PLANT CITY, Fla. — A family is moving by faith, praying for their loved one fighting for their life in the hospital.
Matilde Rodriguez, 38 has been in Lakeland Regional Health's trauma unit for 5 days after she and her son were in a serious ATV accident Friday. Her family shared their story Wednesday evening only with 10 Tampa Bay's Angelina Salcedo.
"I just saw blood all over her face. That's all I saw. I remember when the tires were slippery and a dog was chasing us," said her son, Jesus Rodriguez.
When asked, he said he wasn't scared. The 6-year-old had just gotten into a serious accident on an ATV with his mom. They had just left on a short ride down the street from where their shop on Reece Road and sped up to get them away from the dog. That's when the ATV started to flip.
She wrapped her arms around him before they fell.
"She gave herself and protected him and just saved him, you know, from even worse accident," said her husband, Jose Rodriguez.
He was just down the street riding on another ATV with his daughter trying to catch up with them when he saw his son running toward him. He immediately knew something was wrong.
"I picked him up and rushed down there. When I seen her there, she was on the floor. She had a blood coming out of her mouth, out of her nose, out of her ears. She was just gasping for air," Jose said.
Before Jose got there, the couple's young son had already used his instincts to try and save his mom's life.
"He closes his eyes and he puts his hand right on her head. He just prays for her. Just does a simple prayer," Jose said.
The prayers for Maty haven't stopped since Friday. The family continues to move by faith using Maltide's devotional to God that morning to guide them.
"It's a prayer that says, 'Lord, let me put somebody else before me even if I have to go through pain and suffering. It doesn't captivate the pain and suffering that you did for me.' That's exactly what she did. She put her life to save her son because she knows he wouldn't have been able to withstand an injury like that," Jose said.
Another recent surgery is helping control the swelling of her brain. Maty is still in a coma but stable.
"The first night that the doctors came in to the to the hospital, they said she had multiple brain injuries. She was bleeding in multiple areas and they're like, 'It doesn't look good. I removed the skull, but it doesn't look good prepare yourself a little worse,'" Jose said.
The power of God is moving through the Rodriguez family blessing them with strength, with little Jesus as their beacon of light.
"I'm proud of him. He's so brave. There's not many 6-year-olds that would do what he did. He's always going to be a hero to me," Jose said.
We did ask the family if Maltide and her son were wearing a helmet at the time and learned they weren't at the time given it was a short ride. The family is fundraising during this difficult time. If you'd like to support them you can donate here.