A 5-year-old girl who was diagnosed with EEE remains hospitalized as a family friend raises money for her medical bills.
A 5-year-old Massachusetts girl who was once in critical condition with the potentially deadly EEE virus has been released from a Boston hospital after a month.
Sophia Garabedian, of Sudbury, was in critical condition after being diagnosed with the mosquito-borne illness Sept. 3. She was first brought to Boston's Children Hospital and then taken to Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, according to her family.
On Friday, Garabedian's family said she was released from Spaulding, but her recovery is "still ongoing."
"We just look forward to bringing Sophia home and beginning to return to as normal lives as possible. Her story and recovery is still ongoing and our focus is there and will continue be so," read a family statement.
The family thanked the public for their emotional support as well as donations that were made for her medical care.
"There are no words that can adequately describe the depth of our family’s gratitude to those who have donated to support Sophia or shared their prayers and heartfelt thoughts through cards and messages. Every positive thought has helped us to get to this day and will get us through as we continue to work on her recovery," read a statement from the family.
There have been 12 human cases of EEE, or eastern equine encephalitis, this year in Massachusetts. Three people have died from EEE in the state, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Several others have died in Rhode Island and Connecticut this year.
