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Library Attack Victim Is At Home

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By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE

dlwhite@tampatrib.com

Published: November 6, 2008

BRANDON - It had been six months since they'd seen one another.

But Gracy, a one-eyed, 12-year-old bichon frise, had no problem recognizing her best friend despite her drastic change in appearance.

"Gracy just jumped up and started licking her face and snuggling with her," said Cheryl Zemina, who was on hand Wednesday when the 18-year-old woman who was beaten and raped outside Bloomingdale Regional Library returned to her south Hillsborough County home for the first time since the April 24 attack.

She had been in treatment at a Sarasota rehabilitation center for the past five months.

"She smiled when Gracy jumped on her," said Zemina, a family friend. "She responded beautifully. I held her hand and ran it over Gracy so she could pet her. She seemed really happy."

The victim couldn't pet the dog on her own because the attack left her partially paralyzed with limited vision.

Zemina said it was a bittersweet moment for the victim's family, who had hoped she might walk back into her house on her own. Instead, she was wheeled on a gurney into the home, which recently was renovated to accommodate her medical needs - thanks to an outpouring of support from the community.

A wall was removed. Doorways were widened. A master bathroom was gutted and retrofitted with a wheelchair-accessible shower. Wheelchair ramps were built. Contractor John Zemina, Cheryl's husband, who oversaw the project, estimated that $10,000 in labor and materials were donated.

The family also received offers of free physical and occupational therapy for the woman, who cannot walk or talk and is nearly blind as a result of her injuries.

"The community has been just amazing," Cheryl Zemina said.

She added that the victim still has a great deal of therapy and healing ahead of her, and the family must buy a van and costly medical equipment to help with that process.

"They will continue to need funds and a lot of prayers," she said. "But her mother hopes being home will help motivate her daughter."

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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