West Haven’s Gabby Murillo expected to be home by Thanksgiving

Nov. 13--WEST HAVEN -- Thanks to generous donations from Westies and beyond, Gabriella "Gabby" Murillo is expected to be home by Thanksgiving -- the first time the family has been all together since Murillo, 22, was paralyzed in a June 16 car accident while on her dream adventure to be an intern at Disney World.

"It's going to be special," Gabby Murillo's sister, Jennifer Murillo, 32, said this week. "We're all going to be back together for the first time and eat together for the first time."

Gabby Murillo, who is currently at Gaylord Hospital with her mother, Amanda Murillo, by her side -- is likely to come home in late November largely because of the more than $100,000 raised through a GoFundMe campaign and numerous large and small local fundraisers, Jennifer Murillo said.

Another large fundraiser has been organized for Dec. 8 at the popular Riptide Restaurant, led by a team of educators including Allison Wendt, a friend of Amanda Murillo, whom she met while the two worked at a local elementary school.

The new pressing goal for the family is to purchase a handicapped-accessible vehicle, so Gabby can be transported to therapies, doctor appointments and other activities.

"Westies always stick together," said organizer Wendt, who also works part-time at Riptide. "They are just very kind and generous people."

The "Stuff a Stocking for Gabby Murillo" Christmas-themed fundraiser will be held at Riptide from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be acoustic guitar music by Jason Heffernan, a teacher, and Santa, who looks a lot like Glenn Conlan, will be available for pictures. His wife, a retired teacher, will be Mrs. Claus.

They will have finger foods, raffles of restaurant gift cards and baskets, and donation containers around the space, Wendt said.

The fundraisers have created progress to Gabby's "new normal" -- as her sister puts it -- including to help build a necessary handicapped-accessible addition to the family home.

Jennifer Murillo said Gabby also will need constant care -- her blood pressure can unpredictably dip dangerously low -- not all of which is covered by insurance.

"It's a lifelong expense. ... Every penny helps," Jennifer Murillo said. "It's incredible how they're (the community) coming together. We (the family) have a lot to deal with."

There will be much to be grateful for when the Murillo family gathers at the Thanksgiving table Nov. 28, Jennifer Murillo said.

"It's a miracle she's alive," Jennifer Murillo said. "We're so thankful to joke with her, play games with her. It's testing us, but also bringing us together as a family and family is the strongest bond we have."

Jennifer Murillo said because of the generosity and caring of the West Haven community, the family hasn't had to organize a fundraiser yet amid all the stress. Jennifer Murillo said Gabby is always excited to get pictures sent from fundraisers and hopes someday to attend.

Jennifer Murillo has described Gabby as a bubbly person, quick to lend a hand, with an infectious smile -- and said this week she is still, "The same old Gabby."

Gabby, originally paralyzed from the neck down, can now shrug her shoulders and can talk in a "normal" voice, but not as loud as before.

Although science now doesn't offer much hope for mobility to return, Jennifer Murillo said the family feels strongly that through stem cells, some other kind of medical advancement or "miracle," Gabby is going to get movement back.

"That's our gut feeling -- we are playing, staying positive," she said.

The immediate family is comprised of Gabby's mother, who is on leave from her job at the Board of Education, and determined to return; father Eric, who owns a dental laboratory; and four girls: Gabby, Jennifer, Cassie, 25, and Amanda, 34. Cassie will be up from Florida for the holidays.

Gabby had traveled to Orlando to "embark on a lifelong dream" and work as an intern for Disney.

Life changed on June 15 when her car was at a stop and hit by a driver who was speeding, causing spinal damage beyond repair. The crash left Murillo with a spinal cord C3, C4, and C5 vertebrae injury and her nerves were completely severed She has undergone two surgeries and was on a ventilator that has since been removed. The other drive was charged with negligent driving.

Jennifer Murillo has said the support of the community has helped the family move forward in so many ways.

"We're at the beginning of our new normal," she said.

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