Injured USF student returns from Cuba for care
TAMPA (FOX 13) - Nearly a month after a serious crash put her into a coma, 22-year-old Barbara Jimenez landed back in the United States Friday evening for medical care.
The effort to bring Jimenez back would have cost tens of thousands of dollars but was donated by Mike Honeycutt, owner of JET I.C.U, an air ambulance company. Honeycutt saw the media coverage of Jimenez' after her family said they didn't have the financial resources to bring the uninsured Cuban American back.
Honeycutt organized the trip along with the office of Rep. David Jolly (R) FL.
The hour and 10-minute flight was "uneventful", according to medics on board. They say Jimenez looks to be in great shape for a recovery.
"She's currently in stable condition. We expect her to do relatively well considering the extent of the injury, but with the care that they give here at Tampa General Hospital -- I think she'll make a great recovery," said medic Jared Wayt.
Medics said Jimenez requested a meal from Five Guys before she walked largely unassisted from the plane to a waiting ambulance. They described the student as in good spirits.
"She couldn't speak enough about how thankful she is to the community in assisting to help get her home," explained Wayt.
Jimenez will receive care from Tampa General Hospital, but it's unclear how long she'll be hospitalized before she's released.
Jimenez' boyfriend John Fox was also hurt in the crash. He is hospitalized in Miami, according to the Jimenez family. Two other Cuban family members remain hospitalized in the island nation.