Kids & Family
Paralyzed Woman Comes Home To West Haven After Horrific Crash
Gabby Murillo, 22, was embarking on her dream job with Disney when a negligent driver changed her life forever in a crash earlier this year.
WEST HAVEN, CT — Gabriella Murillo, who was paralyzed from the waist down in a crash in Florida earlier this year, will be home in West Haven in time for Thanksgiving. Murillo, 22, was living out her dream of becoming a “cast member” with an internship at Disney World in Orlando when her life was forever changed on June 15. She was at a complete stop with her friend when they were rear-ended by a negligent driver.
The crash left Murillo with a spinal cord C3, C4, and C5 vertebrae injury along with her nerves being completely severed, Jennifer Murillo – Gabriella's sister, wrote on a GoFundMe page.
Murillo has been rehabbing at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare in Wallingford and family members announced Thursday that she was coming home.
Find out what's happening in West Havenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“Today is Day 155,” Amanda Murillo, Gabby’s mother, wrote on the Gabby Murillo’s Road to Recovery Facebook page. “Gabby and I are going home!”
In an update earlier this month, Jennifer Murillo said that things were hectic trying to balance the home construction, visitors and new rehab facility.
Find out what's happening in West Havenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“Gabby and mom are adjusting well to Gaylord, they are getting closer to coming back home to West Haven,” Jennifer wrote on Nov. 7. The date to come home is tentatively set for Nov 21st-just in time for Thanksgiving. Over the past week Gabby was able to experience going in the pool for the first time-post accident. Her therapist was amazing and made her feel very comfortable… Also, Gabby felt festive and decided to dress up for Halloween- she was a mermaid! Of course her Disney ears were a must for this costume! Gaylord and their nurses are so great to Gabby and my mom but they are counting the days to be home-sweet-home.”
The GoFundMe campaign that was launched soon after the accident has raised more than $120,000 to help support Gabby’s road to recovery. The community has also held several large and small local fundraisers.
For more information, or to make a donation, visit the GoFundMe page here and visit Gabby Murillo’s Road to Recovery on Facebook here.
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