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Miracle Recovery: Toddler Survives SUV Attack
26 Apr
Summary
- Toddler Jeb Jeb miraculously survived a horrific SUV attack at a festival.
- An off-duty nurse's CPR saved Jeb Jeb's life at the tragic event.
- The family faces ongoing physical and emotional recovery from the incident.
Jeb Jeb, a vibrant 2 ½-year-old, is astonishingly back to his energetic self following a tragic SUV incident at Vancouver's Lapu-Lapu Day festival on April 26, 2025. The event resulted in eleven fatalities and dozens of injuries, including his father, Val De La Cruz, and Jeb himself.
Val De La Cruz recounts the moment an Audi SUV plowed into the festival crowd, leaving him unconscious and his son Jeb on the ground, unresponsive. An off-duty nurse, Julius Onia, administered CPR to Jeb, saving his life on the scene.
Jeb endured multiple organ damage, a skull fracture, and broken bones, spending two weeks in an induced coma. His recovery has been slow but steady, with hospital checkups now spaced quarterly.
Val De La Cruz's own injuries, including a debilitating shoulder condition, prevent him from working and cause constant pain. The family's financial strain is eased by insurance and community donations, but his surgical treatment is delayed.
Jeanilyn Espinosa, Jeb's mother, is physically unharmed but experiences nightly flashbacks and worries for Jeb's safety, especially given his active nature and doctors' warnings. The family is actively confronting their fears and seeking normalcy, finding strength in Jeb's remarkable resilience.
Julius Onia, the nurse who saved Jeb, also found healing through updates on the boy's progress. A reunion at a birthday party revealed Jeb thriving, a powerful testament to his recovery and a source of immense joy for Onia and the De La Cruz family.