EAST LANSING (WWJ) - Family members of one of five students injured in Monday's deadly mass shooting at Michigan State University are seeking donations to help with her medical care and hopeful recovery, saying she is a "long way from returning to us as she was,"
Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez, called Lupe by her family, was identified by loved ones on a GoFundMe page set up on Tuesday evening in an effort to raise funds and ease the cost of her medical bills, family expenses and subsequent recovery process.
"Lupe was one of the victims injured in the recent attack at Michigan State University," her sister, Selena Huapilla-Perez, wrote. "While we are happy that Lupe remains with us, we are devastated by the violence that has impacted so many. This unfortunately includes our family."
Selena said she was "proud" to be Guadalupe's older sister and said she, along with other members of their migrant family, made the trek from south Florida after receiving word that Guadalupe was injured in Monday's tragedy.
Around 8:18 p.m. on Feb. 13, police said 43-year-old Anthony Wayne McRae went on a shooting rampage inside two academic buildings on the East Lansing campus, killing three and critically wounding five others.
Guadalupe is among the injured who all remain in critical condition at Sparrow Hospital as of Wednesday. The chief medical officer said in an update given on Tuesday that four of the five victims required surgical intervention for their injures.
"She is a long way from returning to us as she was," her sister continued in her crowdfunding post. "Being away from home, our family will be unable to work while monthly bills will continue to mount. Doctors tell us that even in improving conditions, the process for a full recovery will take months of care and subsequent rehabilitation."
Selena described her sister as a incredibly hard-working, focused and ambitious. Guadalupe is a Hospitality Business junior at MSU and student in the Michigan State University College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), which her sister said are career paths that had "never been explored in our family."
"It allows her to travel, learn, and challenge herself," her sister added. "She's always one to stand up for our community and speak out for those marginalized voices like our own."
Since the GoFundMe was created Tuesday evening, the GoFundMe account has raised almost $195,000 out of the $50,000 goal as over 5,000 people flooded the page with donations. Selena said her sister would never ask for help, but she knew she would be "extremely moved" if she could see the outpouring of support.
"I thank you all so much for helping us proceed at a time we couldn't have imagined. As we process and move forward, your support is very much appreciated," Selena concluded. "We hold Guadalupe and all other victims in our hearts."
The other four injured victims remain unidentified on Wednesday.
The three MSU students who died are identified as: Brian Fraser, age 20, a sophomore from Grosse Pointe; Alexandria Verner, age 20, a junior from Clawson; Arielle Anderson, age 19, junior, from Gross Pointe.