By Dalia Diaz
There is a new game in our schools that has gone viral on the internet and unless serious education as to its danger takes place, students are going to be injured and even die. It’s called “break skull challenge” and it consists of surprising someone by kicking his legs from the back, causing him or her to fall backwards, thus breaking the skull or other injuries.
That was the case of Kathleen DeJesús at Arlington Middle School in Lawrence. She is the daughter of Jorge DeJesús and Janet Paradas. On January 27, the 13-year-old was in the gym when her mother was called to school and found her daughter semi-paralyzed on the floor. She was told that Kathleen was playing volleyball and fell down. While she was conscious, her arms and hands were tingling but could not move her legs.
Janet arrived together with the paramedics and Kathleen was rushed to Lawrence General Hospital and that was when she explained that two schoolmates played that prank on her falling backwards. From there, she was transported by ambulance to Tufts Medical Center in Boston where several tests were done including an Acute Concussion Evaluation. The diagnosis was that she had a concussion and neck injury and after two days, she was sent home with a neck brace and instructions to follow up with a neurologist.
Doctors explained to her parents that her brain injury is similar to that of football players and she should stay out of school from January 27 until February 10. Eventually, Kathleen returned to school with blurry eyesight and nauseous only to be accused by her teachers of “faking it” because she didn’t want to work. As a result, her peers started mocking her, as well.
More than one week went by without a telephone call from the school administration when Janet requested a meeting because she wanted all students and teachers to learn about the consequences of that game. The school principal Robin Finn advised her of another option: taking legal action.
Janet was hurt and insulted; hurt seeing the lack of empathy from the principal and disrespect implying that they were only looking for money from the assault.
“Was it because we are Latinos and that’s what she thinks of us?” said Mrs. Paradas.
She insisted on having a meeting and on February 13 it was held. Nataly Ureña from the School Department’s Central Office and Principal Robin Finn participated and I was invited by Jorge and Janet to attend.
The school had no documentation of what happened and could not answer their questions. The principal didn’t know if anyone had called police or 911 because the school nurse was in charge of making that decision and she just called the ambulance directly. No record, no knowledge.
Last Sunday, February 16, Kathleen was rushed by ambulance again to Lawrence General Hospital with the same symptoms of nausea and lots of pain from her neck to the middle of her back and the future consequences are still unknown.
