The one individual to outlive after a bolt of lightning struck 4 individuals close to the White Home in Washington, D.C., earlier this month is sharing her story.
Simply two weeks in the past, medical doctors weren’t positive if Amber Escudero-Kontostathis would survive the lightning strike.
However they now say she is making massive strides in her restoration.
“I’m undecided why I’m the one which pulled by means of, however I’m undoubtedly grateful and I’m not gonna waste my second probability at life,” Escudero-Kontostathis mentioned.
The one individual to outlive after a bolt of lightning struck 4 individuals close to the White Home in Washington, D.C., earlier this month is sharing her story. Simply two weeks in the past, medical doctors weren’t positive if Amber Escudero-Kontostathis would survive the lightning strike.
On the evening of Aug. 4, she was standing close to the White Home making an attempt to boost cash for refugees when a storm popped up within the space.
She and three others took shelter beneath a tree in Lafayette Sq..
Keep in mind: In case you’re ever caught in a storm, search shelter inside the closest constructing. Don’t go to a tree or another out of doors objects.
Moments later, lightning struck the tree, injuring her and the others.
James and Donna Mueller have been visiting D.C. from Wisconsin to have a good time their wedding ceremony anniversary. Brooks Lambertson, of California, was visiting D.C. for work. All three of them died from their accidents.
A pair killed when lightning struck Thursday close to the White Home have been on the town celebrating their 56th anniversary. News4’s Walter Morris spoke to their niece.
“It breaks my coronary heart. I give it some thought day-after-day. I take into consideration the households that don’t have their family members there. It’s simply robust. Gonna be working by means of that for a very long time,” she mentioned.
Escudero-Kontostathis mentioned bystanders doubtless saved her life. Secret Service brokers and nurses who occurred to be there on trip all rushed to do CPR and re-start her coronary heart.
It’s what saved her alive lengthy sufficient to make it to MedStar Washington Hospital Heart, the one burn middle within the D.C. space.
“What she went by means of is so uncommon and so usually not survived, there’s no textbook chapter about what to anticipate after you’ve been struck by lightning,” mentioned Dr. Taryn Travis, a burn surgeon for MedStar Washington Hospital Heart.
Escudero-Kontostathis’ burns are beginning to heal, however she mentioned she’s nonetheless in fixed ache.
“Like 10,000 grains of sand shifting by means of a single pore, and it’s taking place by means of my complete physique from right here down. That’s the worst of it at evening,” she mentioned.
News4’s Mauricio Casillas spoke to the sufferer’s father and heard from his employer.
By means of the ache, she’s held tight to a goal.
Escudero-Kontostathis mentioned she desires to get again to her work with the Worldwide Rescue Committee.
“I simply need to be on the market advocating for those that aren’t as fortunate as I’m and getting a lot consideration and therapy and assist,” she mentioned.
She mentioned she plans to get a grasp’s diploma in worldwide relations at Johns Hopkins College.
