with God,” said Tovar and his mother. Tamayo was shot three times, twice in her head and once in her arm, while trying to escape with her young son. She survived, but her boy died in her arms. Police believe she tried to shield him.
Doctor Michael Lekawa is the medical director for UCI Medical Center’s trauma division. “Anytime you have a penetrating trauma, normally things there have a very poor outcome, so I definitely think this is definitely a better outcome than you will often or usually see,” said Dr. Michael Lekawa.
Tamayo is able to speak and is making progress with walking despite having undergone on operation to repair her facial fracture and brain surgery.
“I’m just recovering too fast and I’m thankful to God for that and for my family,” said Tamayo.
Tovar said his mother fought for her life and is able to go home to celebrate Mother’s Day with her family because of her strength. That strength is what he said their whole family will cling onto to get them through this tragedy.
Their family is raising money to help Tamayo pay for her medical bills and expenses. To help, visit here.