Boy Injured at Disneyland Returns to Hospital for Testing

Brandon Zucker, the boy critically injured on the Roger Rabbit Car Toon Spin attraction at Disneyland, returned briefly to UCI Medical Center this week because of more complications from his injury.

Brandon spent the first several weeks after the Sept. 22 accident at the hospital in Orange, but was transferred in early November to a long-term care facility in the city, HealthBridge Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital.

Monday night, he was taken back to UCI Medical Center for more testing and to treat brain swelling--two days before a scheduled visit to the Children’s Hospital of Orange County, said Elinor Silverstein, a family friend who also has been doing touch therapy with Brandon.

“The doctors at UCI said, ‘We want him now,’ ” Silverstein said.

Doctors performed a few tests and decided that Brandon did not immediately need a brain shunt to reduce the swelling and by Tuesday afternoon, he was back at HealthBridge, Silverstein said.

Despite the unplanned hospital visit, Brandon continues to show limited progress, she said, displaying occasional glimpses of recognition when the telephone rings or when he hears other sounds.

“It’s still so tremendously devastating,” Silverstein said.

Brandon, who turns 5 in January, was trapped beneath a ride vehicle for about 10 minutes. When he was freed, the 45-pound boy was not breathing and had no pulse.

He suffered a torn liver, spleen and diaphragm, a collapsed left lung and a fractured pelvis. It is unclear how long Brandon went without oxygen, but he suffered severe brain damage.

He is now considered “minimally responsive.”

His parents and older brother had been living in Canyon Country in northern Los Angeles County, but recently moved to Irvine to be closer to Brandon.

State officials from the Department of Occupational Safety and Health, which is investigating the accident, said they are wrapping up their findings but have not yet issued their report.

Disneyland officials said they will keep the ride closed until state officials give them the go-ahead to reopen.