5-year-old paralyzed in bounce house shooting adjusts to new life

SOUTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Two months after she was shot while playing in a bounce house, a 5-year-old is back home.

Abriya Douglas was paralyzed in the shooting, and now she’s having to learn how to get around in a wheelchair.

One Atlanta company has offered help.

When asked if she’s glad to be back home, Abriya said, “Yes!”

She is your typical 5-year-old. She wants to eat candy and to play with her dolls.

The challenge now is that she’s paralyzed from the waist down after being shot while playing at a friend’s party in April.

RELATED STORIES:

• 5-year-old girl shot playing in bounce house now paralyzed
• Shots fired at bounce house during kids party; 'That's a coward act'
• 'He's a little soldier': 3-year-old boy shot in bounce house recovering

“She only cries when she’s in pain. She doesn’t complain. She’s always got a smile on her face,” said her mother, Andreauna Douglas.

After several surgeries, Abriya's mom and grandmother are thankful she’s here. They’re also thankful to have some help making their home accessible.

Theresa Schroeder is the vice president of community for Turner Construction Co.

“To even think about a tragedy is unbelievable and because of the world we live in, unfortunately, this happens all the time," she said.

Schroeder said when Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta contacted her about Abriya, her company jumped at the chance to build two ramps to make her transition easier.

“They need help. They’re going to need help, and they’re going to need the community and everyone to cheer her on so she can continue to recover and walk again,” Schroeder said.

Mid-South Lumber donated the wood for the ramp. Turner donated the muscle.

Abriya’s grandmother is thankful for the help.

“To see people step out and say, 'Hey, we’re going to do this for you. We’re going to make it right for her,' that’s a blessing to me,” said Harriet Douglas. “Doing it for her, that’s a blessing to me.”

“It feels good to know that somebody out there is willing to help, because it costs a lot of money, her medical bills,” Abriya’s mom said.

More help is still needed. Abriya, a former gymnast, is determined to walk and flip again. That will require lots of physical therapy and medicine.

The family's home also needs to be fitted with a wheelchair-accessible bathroom. The family has set up a GoFundMe page if you would like to help.

Cox Media Group