A two-month-old baby girl who had her skull fractured in a terrifying home invasion is ‘doing a whole lot better’ and has now returned home from hospital.
Nicole Siguenza was holding her two-month-old baby Antonia when two youths allegedly broke into her home on Bokhara Street in Larapinta, Alice Springs, at 2.30pm on December 11.
One of the teenagers allegedly threatened the mother-of-five with a metal weapon before he struck out at her, injuring both Mrs Siguenza and her baby.
Baby Antonia suffered a fractured skull and brain bleed and was airlifted, along with her mum, to Adelaide‘s Women and Children’s Hospital in a critical condition.
But now, almost a month on, the injured tot’s father Marlon Siguenza has revealed she is ‘doing a whole lot better’, reported NT News.
Mr Siguenza, a corrections officer, previously revealed that baby Antonia had been suffering from seizures as a result of her extensive injuries, but none had occurred in the past five days.
‘The fracture itself that she received on the skull has gone in a couple of directions but the neurosurgeon is confident that over time she’ll make a great recovery because of her size and how young she is,’ Mr Siguenza told ABC News.
‘On Sunday she smiled, reacted to sounds — it was wonderful to see. Everyone in the room felt it,’ he said.
Baby Antonia was allegedly hit on the head with a metal weapon while in her mother’s arms during a shocking home invasion in Alice Springs
The two-month-old baby was airlifted to Adelaide’s Women and Children’s Hospital in a critical condition with a skull fracture and brain bleed
‘She’s doing better. She’s not in the clear just yet but she is definitely taking steps forward, one at a time.’
Mr Siguenza flew to Adelaide over the weekend to be with his wife and their baby girl.
He explained the family have been overcome with emotion following the help they received from frontline workers and the outpouring of support from their community.
‘The Titanic couldn’t even hold the amount of tears we’ve cried out of love, out of frustration, out of humility and the support that people have given to us,’ Mr Siguenza said.
A GoFundMe campaign, started by the Alice Springs Baseball Association, raised almost $57,000 for the Siguenza family – quickly exceeding its goal of $20,000.
A bake sale was also previously held in Alice Springs before Christmas to help raise additional funds for the family of five as they begin their long road to recovery.
Another one is due to be held on Saturday at the Alice Springs Brewery Co where luxury prizes will be auctioned off to
Mr Siguenza previously said he and his family did not have plans to move from Alice Springs despite his concerns around safety.
Baby Antonia’s father, Marlon Siguenza said his baby girl was a ‘little fighter’ and was slowly recovering following the alleged break and enter of the family’s home in Larapinta (pictured police at the scene)
Police allege one of the teenagers allegedly stole Ms Siguenza’s keys and wallet while she was being assaulted before both fled the scene on foot.
The teenagers, aged 16 and 17, were located on Lyndavale Drive – a short distance from the Siguenza’s home – where one was arrested and the other fled in a car.
Police arrested the second teenager following a short vehicle pursuit.
Both teenagers were charged with a slew of offences including aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, unlawfully cause serious harm, aggravated assault and theft.
They remain on remand and will return to court in February.
It was subsequently revealed that both boys had been bailed a collective 35 times prior to the alleged attack.
Detective Superintendent Regional Crime Paul Lawson described the alleged assault as a ‘shocking incident’ in a video shared to NT Police’s social media account.
‘I’m shocked. The community is in shock. The first responders are shocked – this has got to stop,’ Det Supt Lawson said.
‘I’d like to acknowledge the first responders, mainly Alice Springs police, their attendance to this incident was excellent and they got the offenders very quickly off the streets, keeping the community safe from any further harm from these two.
‘Our thoughts go out to the victims of this incident, their families. I cannot even think about what they’re going through.’
