Illiana Treviño: Uvalde shooting survivor, 11, goes into CARDIAC ARREST at best friend's memorial
UVALDE, TEXAS: An 11-year-old girl from Uvalde, who was inside Robb Elementary School when guman Salvador Ramos killed 19 students and two teachers on May 24, had a near-death-experience while paying tribute to her best friend at her memorial. Illiana Treviño and Amerie Jo Garza, who died on the fateful day while calling 911 for help, were close pals. Illiana went to the 10-year-old’s memorial last week but almost had a heart attack.
As per reports, at the memorial of Amerie, the school girl’s heart rate escalated and she was transported to a hospital before being shifted to Children's Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, where she is receiving treatment. A GoFundMe has been initiated for her, which says: “Amerie would protect Illiana from bullies and always came to her aid. Her heart can't take the stress and trauma of this past week. We are barely seeing the ripples side effects of what this tragic incident has brought to our community.”
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Illiana’s mother Jessica Treviño spoke with PEOPLE and said, “I think it's just from a broken heart that we need to work on healing. Everything just broke her in half, and she feels the fear of being bullied again.” The mother revealed when they reached the hospital after leaving a teddy bear and flowers at the memorial for her daughter’s best friend, she was told “Your daughter's going into cardiac arrest.”
Jessica stated: “Her body was basically shutting down completely. It couldn't take it. Her body was basically reacting to the shock. She is still dealing with some hard issues. And it's a long road to recovery. She will have to be constantly monitored. I'm so worried. I pray daily.”
Illiana’s mother also shared how the little girl, who was not hurt during the mass shooting, got to know about Amerie’s death. After watching her friend among the victim's faces on the news, "she just started screaming and crying. I told her, 'I'm sorry, baby. There's just some ugly people in the world,’” Jessica told PEOPLE, and went on to fondly remember Amerie by saying, “Amerie made her feel safe and made her feel okay to go to school.”
She added: “Amerie's parents did an amazing job raising such a beautiful little love. It's so sad how things work out in life, because it's not fair. It really isn't fair that any of these children lost their lives, but it just really breaks me more because I know how much this child did for my child.”
This heartbreaking news come days after the husband of a teacher, who was murdered during the attack, died due to heart attack. Irma Garcia was killed during the school massacre and two days later, Joe, her husband of 24 years, also died. Irma's cousin Debra Austin said: “I truly believe Joe died of a broken heart and losing the love of his life of more than 30 years was too much to bear.”
Her nephew John Martinez wrote on Twitter: “She passed away with children in her arms trying to protect them, those weren’t just her students they were her kids as well, she was teacher of the year, and was loved by so many, she’s gone but the world will never forget her name.”
she passed away with children in her arms trying to protect them, those weren’t just her students they were her kids as well, she was teacher of the year, and was loved by so many, she’s gone but the world will never forget her name
— john martinez ❤️🔥 (@fuhknjo) May 25, 2022