After spending over 40 days in the pediatric intensive care unit following a brutal beating outside her Deerfield Beach school, 15-year-old Josie Lou Ratley is finally out of the hospital.
Ratley was released from Broward General Medical Center last night and was moved to a rehabilitation center, according to Ratley family attorney Rick Freedman.
"She was crying today, I think part of it was sadness to see the incredible staff at Broward General that she had to leave," Freedman said Tuesday night. "She's excited to move forward, I think, she didn't completely understand where she was going or why, but I think she's gonna understand that shortly."
Freedman said Ratley will begin rehab Wednesday, which will include occupational, physical and speech therapy.
"She's got a long road ahead of her," Freedman said. "She's gotta start from scratch, she knows nothing, she's gotta learn how to walk again, she's gotta learn how to talk again, she's got a lot of rehab in front of her."
Freedman said her recovery could take years after the rehab stint.
"We just don't know what the long term prognosis is."
Ratley had been at Broward General since the March 17th attack outside Deerfield Beach Middle School that left her in a medically induced coma.
She has undergone a handful of surgeries and was left with traumatic brain injuries as a result of the attack.
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Wayne Treacy, the teen accused of attacking her, is facing attempted murder charges.
Freedman thanked the staff at Broward General on behalf of the Ratley family, and thanked the thousands of people who have sent Ratley letters and cards and donated to the Josie Lou Ratley Fund.
