Young Girl Falls From Star-apple Tree

Jan. 28,2010
Young Girl Falls From Star-Apple Tree
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-Two young grader girls who were elated to see above the star-apple tree some glistening ripe fruits have agreed to pick some, but one of them accidentally fell below when her left foot unintentionally positioned upon a bristle tree branch as they started to climb down.
The victim was identified as Claire Anne Dapo, 9 years old, a grade three pupil of the Upper Villa Jacinta Elementary School in Macrohon town, about 15 kilometers away from here.
Her companion was identified as Dayanne Dagcota, 8 years old, her classmate also residing in brgy.Upper Villa Jacinta.
In an interview with LSDE she said she unwittingly positioned her left foot on a brittle tree branch and fell below hitting the ground. She said it was so painful that she shouted for help.
The victim hinted by pointing to the location of the revolving fan above her bed, which by estimate was to be more or less 8 feet from the floor when she had fallen from the tree.
She said she was only able to pick two fruits as some ripe fruits were located away from where she perched and found it hard to reach it.
She said it was her classmate who rushed to their house to inform her father Jerome Balindo, 27 years old who brought her to the herbolario (manghihilot in Cebuano).
“However, the pain did not subside so we decided to bring her to the provincial hospital to consult a doctor”, her mother Jejei Dapo, 29 years old, said. The victim’s mother also revealed that Claire is an illegitimate child, the reason why her last name was use instead of her father.
She said that they were not yet formally married in a church or court.
Jejei said Dr. Jaime Carbonilla was the on-duty Orthopedic Surgeon in the emergency room when they arrived at the hospital. She said the doctor, after her daughter was examined, brought her to the x-ray room. X-ray result showed a fractured left wrist that also swell. The victim also has a swollen left leg.
During the interview the victim who was laying on bed was taking two kinds of medicines-for swollen and for pain. According to the doctor’s estimate, the bone operation would take place within three weeks when the swell would be gone. (Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)