ROD ANTONE / RANTONE@STARBULLETIN.COM Cydnee Somera, 11, has taken stuffed animals she has received and given them to other hospitalized children.

Fireworks victim uplifted
by news of recent arrests

Cyndee Somera will go through
her fourth surgery in 10 days

Cyndee Somera, the 11-year-old whose hand was severely damaged by illegal fireworks, is going into surgery today knowing that two of the men responsible might have been caught.

Police said they arrested a second suspect, a 35-year-old Aiea man, Saturday because of tips generated by a CrimeStoppers story last week.

A 33-year-old Waipahu man turned himself in on Friday. Police are still looking for a third suspect.

Cyndee's father, Sidney, said he was too concerned about his daughter's fourth surgery in the last 10 days to think much about the arrests.

He said his daughter was depressed going into the weekend, but the news of the arrests cheered her up.

"Cyndee was happy. Cyndee wanted somebody caught. She wanted somebody to answer," he said. "She's suffering through this, and one of her words is no one should have to go through what she's going through."

Sidney said he's "extremely thankful" to the news media, the community and "especially the people who helped give information on this case."

Shortly after midnight on New Year's Day, while Cyndee and other children played with firecrackers in Aiea, someone lit something in a bucket -- perhaps illegal fireworks or a homemade bomb -- in the middle of the street.

The blast damaged cars and shattered Cyndee's left hand.

Doctors will attempt to reattach some nerves today, her father said. She faces more surgery in the future and might not regain full use of her hand.

Both suspects in the case were arrested for suspicion of first-degree reckless endangering and second-degree assault, and released without charges pending further investigation, police said.

Tips from teenagers touched by Cyndee's story when it appeared on television led to the arrests, said CrimeStoppers Det. Letha DeCaires.

"It was heartwarming and helps renew our belief that people really do care and they will get involved. It's the right thing to do," DeCaires said.

The girl's father said it is probably better for the suspects that they were caught. "If they have children, I don't know how they could live with a secret like this," he said.

He said since her story appeared in the media, fellow church members, hospital workers, friends and even strangers have been offering support for his daughter.

This weekend, he said, Cyndee took the stuffed animals she has received and gave them away to the other children in the hospital.