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Neighborhood news

Teen's brain injuries are slow to heal

Insurance doesn't cover the therapy that h er parents think is her best hope.

By ELISABETH DYER
Published December 29, 2006

Fifteen-year-old Arielle Serrano still needs help to recover.

Arielle was hit by a car in March as she crossed Dale Mabry Highway, by Plant High School. Her fractured bones - pelvic and lower right leg - have mended. But progress in healing her brain injuries has been slow.

Doctors have described her as being in a "low-response state." She is more alert than a person in a coma, and has times when she sleeps and when she wakes. She is making slow progress, but she can't get up or do things for herself, said her father, Jose Serrano.

Her mother, LeShea Serrano, calls her advances "much like a butterfly metamorphosis."

Arielle's father works for the U.S. Postal Service, and her mother is a teacher. The out-of-pocket expenses for treatments have exhausted their income and savings.

Insurance doesn't cover non-traditional therapies, such as chiropractic, acupuncture and hyperbaric oxygen treatments, when Arielle breathes 100 percent oxygen in a pressurized chamber.

Nor does it cover nurses to fill in for family members.

Her parents think Arielle's best chance to recover is through intensive rehabilitation at Tampa General Hospital. Her insurance, though, doesn't cover that therapy.

Arielle was born just after her identical twin, Alexis. But Arielle was the leader, Jose said.

The day of the accident, the twins were at a flag football practice at Plant High School, where they were both honor students, when they decided to cross the street for smoothies.

Arielle's father set up an account for donations to go directly to facilities providing treatments.

To help with medical expenses, visit any Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union, including South Tampa's branch at 2502 S Manhattan Ave., and donate to the Arielle Serrano fund.

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[Last modified December 28, 2006, 11:23:18]