From time to time, some propeller accident victims stand out in our memories. The press typically does not cover most of them, or just provides the very basics of the accident and never returns to the story. Sometimes accident victims are covered a few times, and very rarely, the press falls in love with them and provides more indepth coverage for a longer period of time. This level of coverage is often reserved for youth. Sometimes coverage continues as the community unites to pray and rally for them as they fight for life in the hospital or fight to save a limb, sometimes as friends and family try to raise funds to cover tremendous medical expenses, sometimes as friends and family prepare their home for their return in a wheelchair, sometimes when they return home from the hospital, sometimes as they endure countless surgeries, sometimes as new prosthetics are fitted, and sometimes as family members try to pass boating safety laws in the name of their deceased children. Other times it comes as youth try to return to sports activities, want to walk across the stage to receive their high school diploma, reunite with rescuers, mark the first year anniversary of the accident, or try to give back to others facing similar challenges. They are seen as vibrant teenagers full of life and anticipations whose lives where tragically changed or cut short.

A few U.S. examples from recent times include: Britteny Lindt (15 year old cheerleader), Cole Ortega (14 year old surfer), Allysa Squirrell (11 year old training as a junior lifeguard), Molly Moses (16, known from Miracles for Molly), Gabby DeSouza (14 year old Floridian), Drew Barefield (12 year old Florida boy snorkeling), and Emily Fedorko (16 year old beautiful Connecticut girl). Others like Kali Gorzell of Texas had similar stories, but were never picked up in depth by the press.

These young, vibrant teenagers captured the hearts of those who read their stories. The press continued to run follow up stories on those who survived. Among them was Gabriella “Gabby” DeSouza, a cheerful, sassy Florida teen who lost her lower right leg to a propeller accident in February 2011.

The press fell in love with Gabby, especially the Palm Beach Post. Her life was covered as she progressed through many of the stages listed above. Gabby’s determination allowed her to integrate back into society as seamlessly as possible given the circumstances. Gabby was often shown doing things teenage girls do (shopping, have her nails done, hanging with friends, wearing teenage clothing, constantly texting, returning to the beach, etc.).

Gabby, now 20, went on to inspire many facing similar challenges, and the rest of us as well.

This wonderful, young, determined, energetic, caring girl passed away Friday 26 June 2015. The Palm Beach Post, which led the coverage of her accident and recovery, covered her passing in a 27 June 2015 article.

No cause of death was listed.

She will be sorely missed by family, friends, and those who followed her life.

May her family find comfort in the good she brought to the world in her brief life.

We close our coverage with a series of wordle images we previously created of her accident to graphically show the changing focal points of stories covering propeller accidents, the recovery of victims in the hospital, and their return home. Words used more frequently in the coverage appear larger in the images.

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