Two Who Were Saved : ‘Here Is Someone Who Survived . . . ‘

Carol Goldmark has no memory of the early morning rush-hour traffic accident five years ago that almost ended her life.

Goldmark, 46, a Buena Park painter, had been southbound on the Santa Ana Freeway near the Magnolia off-ramp when she slammed into the car in front of her.

She was airlifted to UCI Medical Center, where a team of trauma specialists waited. She suffered eight broken ribs, a ruptured spleen and a collapsed lung, and required nearly 50 pints of blood. She was told that twice she almost died.

What is vivid to Goldmark is the care and treatment she received and the knowledge that had such treatment not been immediately available, she might not have survived.

“The surgeon saved my kidney, my lung and my life several times over,” she said. “I had treatment around the clock and every specialist that was needed was available.”

Goldmark said she was “terribly upset” at news of the planned closing of the trauma center at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center.

“I called the hospital and asked if there was anyway I could speak out to let people know that here is someone who survived, is healthy and here on this earth today because of a trauma center.”