PALMETTO — Two years after a traumatic playground accident, Lexi Antorino remains in a coma unable to breathe or eat on her own, but she responds to cold and heat, swallows and has her gag reflex back.
Lexi’s story won the hearts of many in Manatee County.
On Dec. 9, 2007, when she was 2, Lexi suffered a brain injury when a metal swing set collapsed upon her at the Palmetto Point Civic Association Park.
The blow severed an artery in her brain, right behind her left ear. Surgeons in St. Petersburg, who were surprised the child had survived such blood loss, mended the artery, but could only offer prayers for the girl’s future.
Lexi hasn’t been able to fully wake up since the accident.
Over the past almost two years, life in the family has gone on.
Her mother and father, Sarah and Nicholas Antorino, recently had another baby, Jessica, who is now 3 months. Nicholas Jr. is one and a half.
Nicholas Antorino can’t work because he had testicular cancer, Sarah said. It was detected a few weeks ago, and he had a testicle removed.
Lexi is a long-legged, solid little girl of 46 pounds. She has a tracheotomy, which serves as an opening for a ventilator. A gastric tube goes into her stomach and sustains her with calorie-rich liquid food, which has caused her to have to go on a recent diet.
Sarah Antorino wants more than anything for Lexi to wake up.
She is a devout Christian and her faith tells her that something good will happen to Lexi before 2009 is done.
Over and over during the day, Sarah prays out, “In the name of Jesus, let 2009 be Lexi’s year to shine!“
In 2008, the family accepted a $1.9 million settlement from the Palmetto Point Civic Association, a portion of which they used to purchase a large, roomy home on 21st Street West.
“Everything is in Lexi’s name, including the house,” her mother said of the special needs trust that was set up. “We are not allowed touch it.”
The trust paid for a special handicap access van for Lexi.
The trust also helps pay for $1,600 a month in medical supplies. Lexi’s Refresh PM eye wash alone is more than $600 per month.
Medicaid, although it has trimmed back some hours, is paying for nearly around-the-clock coverage for Lexi, her family said.
Pam Dubbs, an LPN from Myakka City, is one of Lexi’s three daily nurses.
“We all think she is just totally beautiful,” Dubbs said. “She’s really a healthy girl with beautiful skin and muscle tone.”
Sarah Antorino said Lexi has gotten such good care from her family and nurses that she has never had pneumonia or a bed sore. She gets constant physical therapy and stimulation.
Sarah said she absolutely has no regrets that the family didn’t decide to unplug Lexi from the ventilator when she came out of surgery with dire predictions for her future.
“We had a decision to make after the accident,” Antorino recalls. “The doctor who operated on Lexi told me, ‘I’m not God so if it were me, I would put in a tracheotomy, put her on a gastric tube and see what happens,’ That’s exactly what we have done. We are now just waiting for her to wake up.“
Richard Dymond, Herald reporter, can be reached at 748-0411, ext. 6686.
Disclaimer: Story comments are intended to provide a place for constructive dialog about issues and events in our community. Your input is encouraged and can make a positive difference. To achieve this, no obscenity, personal attacks, or racial slurs are tolerated. Users brought to our attention for violating our terms of use will be blocked from commenting permanently and without notice. Please help keep the comments on topic by flagging objectionable material and remember that children and young adults may be reading your comments. With freedom of speech comes the responsibility to be respectful of others.
Email Story
Printer Friendly 
Quick Job Search
@Nyx.replyAnswerText@