Addison Betheais on the road to recovery aftersurviving a shark attacklate last month — and in addition to being a warrior, she’s proved that she hasn’t lost her sense of humor.
“Addison couldn’t help but laugh when she read this sign today during her first trip out since her shark attack. She said she begs to differ with it!” her familywrotein a post on theFight Like Addison Facebook group.
“Today we finished her therapy sessions and then she got a pass to leave and go into public for a little while for the first time! On our way back to the car we saw this sign in one of the stores at the mall and asked the manager if we could have it,” the family member wrote. “There was no way he could have ever said no to this girl’s pretty face.”
Addison Bethea.Fight Like Addison Facebook
Earlier that day, Addison’s family said the teen was “making such amazing progress” in physical therapy, which she started last week.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Addison, who “suffered a devastating injuryto her upper right leg,” while searching for scallops near Keaton Beach on June 30, had herright leg amputated above her kneeearlier this month, according to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare.
Showing how strong she is, Addison took her first steps with the use of a walker just one day after the successful operation.
“Our girl took her first steps today and managed to make it all the way down the hallway!” her familywrotein a July 7 post. “Nothing is going to stop her from gaining back her life.”
Addison Bethea.Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare
The hospital where Addison is being treated previously shared that the amputation will allow the teen “to use a prosthesis for her lower leg.”
“Surgeons will amputate the leg just above the knee and take muscular tissue and skin from the lower leg to wrap around Addison’s femur, reconstructing the upper leg,” the hospital shared in anews release.
Opening up about the attack for the first time, Addison previously said that once the shock of what had happened wore off, she immediately tried to take care of the situation.
“I knew that with sharks you’re supposed to punch them in the nose to get them off of you,” she toldCNN.
“He’s always been kind of like a hero to me,” Addison recalled. “I knew once I was in trouble, he said he would get me out. He promised. So I expected nothing less.”
A GoFundMe has been created to raise funds to cover her medical expenses following the accident. Those interested in donating can do sohere.
source: people.com
