Woman involved in horrific dragging incident released from hospital
A young woman who was hospitalized and left disfigured after a horrific incident in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside has been released from the hospital.
On Saturday, October 12, shortly after midnight, Desiree Evancio was struck by a vehicle. She was trapped under a truck and was dragged for five to seven blocks before the driver noticed.
She was then rushed to the Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) with devastating injuries and has since undergone countless surgeries, including facial reconstruction and operations on her arms and legs.
According to an October 22 update from Vancouver Police, evidence “indicates the victim walked between the van and cargo trailer as it was stopped in traffic.”
Victim woke up in mid-November
Ashley Danh, Evancio’s sister and co-organizer of her GoFundMe, says that Evancio woke up in mid-November. She was able to write and communicate with her family and the nurses; however, she had no recollection of the accident or even being admitted to the hospital.
In addition to the surgeries that Evancio already underwent, a surgeon determined that she would require a prosthetic eye and nose and possibly dentures.
Starting rehabilitation
Late November and early December saw Evancio undergo two surgeries that started to rebuild her upper and lower lip. She received a new trach tube, which allows her to breathe on her own and speak.
Physical rehabilitation has also begun, starting with building strength in her knees and legs. By mid-December, she was able to slowly walk around, use the washroom, and shower on her own.
Now, in the most recent update, Evancio has been released from the hospital and has started to live at a rehabilitation facility.
Amber Jackman, another organizer of Evancio’s GoFundMe, tells Daily Hive that [Evancio] is “progressing much faster than anyone, including her doctors, expected.”
“She still has a long way to go and will still be going back to the hospital for surgeries she still needs but as of now is living in the rehab facility,” she writes.
At this point in time, Evancio’s GoFundMe has raised $253,000.
Danh says her sister is aware of the GoFundMe page and all of the fundraising events that have been taking place in her name.
“She knows about all the generous people from all over Canada, the US, and even the other side of the world who have reached out in one way or another to give help either financially or through prayers,” said Danh.
“Although she can’t make much of a facial reaction to things right now, you could see it in her eye that a weight of financial burden was lifted from the many things running through her head.”
With files from Simran Singh.
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