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Library Attack Victim Needs Help With Renovations

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By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE

dlwhite@tampatrib.com

Published: October 22, 2008

Friends of an 18-year-old woman who investigators say was brutally raped and beaten at Bloomingdale Regional Library in April once again are turning to the community for help.

Instead of money to cover medical expenses, this time they are seeking volunteer electricians, plumbers, carpenters and a general contractor to oversee renovations needed at the woman's home to accommodate her extreme physical and medical needs.

She was 17 and an East Bay High School senior when she was attacked while dropping off books at the library April 24. The attack left her almost blind, brain-damaged and unable to walk or speak.

She has spent the past five months at a Sarasota rehabilitation center. Her Medicaid provider, Amerigroup, has determined she hasn't made significant progress to justify keeping her there at a cost of about $60,000 a month, so she soon will return to her south Hillsborough County home.

Her family thought Medicaid would finance some renovations to make the home wheelchair-accessible, family friend Cheryl Zemina said today. The insurance provider did a home assessment Friday.

On Monday, Zemina and the woman's family were told Medicaid does not cover any renovations. She said the news came as a surprise.

"I figured we'd wait until the assessment before we did anything to the house because Medicaid probably had a list of approved contractors," Zemina said. "Now I find out it didn't matter. They don't cover anything."

Fernando Senra, spokesman for the Agency for Health Care Administration, which oversees the state-run Medicaid program, apologized for the confusion and said the department is looking into the communication snafu. He explained Medicaid is not authorized by the Florida Legislature to cover renovations to patients' homes.

"But we'll continue to work with the family and the Medicaid HMO to make sure the transition is done to adequately meet her needs and see that her care continues, and that whatever medical equipment she might need is provided," Senra said.

He said Medicaid does provide medical equipment, including a hospital bed and wheelchair, and transportation to doctor's appointments.

"The representative made recommendations for certain equipment during the home visit," he said.

Some of more than $22,000 raised at a recent benefit fashion show may be used to help cover renovations. Anyone wishing to volunteer to help renovate the house 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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