Little Girls Finally Head Home

After 10 months of dedicated care, little girls Carolina and Alexandra Sandobal, the victims of a fire last year that killed their parents, were finally released from St. Mary’s Hospital for Children last week.
Alexandra, 5, and Carolina, 4, were both victims of second-degree burns while their older sister, Naomi Siguenza, suffered third-degree burns and will stay in the hospital.
The girls have been in the hospital since December 15, the day fire tore through their apartment in Jackson Heights. It was caused by candles left burning in apartment 2F of 37-52 89th Street. It cost the lives of the Sandoval sisters’ parents in apartment 3F, just above. Another 50 people suffered minor injuries.
The younger sisters will go to live with their aunt, Reyna Gomez, and immediately start attending school —Alexandra in kindergarten in College Point and Carolina in Pre-K in Flushing.
“At last I have them, I was waiting for this day for so long,” Gomez said while sobbing. “I don’t want to anyone to suffer what I have gone through.”
The family offered thanks for all the generosity it has received, all the comforting letters, messages and gifts for the girls from people don’t even know them.
For Gomez and her husband, Sigifredo, taking care of the girls will not be cheap. Every six months, they will need to pay for special $1200 suits for the girls for their sensitive skin until doctors decide the girls don’t need them anymore.
Anyone who wishes to help offset the cost of these suits can send a donation to the Fundation Reyna Gomez c/o St. Mary’s Hospital for Children, 29-01 216th Street, Bayside, NY 11360.