The father of a newborn baby who was taken to hospital with serious head injuries after a horrific home invasion has given an important update on her recovery.
Nicole Siguenza was holding her two-month-old baby when two youths allegedly broke into her home on Bokhara Street in Larapinta, Alice Springs, at 2.30pm on December 11.
One of the teenagers is said to have threatened the mother-of-five with a metal weapon before lunging at her, injuring both Ms Siguenza and her baby.
Baby Antonia suffered a skull fracture and a brain haemorrhage and was taken to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide in a critical condition with her mother.
Mrs. Siguenza’s husband, Marlon Siguenza, said their youngest daughter had suffered seizures as a result of her extensive injuries, but none had occurred in the past five days.
“The fracture itself that she suffered to the skull has gone in a number of directions, but the neurosurgeon is confident that she will recover well over time due to her size and how young she is,” Mr Siguenza said. ABC News.
‘On Sunday she smiled, responded to sounds, it was beautiful to see. “Everyone in the room felt it,” he said.
‘She’s doing better. She doesn’t have clarity about it yet, but she is certainly taking steps forward.’
Baby Antonia was allegedly hit on the head with a metal weapon while in her mother’s arms during a shocking home invasion in Alice Springs
The two-month-old baby was taken to the Women and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide in a critical condition with a fractured skull and brain haemorrhage.
Mr Siguenza flew to Adelaide this weekend to be with his wife and their daughter.
He explained that the family was overcome with emotion after the help they received from frontline workers and the outpouring of support from their community.
“The Titanic couldn’t even bear the amount of tears we cried out of love, out of frustration, out of humility and out of the support that people have given us,” Siguenza said.
A GoFundMe campaign started by the Alice Springs Baseball Association has raised more than $54,000 for the Siguenza family, quickly surpassing its $20,000 goal.
A bake sale was also held in Alice Springs this weekend to raise additional funds for the family as they begin their long road to recovery.
Mr Siguenza said he and his family had no plans to move from Alice Springs, despite his safety concerns.
Police allege one of the teenagers stole Ms Siguenza’s keys and wallet while she was being attacked before both fled the scene on foot.
The teenagers, aged 16 and 17, were located on Lyndavale Drive – a short distance from the Siguenza home – where one was arrested and the other fled in a car.
Baby Antonia’s father Marlon Siguenza said his daughter was a ‘little fighter’ and was slowly recovering after the alleged burglary at the family’s home in Larapinta (photo police at the scene)
Police arrested the second teen after a short chase.
Both teenagers were charged with a range of crimes, including aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, unlawfully causing serious damage, aggravated assault and theft.
Regional Crime Detective Chief Inspector Paul Lawson described the alleged attack as a “shocking incident” in a video shared on the NT Police social media account.
‘I’m shocked. The community is in shock. The first responders are shocked: this has to stop,” Detective Lawson said.
“I would like to thank the first responders, mainly Alice Springs Police, for attending this incident and very quickly removing the offenders from the streets, protecting the community from further harm from these two.
“Our thoughts go out to the victims of this incident and their families. I can’t even think about what they’re going through.”