Mother and her 18-day-old baby pulled from rubble in Venezuela, rare sign of hope amid twin quakes that hit country Wednesday . Dayana Patino credits her son Juan David for helping her survive harrowing ordeal.
Dayana instinctively cradled her baby as tremors shook their eighth-floor apartment in La Guaira. She was washing dishes. Thought it was a minor quake at first. Then debris closed in. “I felt like I was flying. Then like I was sinking in water and dirt,” she said . Trapped,couldn't move. Focused on her son,checking he was still breathing.
Quakes have claimed at least 1,450 lives, with tens of thousands still missing. Dayana's story stands out. Hours under rubble,holding Juan David,praying for rescue . “I said I'm not going to waste my energy,” she recalled,conserving strength for when help came.
In darkness,she found a Bible beneath her. Called it start of survival journey. A light gave her hope . Brother's voice led to her rescue. When he called her name,she shouted back,“Here I am.” He wouldn't leave until she was safe.
Thursday night,delicate rescue operation freed both mother and child. Dayana injured her legs,Juan David had minor wounds. Their home was destroyed,all belongings gone.
Gerson,Dayana's husband,had just returned when earthquakes struck. Jumped to safety,devastated by apartment's destruction. Overwhelmed to learn family survived. “Indescribable. Thought they were dead,” he said,recalling when he hugged his son. “Felt like I was born again.”
Despite losing home and searching for missing pet dog,Gerson and Dayana determined to rebuild. “We lost almost everything but here we are . We will build everything we lost,” Gerson said,echoing resilience many Venezuelans cling to…
