Updates on fireworks survivors as surgeon describes ‘pure chaos’ post-explosion

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - New details are emerging about people who were critically injured during a deadly New Year’s fireworks explosion in Aliamanu as doctors described what they called “pure chaos” that night.

A GoFundMe page says Robert Ishii sustained severe burns to his hands, arms, feet, back and face, and now faces a long and painful recovery. He’s been hospitalized and needs ongoing medical care and rehabilitation in the months ahead.

Another GoFundMe page says Kevin Vallesteros was among the critically injured, and calls him a son, brother, father and boyfriend to Melissa Cabrera, who was also injured.

RELATED POST: Loved ones identify 6 fireworks explosion patients getting treatment in Arizona

Vallesteros was among six patients transported by a military plane to the Diane & Bruce Halle Arizona Burn Center Valleywise Health.

The page says he is currently in a medically induced coma fighting for his life. He has burns over 82 percent of his body and a leg fracture. He is intubated, breathing with a ventilator, and needs assistance of a dialysis machine as well.

A trauma surgeon at The Queen’s Medical Center told Hawaii News Now the hospital saw 20 to 25 patients in 12 hours, many in critical condition, which is roughly three times the number they typically see.

“My people and the hospital came together. It was pure chaos and people were doing things that weren’t part of their job descriptions just to help,” said The Queen’s Medical Center trauma surgeon Dr. Malia Eischen.

“It’s just such a tragedy, and just to have so many people that you are close with, friends and family all be injured at the same time, it’s devastating,” she added. “Any time we have to talk to families about losing loved ones, it breaks our heart.”

Four people died, including a 3-year-old boy.

“The majority of patients are with us in our burn unit. The most critical and most severe are actually with us right now,” said Dr. David Cho, a plastic surgeon with Straub Benioff Medical Center’s Burn Care Unit.

Doctors at Straub Benioff Medical Center say its burn unit is part of a western consortium of hospitals that are supposed to reach out to other hospitals when the need becomes greater than the capacity.

On Friday, the Arizona Burn Center will be providing another update on the six patients there.

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