Priscilla Avilez hasn’t lost faith. She hasn’t given up hope. She knows her husband will get better soon and will be reunited with her and their three young children shortly. And until then, Priscilla has the love and support of family, friends and the community.
Last September, Priscilla’s husband, Derek, a Hollywood firefighter, had a skim boarding accident on Hollywood Beach and has since been at Memorial Regional Hospital paralyzed and on a ventilator. Priscilla witnessed the accident. She recalled the scream she yelled that informed others of the accident; she recalled the feeling of panic she felt when she saw her husband floating in the water; and she recalled the doctors telling her he had broken his neck. But despite all these tragic things, Priscilla has remained strong…in large part because of her support system.
“Before Derek’s accident, I didn’t see the kindness in people that I used to, but now, I see how much kindness people have to offer,” she said. “The community has responded very well. They’ve gone above and beyond helping us out.”
Priscilla said Derek’s co-workers at the fire station have picked up his shifts so Priscilla can still receive his paychecks and said dozens of people have approached her wanting to help in any way possible. The Hollywood Junior Chamber, or the Jaycees, for example, recently donated the money they raised at Hollywood Gazette’s monthly Party with a Purpose event to Priscilla and Derek. The fundraising event raised about $1,500 for the Avilez family.
“The Jaycees is not always about putting on events to raise money for our own organization,” said Sara Lavenka, president of the Jaycees, who said she was thrilled with the community’s response at the event. “We try to have events that benefit people in need, and this was the perfect opportunity to do so. Priscilla is a very, very strong woman. She and Derek have faith and strength, and they are a great couple.”
Priscilla said her husband is getting stronger every day – she said Derek recently breathed on his own for 12 hours – and said she will continue to perform range of motion exercises with him until he can do everything on his own in rehabilitation. She feels confident he will get better soon and feels grateful for the generosity the Hollywood community has shown her family.
“Every time I turn around, someone is planning something else (to raise money),” Priscilla said. “I’m very thankful for everything everyone has done for us. I’m very happy.”
Anyone interested in making a donation to the Avilez family can contact any Hollywood fire station. They will collect checks (made out to Professional Hollywood Firefighters Care of Derek Avilez) to give to the family.
