TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Offers To Aid Library Rape Victim Overwhelm Family

ADVERTISEMENT

By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 23, 2008

Updated: 10/24/2008 03:44 pm

RUSKIN - The family of the 18-year-old woman who was raped and beaten in April at the Bloomingdale Regional Library in Brandon didn't have to look much farther than their own back yard to find good Samaritans.

After a plea for therapy services and help to renovate her home to accommodate the victim's medical needs and wheelchair when she leaves a Sarasota rehabilitation center soon, family friend Cheryl Zemina was flooded with offers of help.

"It's really been overwhelming," Zemina said. She said she received hundreds of e-mails in response to news the family was in need. "In fact, I can't possibly respond to all of them. I had to take half a day off of work."

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

She has spent the past five months at the rehabilitation center. However, she has not made significant progress in the facility, which costs $60,000 a month. Her doctors and relatives agreed she may do better in more familiar surroundings at home.

Medicaid, the state's health care provider, does not pay for renovations needed to accommodate someone in her medical condition, including widened doorways to accommodate a wheelchair, a modified shower and ramps. In addition, Zemina said, Medicaid likely will not cover all the physical, occupational and speech therapy she will need at least five days a week.

So the family turned to the community for help.

Zemina's husband, John, a general contractor, said he never anticipated the kind of response they received.

"I think 'bombarded' is an understatement," said John Zemina, who has volunteered to serve as general contractor for the renovation project. He plans to assess what work must be done on the home and begin construction next week.

"You hear all of these horrible things about society, and then you look at this kind of response and all of these people coming forward, and you realize that the world isn't such a bad place after all," he said.

The family has received two offers from health-care agencies to provide therapy services for the victim. One wishes to remain anonymous.

The other, Lakeshore Villa on Nebraska and Bearss avenues in Tampa, part of Senior Care Group Inc., has offered to provide a place for the victim to stay while renovations are under way, as well as occupational, speech and physical therapy.

"That's what we're in the business for," said Jack Goodwyn, director of marketing and promotions, noting that the facility has a 15-bed pediatric unit. "We know we have the expertise to provide any service she could possibly need, and we hope we can get her back to, or as close to, the old life she had."

The victim's mother was scheduled to tour the facility Friday. Goodwyn was especially anxious to see whether his therapists could help the victim with her difficulties swallowing with a new therapy machine the facility has used with great success.

Jonathan Greaves, chairman of the Remodelers Council of the Tampa Bay Builders Association, has offered the services of his 60-member council of contractors and subcontractors around Tampa Bay to help remodel the home. The council specializes in service projects.

The Rev. Sabrina Tu of St. John's United Methodist Church in Tampa said she had an army of carpenters, plumbers and tilers prepared to volunteer. And Jim Brate of Bratebuilt Construction in Ruskin said his company is willing to offer any assistance needed.

Catrina Miller doesn't know anything about plumbing or physical therapy, but the president of the 300-member Bloomingdale High School PTSA said she can raise money.

"We've all been thinking about this young woman at the high school," she said. "It's so sad that this perfectly healthy girl has had her whole life taken away."

The PTSA is hosting a 5-kilometer run/walk fundraiser Nov. 1 and giving part of the proceeds to the rape victim. The run will begin at 9 a.m. at the high school track, and the walk will start at 10 a.m.

Registration is $10 per person. Registration forms are available by e-mailing presidentofbloomingdaleptsa@msn.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.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT