Grant County victims return home

A 13-year-old girl and her 21-year-old cousin returned home from a Spokane hospital Thursday, more than three weeks after suffering carbon monoxide poisoning that killed three young relatives in Grant County.

Katya P. Rodriguez and Jazmin E. Ramirez still have many months of rehabilitation ahead of them, but “we’re just glad to see them both walking around,” said Steve Rasor, the Ramirez family’s friend and employer.

The poisoning occurred Nov. 26 while power was out in the area about five miles south of Royal City. Ramirez and the children were using a gas generator to run a heater.

Gilberto Acosta Gallegos and Elba Villanueva Ramirez, who had been at work, called for help when they couldn’t wake the children.

Killed were Katya’s siblings: 4-month-old Alan Y. Acosta Ramirez, 2-year-old Yadina Acosta Ramirez and 8-year-old Jose Gilberto Acosta Ramirez.

Rasor went with the children’s mother, Elba Villanueva Ramirez, to Mexico for their funeral. Rasor’s wife, Linda, has been at Sacred Heart Medical Center with Katya and Jazmin since the accident, Rasor said.

Katya was in critical condition when taken to Sacred Heart, and Rasor said she’s doing well. The eighth-grader will return to Royal City Middle School for half days starting Jan. 7, but she will still need some help, Rasor said.

Jazmin is not doing quite as well, Rasor said. Initially, the 21-year-old rebounded much quicker than her cousin, but she will need extensive speech therapy.

Jody Lawrence Turner