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ELIJAH OLIVAS

The young face of advanced trauma care

and emergency experts provided necessary lifesaving
assessments and interventions to stabilize him.

“As a Level III Trauma

Center, Marian provides a

higher level of care and the

Emergency Services expansion

is necessary to accommodate

our growing community.”
Elijah Olivas (center) along with Samuel Miller, IV, DO, Emergency
Department Chair, Joseph Centeno, MD, Trauma Program Medical — Joseph D. Centeno, MD, Trauma Medical Director
Director, Lisa Abeloe, RN, Trauma Program Manager/Emergency
Preparedness.
Due to the quick, lifesaving action of the Marian emergency
The survival of emergency patients depends on the quality and trauma team, Elijah was stabilized and successfully
and proximity to life saving trauma care, and Marian transferred, however many of the region’s children, like
Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Department Elijah, are currently being transferred out of the area for
sees the highest number of trauma cases throughout emergency and pediatric intensive care. As such, Marian is
Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. proud of its commitment to advance pediatric care on the
Central Coast through the Emergency Services Expansion
To provide our community with the facilities, technology Project and the development of a Pediatric Intensive Care
and medical experts of the future, Marian initiated an Unit. These crucial initiatives will allow Marian to keep
Emergency Services Expansion Project and a special patients local and close to their families and friends.
feature of the completed project will be a pediatric track
which will function as a pediatric emergency department “I am thankful for all those at Marian who helped my son,”
within the Emergency Department. Why is this necessary? shares Maria Olivas, Elijah’s mom. “Elijah is full of energy
Consider the experience of 10-year-old Elijah Olivas. and always happy. Despite everything he’s been through he
has a positive energy. This accident didn’t damage his spirit.”
It was October of 2015 and Elijah, a sixth grade student at
Tunnell Elementary School, was on his way to wrestling At the time of his accident, 10-year-old Elijah proved to be a real
practice when the car he was riding in was involved in a fighter as his severed hand was successfully reattached and his
rollover crash near Nipomo. Elijah was ejected from the vehicle injuries have healed. It is stories like Elijah’s that have inspired
and sustained a severed hand and massive injuries all over Marian leaders to elevate the level of care for all pediatric
his body, including multiple facial fractures, brain swelling, patients. To discuss the most advantageous way for you to get
internal bleeding, a broken clavicle and a broken pelvis. involved, please contact the Marian Foundation at 805.739.3595.

Since Marian is the closest trauma facility, Elijah was
immediately taken to Marian where the trauma team

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