On the inside of Carlos Bastarrachea’s right forearm is a tattoo of a plane circling the globe with the date December 6, 2020, the date he and his wife Emilia Ballester arrived to start their new life in Toronto. She has the same one, designed to look like a passport stamp.
“We were lucky enough and brave enough to just get out of Mexico and try something different, you know, chase a dream,” Bastaracea said.
Just a year and a half into their new life in Canada, the 32-year-old now faces a challenge they never dreamed of: learning to live life without a left leg.
Before arriving in Canada, Bastarachea and Ballester got matching tattoos to mark their arrival in Canada, where they planned to start a new life. (Contributed by Emilia Ballester)
Bastarrachea was one of two people hit by an alleged impaired driver in downtown Toronto on Canada Day. The other man who was hit died, and six others were injured. While Bastarrachea survived, his leg was so badly injured that it had to be amputated.
As Bastarrachea prepares to leave the hospital on Friday, the couple is preparing to adapt to life in Canada in a completely different way.
Bastarrachea and Ballester were at the center of Canada Day, hoping for a fireworks show near the CN Tower. After realizing there was none, they went to dinner at a restaurant near Front Street and University Avenue.
The crash happened as they were returning to their apartment, northbound on University Avenue near Wellington Street, around 11:30 p.m.
“We get there and we have a red light for pedestrians, so we wait our turn,” Bastaracea said.
“When [pedestrian] lights up green, we start to cross. And I just hear this car coming at full speed.”
Bastarachea said he saw a car hit two other cars, then start to spin toward them
“It just happened so fast,” he said.
“I fall to the ground and immediately feel this great pinching, burning sensation on my leg as I lie down in a plank position.”
The crash happened as the couple was walking back to their apartment, northbound on University Avenue near Wellington Street, around 11:30 p.m. (Merhdad Nazarahari/CBC News)
Bastarrachea was rushed to hospital by ambulance, but not before he could catch a glimpse of his leg.
“It was completely tarnished,” Bastarachea said.
“My leg was kind of twisted on the other side and there was a lot of blood.”
“I just wanted Carlos to be okay”
Ballester was not hit, but suffered a second-degree hamstring strain trying to turn quickly.
She went to a hospital with Bastarrachea, where he was sedated. She was told that he needed to be evaluated and that it would take several hours. She went home to check on their dog and a few hours later got an emergency call from the doctor.
“He told me … we’re going to have to amputate his leg because his leg is completely gone, no muscle or skin. So you need to come to the hospital right away,” Ballester said.
“But I just wanted Carlos to get better, to have a normal life as soon as possible, instead of trying to rebuild that leg that maybe couldn’t even be saved.”
Carlos Bastarachea pictured in hospital after the crash. His left leg was amputated after he was admitted to hospital. (Contributed by Emilia Ballester)
It’s a decision Bastarachea admits wasn’t easy for his wife, but said he’s grateful for.
What lies ahead for the couple is adapting their lives to their new physical reality, from modifying their apartment to be accessible, to Bastarrachea eventually learning to walk with a prosthesis.
They set up a GoFundMe page to prepare for the financial burden of prosthetics, home modifications and other expenses in the future.
“There’s ramps, there’s elevators, there’s a lot of things that will help me with my mobility because until the prosthesis comes, I have to get around in a wheelchair,” Bastaracea said.
The couple says this all happened just as they were starting to really settle into the city. Bastarachea said she is doing well working for a company that provides travel concierge services. He had plans for the summer and hoped to take an adult beginner hockey class in the fall.
Ballester, who trained in dance at Centennial College, got more and more gigs and the couple put down roots.
“We just really felt like we started to belong here. As outsiders, we built this little family — our friends, who were great,” Bastaracea said.
“We can’t be stopped for this”
A 26-year-old driver has been arrested and faces multiple charges over the crash, including impaired driving causing death and bodily harm and dangerous driving causing death and bodily harm.
“Plans that we had, short-term plans, long-term plans … And you’re like, ‘Why was this taken away from me?’ Why I? Why at my age you know [as] 32 year old male, I lead a healthy lifestyle. Why is this happening?” Bastaracea said.
Emilia Ballester (left) takes the couple’s dog to visit Carlos Bastaracea (right) while he is receiving treatment (supplied by Emilia Ballester)
But despite this disappointment, the couple remains deeply positive.
“We were victims of something that was out of our control. It won’t bring my leg back. It’s not going to take our lives back and it’s not going to do us any good,” Bastaracea said.
“But out of this whole situation, a lot of positive things have taken hold and given us light and purpose.”
For now, the couple says they’re grateful for what they still have.
“Yes — there’s anger, there’s frustration, but there’s something to look forward to,” Ballester said.
“Like, we can’t be stopped for that.”
“I can’t help but feel grateful that I’m still alive, that Emilia didn’t have anything close to that,” Bastaracea said.
“You’re here, you’re by my side and, you know, I can still hold her in my arms. I haven’t lost my hands and I can still do it.”
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