Tree victim returns home

Julia Engle, 12, goes back to
the house where a pine tree
fell on her

It's the best Mother's Day gift Debbie Engle could ask for: her 12-year-old daughter's release from the hospital nearly two months after a large pine tree fell on the family's Manoa home while the girl was asleep in bed.

"We're thrilled to have her home for Mother's Day!" Engle said of her daughter, Julia. "She's so thrilled, too. ... She's very happily recovering."

Julia Engle, a seventh-grader at Punahou School, was released from the Queen's Medical Center at about 7 a.m. yesterday and is back at the family's Beckwith Street home.

On March 15 a 75-foot tall Norfolk Island pine tree crashed on the girl's bedroom, leaving her with severe head injuries.

The family's attorney has said the tree had extensive termite damage. After the incident, the city removed seven other Norfolk pines from the street, all of which had decay caused by termites.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann also agreed last month, responding to a request from the family, to remove a healthy pine tree next to the Engles' home.

Debbie Engle said Julia is doing well after her hospital stay and multiple surgeries, and just needs to be watched closely. Julia also will be undergoing outpatient treatment, Engle said.

Engle said last night that her daughter is happy to be home. But she declined to say whether Julia will be sleeping in the same room damaged when the tree crashed on the house.

"This morning, she woke up ... and I told her, 'Julia, we're going home,'" Engle said. "She had a huge smile on her face. She waved goodbye to all the nurses. ... She was just thrilled to be coming home."

Last night, Julia's family and close friends had a welcome-home party for her, along with a birthday party for her grandmother. The family has also planned a special celebration for Mother's Day tomorrow.

Julia was in a coma for nearly three weeks after the tree fell on her bedroom. When she woke up, she was unable to speak.

Gradually, she has regained her ability to talk and walk.

The family, though, has declined to comment on whether she remembers what happened on the night she was injured.

They are pursuing a lawsuit against the city in the incident.