On March 15 Katie Jensen was celebrating her 31st birthday at her home with boyfriend Adrian Nava, 32, and a small group of friends.
Jensen, an animal lover, was petting a mastiff belonging to one of those friends when the dog unexpectedly lunged and bit off her lower lip.
“This was a trained dog that we’ve known since it was a puppy, and Katie was just petting it,” Nava said. “The dog’s head was huge, and how it only bit Katie’s lip is something only God knows because it could’ve easily been her whole face.”
Jensen went to the Simi Valley Hospital emergency room for treatment then was taken to Los Robles Hospital because she needed to see a specialist, Nava said.
Jensen spent about six consecutive hours in both emergency rooms.
Now the single mom of two must undergo reconstructive surgeries to somehow connect the two sides of her lower lip together. Nava said those surgeries could cost upward of $20,000.
Challenging recovery
While Jensen’s wound is healing, the physical and emotional pain still lingers. Nava said recovery has been hard not only for his girlfriend, but also for Jensen’s children, Alyssa, 11, and Jonah, 4.
“Jonah and Alyssa love Katie, but having to watch their mom in pain has been really tough on them,” Nava said. “They love her and they hold her, tell her everything is going to be okay. But they’re kids and they’re going through a range of emotions.”
As for Jensen, Nava said, she’s working to overcome the ongoing pain and has now eaten a few things without using a straw after being on a liquid diet for the past couple of weeks.
“I’m trying to do everything I can to support her right now,” Nava said. “I know for a lot of women their face is what makes them (feel) beautiful, and it’s hard for Katie to look in the mirror with the bandage on. But she’s still so amazingly beautiful, and I love her more every day.”
In the meantime, the couple are receiving free legal counsel from an attorney who knows them through Platinum Sports Center of Simi Valley, where Nava is a supervisor. The man is helping the couple recover medical expenses from Jensen’s friend, who has “been hiding her head in the sand hoping all this will go away,” Nava said.
As for the dog, Nava said, the friend gave it to her boyfriend, who lives in another city.
“It’s really sad to see how, when something like this happens, a person’s true colors come out, because when the woman heard we had legal help, she stopped talking to us,” he said. “This whole situation is a tragedy, and we’re trying to get through it.”
‘Walking by faith’
On April 1, Nava’s co-workers at Platinum Sports Center held an open gym night and raised $600.
All proceeds were donated toward Jensen’s medical bills and living expenses because Jensen, a server at Limon Latin Grill at the Simi Valley Town Center, has been unable to work since the accident.
A second fundraiser is being held for Jensen Fri., April 10, at Lost Canyons Golf Club, where residents can pay $150 for a round of golf and two dinners, said Jay Colliatie, director of golf for the club.
The event starts at 12:30 p.m. and dinner is at 6 p.m., with a majority of proceeds going to Jensen. Colliatie said the golf club will keep a small amount to cover the expenses of putting on the fundraiser.
“When I heard what happened to Katie, there was no doubt in my mind that we should do something to help her out. I can’t even imagine what she’s going through,” Colliatie said.
In another show of support from Platinum, co-owner Dorina Timbol said her employees created a GoFundMe account to collect online donations. As of Thursday, $2,030 had been raised to help Jensen.
“The greatest thing about this community is that everyone has been stepping up to help, even if they don’t know Katie,” Timbol said. “I think that outpouring from friends, family and strangers is what’s motivated her to keep going.”
Nava said he has so much joy knowing the community is helping out in the couple’s time of need.
“Money is tight everywhere, and the fact that they’re helping us is such a blessing—I don’t even have the words to explain it,” he said. “We’re walking by faith right now, and knowing we have a team to fight for us is amazing.”
(Simi Valley Acorn - Apr 4, 2015)
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