FORT WORTH, Texas — We’ve all seen the destruction.
Many Downtown Fort Worth felt the moment of the explosion at the Sandman Signature Hotel, but only some have lived through the pain of knowing their loved one was inside.
27-year-old Maite Karen Lopez, who goes by “Yami,” was working inside the hotel’s Musume Restaurant when the explosion occurred at around 3:30 p.m. Monday.
Lopez, a mom of two, was airlifted to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas and is in critical condition after suffering severe burns. Of the 21 injured victims, she is the only one in critical condition.
Her cousin, Maria Selene Vargas, told WFAA Lopez is still fighting for her life. Vargas is temporarily looking after Lopez's young children while her husband is with her at the hospital.
“She’s amazing and it hurts me seeing her like this,” Vargas said.
Lopez’s children, ages 3 and 6, still don’t know what happened to their mom. Vargas said the family has decided it’s too soon to tell them. They think she’s still at work.
The family has launched a gofundme in anticipation of medical bills and other expenses while the married couple is unable to work.
Lopez and her husband both worked at the Musume restaurant.
He had just left work for the day. Lopez went to work that afternoon, beginning her shift before the explosion happened.
“She was unfortunately there, she had just gotten to work,” Vargas said.
According to Vargas, Lopez’s husband saw ambulances drive past. Minutes later, he learned of an explosion at the hotel. Knowing Lopez had just arrived to work, he rushed to the site.
“He went to the scene, and they told him they took people to different hospitals,” Vargas said. “He called me he’s like, ‘Help me.’ I was like, ‘What happened?’ and he’s like, ‘I can’t find Yami.'"
At that point, Vargas didn’t know about the explosion. The worst thoughts began to flood her mind.
Together, Vargas and Lopez’s husband spent the next three-and-a-half hours calling and visiting area hospitals until they found her.
Vargas declined to share specific details about Lopez's procedures, but said the family could use prayers. Wednesday, Vargas saw Lopez for the first time since the explosion. Lopez is still in critical condition, according to Vargas, and her recovery journey will be lengthy.
“It was devastating seeing her… from the last time, seeing her perfectly fine and healthy to seeing her now,” Vargas said. “It just tore me down.”
Lopez’s parents, who live in Mexico, have been unable to visit their daughter. The family is in the process of requesting emergency visas in order for them to see her, Vargas said.
“I’m asking for all the prayers we can get for her and for the kids,” Vargas said.
Vargas said Lopez recently shared that she had high hopes for 2024. She worked extra hours, hoping to save enough money to purchase a home for their children to live in.
In a matter of seconds, her life changed.