It was June 17, 2022. Gabriela Curiel of San Francisco was enjoying a warm, sunny day on Lake Berryessa. She was on a boating excursion hosted by her workplace, a San Francisco non-profit called Mission Neighborhood Centers Inspiring Success.
The Children Service’s Intake Specialist decided she would not be swimming that day. However, after some convincing from a co-worker, Curiel hopped off the back of the boat and into the lake.
The seemingly relaxing day then quickly turned into the most horrific day of her life.
While in the water, the boat’s propeller began to drag her toward it. All of a sudden, she felt something hit her legs. The propeller had severely lacerated the upper and lower parts of each of her thighs.
Curiel remembers her co-workers pulling her back into the boat and seeing blood, a lot of blood.
An emergency boat just so happened to be nearby. The California Highway Patrol air unit H-30 responded with the Napa County Sheriff’s Office and firefighters from Napa County.
Deputies from the Sheriff ‘sBoat Unit applied a lifesaving tourniquet before she was transferred by the H-30 team to Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center.
The thing was, there was not just one patient in dire danger, there were two. Curiel was four months pregnant.
First responders recall Curiel repeatedly telling them she was pregnant and to please save her baby. These first responders who are also fathers and mothers wanted nothing more then to save them both.
The emergency room trauma team acted immediately upon Curiel’s arrival at Kaiser, administering a massive blood transfusion and then rushing her to the operating room.
Her first surgery required two vascular surgeons and a trauma surgeon. Vascular surgeon Michael Levine said her first surgery took 10 hours and they were unsure if they would be able to save her legs. He was initially shocked that she was even conscious.
Major veins and arteries needed to be repaired and reconnected, which was not done in the initial surgery. So, a few days later, Curiel had to undergo a second 10-hour long surgery.
Over the course of three weeks, Curiel had seven additional surgeries to close her wounds and repair muscles using muscle flaps. Ultimately, her legs were saved.
Curiel then began a 40-day stay at the Kaiser. The most important thing on her mind was that her baby had survived.
Curiel was later discharged to Kaiser’s home health team. She received physical therapy and constant care for three months. Through an abundance of resilience and strength, Curiel began walking again, a feat her care team believed would never be possible.
In November of 2022, Curiel and Armando Zepeda welcomed their baby girl, Leah Tamara.
On Tuesday, Curiel, Zepeda and their daughter were able to have a reunion with all of the surgeons, doctors, nurses and first responders who were there during Curiel’s darkest moments.
In a conference room at Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center, chairs lined the perimeter of the room. Police, CHP, doctors, surgeons, nurses and helicopter pilots gathered for an emotional meetup. Levine walked in with a bouquet of flowers and a stuffed animal.
As the group anxiously held up their phones to record video and take photos, in walked Curiel with her partner, who was pushing baby Leah in her stroller. The scars on Curiel’s legs were visible below the hemline of her royal blue dress. But, she was walking and her team stood, amazed.
Each doctor, nurse and first responder took turns walking up to Curiel, reintroducing themselves. Curiel was shocked to see the H-30 team, who she was not expecting to be there. Seeing the faces of those who helped her while she was in peril was incredibly emotional for her.
Tears began flowing as Curiel remarked that she remembered their faces. She repeatedly thanked them for saving her life and her baby’s life that day.
Next came her respiratory therapist, Annie Castillo. Curiel cried even harder as Castillo grabbed her face.
Curiel said she remembers Castillo holding her face just like that, telling her she was going to be ok.
During Curiel’s hospital stay, Castillo stayed at the head of her bed to watch over her breathing. Castillo said she refused to leave her side, due to Curiel’s concern over her baby’s safety.
Despite Castillo being in full protective gear due to COVID-19, Curiel still remembered her caring eyes.
“I’ve been doing this for 22 years,” said Castillo. “I knew she was gonna live, although we didn’t know if we were going to be able to save her legs. In emergency medicine, you don’t get the full picture all the time. To be able to have this reunion is such a blessing. From a mom to a mom, from a female to a female, I wanted her to know it was going to be ok.”
This was the first time Castillo had seen Curiel since her hospital stay.
“This is why we do what we do,” remarked Castillo.
Curiel’s surgeons, Levine and Robert Jacoby then approached the family. Curiel thanked them profusely for their efforts in giving her a second shot at life.
The team then gathered for photos with the family. Leah was the star of the event however, being passed around from police officer, to H-30 team member, to CHP officer, to nurse, to doctor.
“We didn’t think we’d ever see her alive again,” CHP Flight Officer Shaun Bouyea said bewildered as he looked at Curiel holding Leah. “I’ve been with the Highway Patrol for 27 years. This is the first time they’ve done something like this for us. It’s incredible.”
For Levine, this reunion was the first time he had seen Curiel since she gave birth to Leah.
“I knew she was a fighter,” said Levine. “I know how much of a struggle this has been for her. She has overcome everything and exceeded our expectations for where she would be at this point. To see how many people it took to get her to this point puts everything in perspective. This is a magical moment to see her like this.”
Jacoby echoed Levine’s sentiments, saying it was incredible to see Curiel’s progress.
Due to being in the lake water, her large wounds needed to be cleaned with extra care. The wounds also needed to be closed slowly and took months to heal.
“It’s amazing,” said Jacoby. “The seven subsequent surgeries were done because of the huge wounds and the logistics of it made it necessary to do it in the operating room.”
Curiel took a seat, overwhelmed by all the people in the room who made it possible not only for her to be there, but for Leah to be there too.
“I’m so happy,” said Curiel. “It feels so warm in here. These people saved my life. I’m just so grateful and at a loss for words.”
Zepeda sat next to Curiel with baby Leah in his arms as she played with a Kaiser branded teddy bear.
“There are so many emotions,” said Zepeda. “I had to be strong for her because I saw the complexity of what happened to her. I didn’t know what our new reality was going to be.”
First responders thanked doctors and nurses, and vice versa, remarking, “great work” as the group dwindled to get back to patients and their duties. Meanwhile, Curiel held on tight to her flower bouquets and her daughter, still speechless.
She is still doing physical therapy and rehab in San Francisco, but the progress she has made is astonishing to all.
“She (Leah) made this possible,” remarked Curiel as she gazed at her daughter. “I needed to be able to stand for her. She is and will always be my motivation.”
For more latest Health News Click Here