After 22 days in a coma following a New Year’s Day fire in Crans Montana, 15-year-old student Elsa Rubino, hospitalized in Zurich, has regained consciousness and recognized her parents. “It was a positive day because Elsa recognized us,” her father, Lorenzo Rubino, stated, adding, “It’s a great emotion.”
Recovery and Ongoing Care in the Wake of the Crans Montana Fire
Elsa Rubino was at the Constellation venue celebrating the new year when the fire broke out. She has already undergone two surgeries in Switzerland for her injuries, and a third intestinal operation was postponed due to her delicate condition. Her prognosis remains reserved, and she remains hospitalized in intensive care.
Meanwhile, some of the young people injured in the Crans Montana New Year’s Day fire and hospitalized at Niguarda in Milan are nearing discharge. Ten young people, mostly between the ages of 15 and 16, remain hospitalized in Milan due to severe burns sustained at Le Constellation. According to Lombardy Welfare Assessor Guido Bertolaso, some could be discharged “in the coming days, if the clinical picture continues to improve.” Bertolaso emphasized, “From the very first minute, our commitment has been daily and constant: we are following and caring for them as if they were our children or, as far as I am concerned, grandchildren.”
To facilitate family visits, 29-year-old Eleonora Palmieri, a veterinarian from the Rimini area, was transferred to the hospital in Cesena yesterday. Another patient was transferred to the Policlinico of Milan last week, a hospital specializing in respiratory pathologies, to address severe respiratory insufficiency caused by toxic fumes inhaled during the fire.
Progress and Continued Challenges
The recovery process for those remaining at Niguarda will be complex and lengthy, with ongoing monitoring and preventative care expected for weeks to come. However, Bertolaso noted, “we are receiving extraordinary responses from these young people,” and the hospital system is demonstrating “quality, effectiveness, and great humanity.” The goal is to determine as soon as possible that all patients are out of danger, though this cannot yet be affirmed, “but the path taken is the right one.” Of the ten patients hospitalized, four are in Intensive Care and six are at the Burn Center.
Improvements are also being seen in Leonardo and Kean, two 16-year-old classmates from the Virgilio high school in Milan, who have been awakened from a deep sedation and are now communicating via computer, receiving video messages from friends and family. Francesca and Sofia, also 16 and students at the Virgilio high school, are also hospitalized at Niguarda. The group of students was vacationing together at the home of Francesca’s parents when the fire occurred. Giuseppe Giola, from Milan, was the first to arrive from Switzerland by helicopter on the evening of January 1st and is recovering from burns, primarily to his hand; he is no longer intubated and his condition has improved. Manfredi, a 16-year-old from Rome, is scheduled for another operation within the week.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in Crans Montana?
A violent fire broke out at the Constellation venue on New Year’s Day, injuring several young people, mostly between the ages of 15 and 16.
Where are the injured patients receiving treatment?
Some patients are being treated in Switzerland, while others are receiving care at Niguarda Hospital in Milan, the Policlinico of Milan, and the hospital in Cesena.
What is the current condition of Elsa Rubino?
Elsa Rubino, a 15-year-old student, has regained consciousness after 22 days in a coma and has recognized her parents. Her prognosis remains reserved, and she is still hospitalized in intensive care.
What further challenges might these young people face as they continue their recovery?
