Description
A mother from Plant City is still in the hospital a month after surviving a serious accident while riding an ATV.
Matilde Rodriguez was on the ATV with her 6-year-old son Jesus a short ride down the street where their car shop on Reece Road is located. Her son said the tires were "slippery" and a dog was chasing them when they sped up, and eventually flipped.
She wrapped her arms around him before they fell.
"She gave herself and protected him and just saved him, you know, from even worse accident," said her husband, Jose Rodriguez last month.
But recently, the family said Matilde Rodriguez, known to loved ones as "Maty," is awake and responsive from her coma. Pictures and videos taken by the family shows Maty smiling in response to loved ones.
Seeing her alert and smiling has lifted her loved ones' spirits, Jose Rodriguez said.
However, the road to recovery is still ongoing.
"She's one of those where she would give the shirt off of her back for anybody," Jose Rodriguez said.
Jose Rodriguez said his son with his hand on her head and praying for her after the crash. The praying hasn't stopped at Lakeland Regional Health, where Maty is recovering, since.