Mother of 7-Year-Old Who Fell From Window Says 'Accidents Can Happen in a Second'

Emily Carpizo says she wants all parents to talk to their kids about being safe around windows. Carpizo has been spending her days and nights at Oakland Children's Hospital since her 7-year-old daughter, Ruth Carpizo, fell from a third-story window onto the asphalt on April 30.

"All she [Ruth] was doing was just being a kid waving to her friends when it happened," Carpizo said. "I was making dinner at the time and things happen so fast with kids. Accidents can happen in second."

Carpizo told Patch that when they moved from Pleasanton to their new home in Dublin at the end of January, they never expected anything like this to happen. 

"We are still trying to wrap our heads around what happened," she said. 

Carpizo, who works at North American Title in Pleasanton, has taken vacation and sick leave to be with Ruth at the hospital. Carpizo says they are not sure how long Ruth will be on the rehabilitation floor at the hospital but plans to be there for the whole time. 

According to Carpizo, Ruth has been making progress recovering each day. 

"Every day her progress gives us a glimmer of hope," she said. 

Carpizo added that the doctors have not given a timeline for Ruth's recovery but have said she is on track for a person with a brain injury.

On May 14, Ruth was moved from ICU to a rehabilitation floor after she was successfully taken off of the ventilator on May 9.

Now that Ruth, who is a student at Donlon Elementary in Pleasanton, has been moved to the rehabilitation floor, she no longer has a nurse constantly by her side so Carpizo says the family is taking shifts to stay with Ruth. 

Carpizo and her husband also have a 3-year-old son, who is being cared for by family. 

"He knows his sister has an owie but he has not yet seen her since the accident since she looks so different," Carpizo commented. "We are trying to figure out how to tell him."

Carpizo expressed her gratitude for the entire staff at Oakland Children's Hospital and encourages people to help donate and support the hospital.

"All of the doctors, nurses have been amazing," Carpizo said. "From cafeteria to janitors, all have been great to us. I am sure God put us at that hospital for a reason. Any other hospital and I don't think she would have made it."

Carpizo stressed that parents need to make sure screens are as secure as they can be and talk to children about being safe around windows.

Carpizo says her mother has plans to put together a freezer full of food for them and that their church has been very supportive during the process. 

A donation page has been set up by a family friend for Ruth's medical expenses. As of May 17, the donations totaled $32,424. Follow Ruth's progress on Facebook by clicking here.