CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The 7-year-old girl, who was shot in the neck while trick-or-treating on Halloween in the Little Village neighborhood, is home from the hospital now.
The family of 7-year-old Gisselle Zamago said life will never be the same. They are calling her "un milagro" – a miracle.
On Halloween night, Gisselle, dressed as Minnie Mouse, trick-or-treated with her family on 26th Street near Lawndale Avenue in Little Village when she was shot in the neck. The girl has since been resting and improving at the hospital and on Tuesday she got to go home.
"When we were in the hospital, it was an ugly thing," Rigoberto Zamago told CBS 2 in Spanish.
And although she is home now, the road to recovery is just beginning, as she is living in fear.
Zamago said the little girl who once loved to play outside, is now afraid to be outside.
"It's sad. Before, she would want to play outside with her cousins," Zamago said in Spanish. "Now, when we leave the house, we leave in fear."
Benny Estrada, of New Life Community Church, was there when she was shot and is now rallying the community to come together and help the Zamago family.
"Everybody's super excited to see her home," Estrada said. "She's our neighborhood hero, to be honest with you. She is."
The church is seeking donations of toys, clothes, and cash for the family.
The church said people can help in the following ways:
- Give online at newlifecenters.org/give. Select "general fund," but in the notes, put, "Gisselle emergency fund. " All donations received will go directly to support the family.
- Donate new clothes or toys for Gisselle and her family. Clothes are needed for a 7-year-old girl (size 7/8 clothes, size 1 shoe); 5-year-old boy (size 6 clothes, size 12 children's shoe); a 12-year-old boy (size small clothes, size 5 shoe); and a 17-year-old boy (size medium clothes, size 9 shoe). Used clothes are not being accepted. Clothes can be dropped off at New Life at 2657 S. Lawndale Ave.
- Donate Target, grocery store, or restaurant gift cards for the family at New Life.
A 15-year-old boy is being held in juvenile custody on attempted murder and aggravated battery in the shooting that wounded Gisselle.
