By Lauren YoungDaily News Staff
Saturday
Sep 14, 2019 at 4:59 PM
Sep 14, 2019 at 11:34 PM
A 5-year-old Sudbury girl diagnosed with EEE on Sept. 6 has been released from the intensive care unit at Boston Children’s Hospital less than a week after her diagnosis.
SUDBURY – A 5-year-old girl with the Eastern equine encephalitis virus has been released from the intensive care unit at Boston Children’s Hospital, less than a week after being diagnosed with the rare, mosquito-borne virus on Sept. 6, according to an update on her GoFundMe page.
Sophia Garabedian is still hospitalized and now undergoing physical, occupational and speech therapy as she continues to show signs of improvement, according to the page. Wrapped in a powder blue blanket with pastel rainbows, the 5-year-old kindergartner spent time petting a therapy dog at her bedside Thursday morning, having been at the hospital since Sept. 3 after suffering an apparent seizure, severe flu symptoms and headaches.
As of Saturday afternoon, more than $165,000 has been raised by more than 3,000 donors for Sophia since her GoFundMe page was launched on Sept. 9. A day later, the page reported that she was “officially in fair condition,” but was unable to talk, walk and had limited cognitive function.
The eighth human case of EEE in Massachusetts was confirmed Friday by state officials, the victim being a man in his 50s from northeastern Bristol County.
“Even though it is September, it is still mosquito season,” said state Public Health Commissioner Dr. Monica Bharel, in a statement. “We continue to emphasize the need for people to protect themselves from mosquito bites.”
To help Sophia, donate to Gofundme.com/f/HelpSophiaBeatEEE. The page requests that donors and others not reach out to the family, and that the media respect their privacy.
“They are 100% focused on their daughter’s recovery,” the page reads.
Lauren Young writes about immigration, politics and social issues. Reach her at 315-766-6912 or lyoung@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @laurenatmilford.
