A Foul Ball Hit a Girl's Head. 7 Months Later, an Update

Child hurt at Astros game has permanent brain injury, may have to take meds for life: lawyer
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 8, 2020 12:20 PM CST
Lawyer: Girl Hit by MLB Ball Has Permanent Brain Injury
In this May 29, 2019, file photo, a young child is carried from the stands after being injured by a foul ball off the bat of Albert Almora of the Chicago Cubs during a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston.   (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

A young girl hit by a foul ball during a Houston Astros game in May has a permanent brain injury, a lawyer for her family says. Attorney Richard Mithoff tells the Houston Chronicle that the 2 1/2-year-old—who suffered a skull fracture at Minute Maid Park in Houston on May 29 when she was slammed by a line drive hit by Chicago Cubs player Albert Almora—is still taking anti-seizure medication and may have to do so long term. "She has an injury to a part of the brain, and it is permanent," said Mithoff, who says her central nervous system was affected, much like a stroke victim's would be. As for the seizures, "that may or may not be resolved" with time.

Although they can't yet tell if she has any cognitive damage, doctors and the girl's parents say she has night terrors, headaches, episodes of staring into space, and unresponsiveness, though Mithoff adds "she is able to continue with much of her routine as a girl her age would do," albeit with "particularly vigilant" parents. The girl and her family were sitting in field-level seats just past protective netting that shields spectators from foul balls. Major League Baseball says all 30 of its teams will have extended netting put into place this year. Yahoo Sports cites a study that finds more than 800 MLB fans have been hurt by foul balls since 2012. (More Major League Baseball stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X