WOODBINE – A 43-year-old father of four young girls who suffered a skull fracture, broken nose and other injuries following an accident March 14 is back home with his family, although he faces a long recovery ahead.
Gabriel Feliciano is “home and alert, but speaks very low and slow,” said his niece, Ava Reitz. “He is still very weak and is using a walker to get around for now. He lost almost 17 pounds while being in the hospital.”
Feliciano was on his way to the Family Dollar Store in Woodbine on his moped at about 8 p.m. when he was involved in a car accident. He was not wearing a helmet, Reitz said, although he was wearing face shields.
State Police in Woodbine said the investigation was ongoing, and no information was available about the accident.
“He was offered rehab but wanted to go home,” Reitz said. He has appointments almost every day with different doctors.
“My Aunt Brittany has taken off work. He has physical therapy three days a week for two months.
“It will be a long road, but he is showing improvement every day.”
Reitz said it was a very busy weekend, as the family had to move things around in the house so Feliciano could get around.
“He’s more comfortable being at home,” she said, “and being able to be with his family. His girls (Zaharra, Sophia, Shaeyla and Catherine) were super-excited that he came home.”
Reitz said he has no memory of the accident. The family found the candy and snacks he purchased at the Family Dollar Store in his clothes pockets.
She started a GoFundMe to help the family.
“Gabby is a great man who not only goes above and beyond for his children, but also goes above and beyond for his family,” Reitz wrote in her plea for community support. “Whenever anybody needs help, we always call Gabby, and at this time, he and his family are calling out for help, although he and his family would not want me to do this.”
She said Feliciano has been his family’s only source of income for the past couple years because her aunt, Brittany, went back to school to get her certified nursing assistant license. She has started a job in Court House.
Contact the reporter, Karen Knight, at kknight@cmcherald.com.
