A Vancouver woman who was critically injured when she was struck by a car on Halloween went home from the hospital last week.
Chelina Alsteen is recovering from a traumatic brain injury and several broken bones, including a broken spine and leg, said her mother, Cheryl Alsteen.
Chelina Alsteen was trick-or-treating with 7-year-old Cadence Boyer, Boyer’s mother, Annie Arnold, and a 6-year-old girl when a Ford Mustang drove onto the sidewalk and struck the group. Boyer died after spending two days on life support.
Alsteen was sent to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, where she was in critical condition for several days.
“They did wonderful work on her,” Cheryl Alsteen said. “We’re grateful.”
On Dec. 20, she was transferred to Vibra Specialty Hospital of Portland, which specializes in long-term acute care.
She was released from Vibra last Friday — making her hospital stay significantly longer than those of the others who were injured in the crash. Arnold was released from the hospital four days after Halloween, and the 6-year-old girl a few days after that.
Chelina Alsteen can’t walk or do any activity that’s weight bearing, and she has some residual problems with short-term memory.
“She’s got a long road ahead of her, but she’s a tough cookie,” Cheryl Alsteen said, adding that her daughter is in good spirits. Chelina Alsteen has come a long way since the day of the crash, her mother said, and after her leg heals, she’ll start physical therapy to walk again.
