Redwood City, CA
1-800-348-8911

Abby Castleberry

NOTE FROM 911 CARES:

We received a request for an urgent 911 CARES Activation. Please read the story below and do whatever you can to help. We ask that you pass this e-mail on to fellow dispatchers and 9-1-1 professionals. There is a link below to sign the family guestbook and information on making your financial donation that is desperately needed! PSTC and 911 CARES is sending a 911 CARES package of goodies to the dispatchers, to Abby's family and to Abby's co-patients at UC Davis Medical center. With your donations, we hope to cover the costs for the family at the Ronald McDonald house while Abby is in ICU and the hospital.  In this week before Thanksgiving, we ask for your generosity and prayer for Abby and her family. We also ask for your emotional support towards the Tuolumne County 9-1-1 Center.
Thanks in advance – Kevin and the very hard working team at 911 CARES!
Stay informed at www.911cares.com –Here is the activation information:

11-18-04

Dear Kevin and 911 CARES:

I'm writing to you on behalf of one of my fellow dispatchers here at the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Department in Sonora, CA.  This past Monday, (November 15) Dispatcher LeAnn Castleberry was working a scheduled shift. During the shift, a major vehicle accident was reported.  The ambulance crew requested an air ambulance ASAP for a child suffering from severe trauma.  Unfortunately, due to the weather conditions (extreme fog), most of the helicopters were grounded. This was especially traumatic for the dispatchers on duty because they could hear the child crying and screaming in the background each time the ambulance crew keyed their mikes up.  We were finally able to get into contact with the air ambulance, "REACH."  The child was transported to the University of Davis, Sacramento.  The watch commander on duty, Sgt. Joe Romeo came into dispatch as the incident was being wrapped up and was listening to the dispatchers on duty talking and doing their own mini debriefing about the accident. 

The sergeant then pulled one of the dispatchers (LeAnn) out of the room to talk to her for a few minutes. He had the task of telling her the child that had been heard over the radio was her own 10-yr old daughter Abby.  Abby has been through 2 surgeries in the last 2 days. Abby is now in very critical condition. Abby has suffered severe head trauma, including numerous facial fractures, a broken pelvis, a broken femur, and remains in full c-spine precautions because there are issues with injury to her neck that must be dealt with later. The first surgery was to relieve pressure on her brain, fix the hip and put rods and pins in her leg and lasted approximately 7 1/2 hrs. The second surgery dealt with a blood clot that had become a problem in the brain.  Although Abby is being kept in a drug-induced coma she is responding to her mother's voice... Thanks for any help you and 911 CARES can provide - - - Lisa Templeton Ohler Tuolumne County 9-1-1

Note from PSTC – We immediately responded and asked for a few more details. Here is the response:

Dear Kevin and 911 CARES,

Abby's mom and dad, LeAnn and Leo, are currently staying at the Ronald McDonald house in Sacramento. (PSTC and 911 CARES will ensure payment as needed) Abby is an ICU patient at the U.C. Davis Medical Center, Sacramento. The California Highway Patrol is still doing their investigation into the crash. Abby was in the front passenger seat in a vehicle that was being driven by her father, Leo about 7:30 Monday evening.  Their 2-door vehicle was hit broadside by an opposing truck. The CHP hasn't concluded their investigation as of yet. It is also believed that the front bumper of the truck made contact with Abby's head. The ambulance and first responders were dispatched at 1933 hrs and medics were on scene at 1936 hrs.  Because of the amount of damage the vehicle sustained the medics were unable to get to the patient for treatment and assessment.  The "Jaws of Life" was dispatched to cut the roof off the car.  Medics requested an air ambulance at 1937 hrs; however, due to the heavy fog conditions most helicopters were grounded.  Tuolumne General Hospital was monitoring the radio traffic and called to advise that "REACH" would fly in the fog.  REACH was contacted and luckily cleared to fly in the fog. "REACH 2" was enroute to the Columbia Airport with a 20 minute ETA. They were finally able to get Abby out of the vehicle and she was immediately loaded for ground transport to the airport. Abby was airborne to U.C. Davis Medical Center within minutes.  Besides her mother, dispatchers Leigh and Bethany were on duty. We are a large county, square mileage wise, but a small department, dispatcher-wise. Dispatchers are family, and this is one of our kids.... does that make sense?

Abby is a vibrant, out-going, well-liked little girl who is an honor roll student and actively involved in soccer, swimming, gymnastics and cross-country. Abby also has an 18 yr old brother Matt and a 16 yr old sister named Hannah.

NOTE FROM 911 CARES:
You can make a donation via your Visa or Mastercard from the 911 cares site at www.911cares.com or you can call us at 650-591-7911 x102 and we will handle your pledge on the phone. Make a donation by going directly to our 911 CARES donation page here!

You can also send a check made out directly to “the Castleberry trust” and send it to  911 CARES – PO Box 5508 – Redwood City, CA 94063. We will ensure that all monies are immediately sent to Abby's account. There will be costs for the medical co-payments, Ronald McDonald house and so much more.

In addition to donations, we really encourage letters to the family via:

Tuolumne County Sheriff's Dept
28 N Lower Sunset Dr.
Sonora CA 95370
Attn: Communications or the Castleberry Family
(Don't forget the on duty dispatchers)

With the help of Lisa at Tuolomne 9-1-1, there is now a site to allow you to sign the guestbook and check for updates on Abby's progress! PLEASE mention that you heard about Abby's story via 911 CARES. It will be your way to show Abby's family how tight the 9-1-1 profession can be once we know a fellow dispatcher needs help!

Please print this and watch for updates at www.911cares.com

We will send teddy bears and goodies to the Pediatric ICU for that time when Abby and her fellow patients can enjoy them.

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