Yesterday we reported on the first form student of Gwen Lizarraga High School, 16-year-old Delvoy Castillo, who was knocked down on Saturday night and was abandoned in a vehicle by the person who knocked him down. Tonight we have an update and the news is not encouraging. Because of the severe head trauma he received and the time he was left unattended, doctors say that the prognosis for his recovery is not good.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
Dozens of Gwen Lizarraga High School students this afternoon streamed into the private ward at the KHMH where 16-year-old Delvoy Castillo lays in a coma after he was knocked down on Saturday night. These classmates say there are here to offer as much support to Castillo as they can especially because they say he did not deserve this.
Student #1,
"I feel bad because he didn't deserve this. He didn't do nothing to make that happen to him. He wasn't like a bad boy. He didn't give trouble. He didn't mess with anybody. He just does his school work and so he didn't deserve for that to happen to him."
Student #2,
"He was a nice person and he never deserve to get knocked down."
But while he did not deserve to be knocked down now there is very little that can be done for Castillo. He is presently hooked up to a life support system and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Fernando Cuellar says prognosis for recovery is not good.
Dr. Fernando Cuellar, Medical Chief of Staff KHMH
"Mr. Castillo suffered a severe brain injury and, from all his neurological signs so far, his prognosis is bad. We've communicated this to the family, they are well informed, and we will continue supporting him in terms of his respiration and other vital signs, monitoring that needs to be done. But overall it looks grim."
That prognosis says Cuellar can be attributed to the fact that he had been abandoned in the vehicle for some time before he received the proper medical attention.
Dr. Fernando Cuellar,
"The amount of time that passes between the initial event, the trauma itself, and accessing care does play a role here. So yes that factor could be considered as a detrimental factor for his status right now."
Now all that family members and his friends can do is hold hope and pray for a miracle. If that miracle does not come through and if he remains in this comatose condition, doctors may have to contemplate pulling the plug on the life support system. For the moment, Cuellar says that is not being contemplated.
Dr. Fernando Cuellar,
"We are not at that point yet where we've not approached the family to make such a decision. He is still being supported and that would come in the near future."
Alfonso Noble,
From your experience in terms of this kind of case, what is it for him now?
Dr. Fernando Cuellar,
"Grim, poor. His prognosis is poor and recovery is not expected."
Student #1,
"Praying and hope that he comes back or something and that he don't leaves us."
Student #2,
"To pray for him and hope that he gets better and comes back to school."
That's the hope that all these students and his family are holding on to.
Police today announced that they have served the driver of the vehicle, 23-year-old Rudolph Serrano Sr., who turned himself in for knocking down Castillo, with a notice of intended prosecution pending the outcome of the young man's medical situation. Serrano was questioned today, and has since been released without charges.
