A teenager who was injured in the December shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison was released from American Family Children’s Hospital on Wednesday.
But Samy Garduno-Martinez’s family says the teen faces months of rehabilitation at a dedicated facility in Chicago.
WISC-TV reports Samy has been hospitalized since the shooting.
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In a post on an online fundraiser, Samy’s family said he was shot multiple times in the head, once in the lower back and once in his right arm. He underwent emergency surgery and fell into a coma. Three days later, he woke up.
“Samy began to slowly recover with the help of doctors, nurses, and various physical, occupational, and speech therapists,” his mom wrote on the GoFundMe page.
In January, American Family Children’s Hospital announced that he had been upgraded to “good” condition. He was set to be released in April, but his family said he contracted encephalitis and was put back into a coma.
After months of treatments, Samy opened his eyes, moved his right arm and said “Mom,” the fundraiser post says.
Family members said they expect to be in Chicago for two to three months; then they will look for handicapped-accessible housing when they return to Wisconsin.
Samy was one of six people injured in the Dec. 16 shooting last year.
A 15-year student at the school also fatally shot a teacher and another student before taking her own life.
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