MANILA, Philippines–When 13-year-old Maybelle Lou “Mikmik” Juanitas was knocked down while walking to her aunt’s home at Barangay (village) San Jose, Tala, Quezon City after attending the New Year’s Eve mass on Wednesday, her cousins thought that she was just hit by a stone.
“Galing sila ng simbahan tapos tatlo silang magpipinsan. Nasa gitna siya tapos siya ang natamaan. Tapos nu’ng bumagsak, sabi ng anak ko, ‘Mama, bumagsak si Mikmik ; natamaan ng bato.’,” Mikmik’s aunt Evelyn Suan recalled.
(She was in between her cousins walking from the church when she was hit. My child said, ‘Mama, Mikmik fell down; she was hit by a stone.’)
She was then brought to Dr. Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital where her head wound was stitched and treated, without undergoing an x-ray procedure.
Yet despite undergoing treatment, Mikmik continued to experience piercing head pains and vomiting.
“Natutulog na siya pero kapag gumagalaw siya, sumusuka siya, (She was already asleep but when she was conscious, she would continue to vomit.),” Evelyn said.
However, a CT Scan on Thursday morning after she was transferred to East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) in Quezon City revealed that Mikmik’s head wound was not caused by a stone but by a stray bullet lodged at her skull.
The bullet is said to have entered the left side of her head.
The bullet caused blood clot on the grade 7 student’s head, rendering her in a critical condition. A surgical operation is underway.
Evelyn noted that it was the first time someone from their village had been hit by a stray bullet.
Mikmik’s father Johnny could only implore the person who fired his gun to come out and take responsibility for his action.
“Sana makonsensiya siya kasi yung pamangkin ko nasa loob, inooperahan. Sana maka-recover siya,” Evelyn added.
Mikmik’s kin told INQUIRER.net that they have filed a report on the local police station but have yet to receive an update regarding the incident from authorities.
EAMC Emergency and Trauma Center head Dr. Alfonso Nunez III said the hospital will extend all possible help to aid in the 13-year-old girl’s recovery.
Mikmik’s case is one of the four gunshot wound incidents recorded at EAMC. As of Thursday afternoon, 57 cases of fireworks-related injuries in the said hospital have been posted.
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