Mourning the Wrong Girl
In a case of mistaken identity, two Arizona families were shocked as they found out the truth about two young women involved in a tragic car accident.
The family of Abby Guerra has spent the last week planning their daughter's funeral. The 19-year-old college sophomore and four friends were involved in a car crash after their SUV suffered a blowout returning from a trip to Disneyland.
Pictures: Tragic Case of Mistaken Identity
Hospital: Severe Injuries Led to ID Mistake
Family Questions How Hospital Mix-Up Happened
The Guerra family was first told that Abby died at the scene. But on Saturday, six days after the accident, they learned that there'd been a mix up -- it was 21-year-old Marlena Cantu who died, and that Abby was alive and in critical condition at a Phoenix hospital.
Guerra's aunt Dorenda Cisneros explained how confusing the feeling is when they found out the truth. "You're ecstatic for one -- I mean it's a miracle, but in the same, you're angry because we've mourned all week".
Friends of Cantu said her family was devastated when they learned their daughter was dead, after spending much time standing over the bed of a girl who was someone else's child.
"I'm devastated I'm disgusted that it happened this way," said Colleen Donovan, a friend of Cantu's.
Over the weekend, the Guerra family held a car wash in order to raise money for Abby's funeral. Instead, the money now will go towards her hospital bills and the funding of her friend's funeral.
Copyright 2010 CBS. All rights reserved. The family of Abby Guerra has spent the last week planning their daughter's funeral. The 19-year-old college sophomore and four friends were involved in a car crash after their SUV suffered a blowout returning from a trip to Disneyland.
Pictures: Tragic Case of Mistaken Identity
Hospital: Severe Injuries Led to ID Mistake
Family Questions How Hospital Mix-Up Happened
The Guerra family was first told that Abby died at the scene. But on Saturday, six days after the accident, they learned that there'd been a mix up -- it was 21-year-old Marlena Cantu who died, and that Abby was alive and in critical condition at a Phoenix hospital.
Guerra's aunt Dorenda Cisneros explained how confusing the feeling is when they found out the truth. "You're ecstatic for one -- I mean it's a miracle, but in the same, you're angry because we've mourned all week".
Friends of Cantu said her family was devastated when they learned their daughter was dead, after spending much time standing over the bed of a girl who was someone else's child.
"I'm devastated I'm disgusted that it happened this way," said Colleen Donovan, a friend of Cantu's.
Over the weekend, the Guerra family held a car wash in order to raise money for Abby's funeral. Instead, the money now will go towards her hospital bills and the funding of her friend's funeral.
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Amen.
God bless them all. Nothing equals the pain of losing a child. Nothing. My heart goes out to the family who have kept vigil for the living girl w/hope while their daughter was buried by another family. I hope she makes it.
Any and all car washes to pay medical bills in this instance should be immediately canceled. Hospital gets to p/u this bill for this tragedy.
It's just a sad story all around. The devastation of losing a child must be overwhelming. The jubilation of finding out that your daughter didn't really die must also be overwhelming.
Best wishes to BOTH families.
Odd reaction by the parents; hopefully just out of context.
It's a bittersweet thing--one family can be relieved that their loved one is alive, but another has their hope removed. Very sad...
***?! Your niece is ALIVE! Now your emotions and effort should transfer to the family whose daughter is DEAD and forget about how YOU feel.
It just seems to me this is being set up for a lawsuit, which is disgusting. How did the media get the story?