HUNTINGTON BEACH : Coma Victim’s Family Grateful for Support

Donna Tomlinson hasn’t abandoned hope that one day her 26-year-old daughter will come out of the coma she has been in since February, 1992.

Cindy Tomlinson was injured when the car she was riding in was hit head-on by a drunk driver.

Her family has refused to place her in an institution. Instead, for the past two years, Tomlinson has been caring for her daughter at their home. Tomlinson and her husband, Steve, along with other relatives, have dedicated their lives to giving Cindy Tomlinson the 24-hour care she needs.

“I see improvement,” Donna Tomlinson said. “It’s been slow, but she’s making it.”

She said her daughter smiles and stays awake during the day, in a semi-comatose state, although doctors say she is in a coma.

But taking care of Cindy Tomlinson at home has taken a financial toll on her family. Medical costs are ongoing, including the hiring of nurses to help with her care.

To help offset the costly medical bills, the family held a fund-raiser Wednesday at the local El Torito restaurant. El Torito is donating 25% of guests’ checks to the family.

Donna Tomlinson, who stays up at least three nights a week to care for her daughter, said the public’s outpouring of support and generosity over the past two years has helped the family get through the trying times.

She said people have donated time to help with her daughter’s nursing care and therapy and contributed to a fund at Fidelity Federal Bank in Placentia to pay for her medical bills.

“It’s the people out there in the community who have helped. Just their believing in Cindy has been really important to me,” she said. “I’m grateful for the supporters and all the prayers that have been said for Cindy.”