a day ago
East Haven teen fought for her life to walk at graduation
EAST HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — An East Haven High School graduate is beating the odds, providing an inspiring story during this graduation season.
'I'm nervous,' East Haven High School Graduate Isabella 'Bella' Chambasis said.
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'Don't be nervous, we got this,' her mother, Deann Hurley, told her.
'I had to relearn a lot,' Chambasis said.
Back in January 2021, Chambasis was diagnosed with ANCA-Associated Vasculitis, an autoimmune disease which attacked her B-blood cells and small organs.
'So in her case it attacked her kidneys and put her in that renal failure,' Hurley said.
It also sent her to the hospital where, just when she thought she was going to get out, she faced a setback. A big one.
'She ended up having the stroke, and then brain bleeds,' Hurley said.
Chambasis was in a coma for a month. Some didn't know if she would make it, but once her mom started playing her favorite music, she knew she would.
'She couldn't really speak that well, but just started lip syncing the words. Word for word with emotion and I was like 'She's still there, she's still there!'' Hurley exclaimed. 'We're not giving up!'
The long road to recovery began. Chambasis learned to walk again at Gaylord Hospital.
'I had doctors appointments, physical therapy, occupational therapy, plus speech,' Chambasis said.
All while trying to catch up on her school work. Chambasis missed her freshman year of high school and had to take online courses at the start of her sophomore year.
'She's just worked so hard to be able to graduate on time with her class,' said Hurley.
That day has come. Chambasis, who uses a wheelchair, came to graduation rehearsal at 8 a.m. Thursday morning, determined to walk with her classmates.
'I'm walking across the stage and all I hear in the background is clapping which made me feel really special,' Chambasis said.
Just like during rehearsal Thursday morning, Chambasis will use her cane and have her mom by her side. They'll also have her wheelchair behind them. But they say they will not need it.
As her mom said at the beginning of this story, 'We got this.' Chambasis said others facing uphill battles should say the same.
'I've learned that you can't be negative about your situation,' Chambasis said. 'You have to be very positive about it. Like I will do this again someday.'Chambasis says she was taught that by her mom. She will celebrate her 18th birthday Friday.
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