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Rape Victim To Go Home

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Published: October 17, 2008

Updated: 10/17/2008 02:47 pm

The 18-year-old victim of a brutal rape and beating at the Bloomingdale Regional Public Library is expected to return to her home in south Hillsborough County at the end of this month.

Family friend Cheryl Zemina said Thursday the teen is to be released from the Sarasota rehabilitation center where she has been receiving therapy for the past several months. The woman, an East Bay High School senior, was attacked April 24.

Among the reasons for her release is that officials with Medicaid, which is footing the bill for most of the victim's medical expenses, don't see sufficient progress to continue inpatient care, Zemina said. It costs $1,200 a day to keep her at the rehabilitation center.

"She's really made no measurable improvement in two months," Zemina said. "But, then again, she wasn't expected to live at all. She really has defied all the odds."

Since the attack, the victim, whose identity is being withheld because of the nature of the crime, has regained consciousness and limited vision, and she can communicate with friends and family through gestures.

Plans to move her to another facility in August were reversed when doctors said she'd be better off staying at the rehab center. This time, however, her mother is hopeful that being at home in familiar surroundings will help, Zemina said.

Medicaid representatives are assessing the family's home to determine what renovations will be necessary to accommodate the woman's medical needs, including wheelchair accessibility, Zemina said.

Michelle Phan, one of three women who organized a fashion show last month that raised $21,000, said the victim's mother plans to use the money to pay for renovations Medicaid won't cover.

Zemina said she hopes the victim will continue to receive all the physical, occupational and speech therapy she needs.

"I'm hoping some therapists in the community will come forward and volunteer their services to help her. I remain hopeful that she'll recover," Zemina said. Therapists wishing to volunteer can contact Zemina at jzemina@aol.com.

Bloomingdale High School student Kendrick Morris is charged with the attack and remains in Orient Road Jail without bail.

Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at (813) 657-4524.

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