Victim of shark attack in Alabama transferred to second hospital – family hopes for special prostheses

ALABAMA (WDHN) — A 15-year-old Alabama girl has been transferred to another hospital in hopes of getting prosthetics fitted following a bull shark attack in the waters of the Florida Panhandle.

Lulu Gribbin was one of three women attacked by a bull shark in Walton County waters on Friday. While the first two victims, an unidentified 45-year-old woman and Lulu’s boyfriend, 17-year-old McCray Faust, escaped with relatively minor injuries, Lulu lost her left hand and left leg in the attack.

Officials on the coast believe the same bull shark attacked the two women about 4 miles apart.

Since the attack, Lulu’s mother, Ann Blair Gribbin, has given daily updates on her daughter’s condition.

According to Gribbons, Lulu was transported by AirMed medical transport jet from Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola to another, unnamed hospital on Wednesday, June 13, six days after the attack.

Gribbons said the decision to relocate Lulu was made after she spoke to a specialist “who is a pioneer in the field of multiple limb amputation” in the hope of getting her daughter fitted with prosthetic limbs.

“We did not make the decision to have the remaining surgeries and rehab done at another hospital lightly,” Gribbons said. “I have prayed to God to help Joe (Lulu’s father) and I make the best decision for Lulu regarding her care, and we believe this will give Lulu the best chance to live as normal a life as possible with two prosthetics. Medically, this is the best option for Lulu and another step on that road to healing.”

The teenager underwent one of her many operations on Sunday, during which doctors cleaned the wounds and flushed out all bacteria. The surgeons also began closing the amputations.

In the update, Gribbons spoke about the heartwarming farewell that Sacred Heart hospital staff gave Lulu.

“We left her hospital room on a stretcher and rolled her into the PICU hallway and through the double doors. Once we were through the double doors, the hallways on both sides were lined for what seemed like an eternity with all the nurses and doctors who had helped save Lulu, who had been with her since then, and those from other parts of the hospital,” Gribbons recalled. “They were cheering, playing music, and spraying Silly String. They gave Lulu some Silly String to spray as well. It was an incredible feeling and a goodbye for our girl.”

Before she left, however, Lulu experienced one last surprise at Sacred Heart: a visit from a furry four-legged friend.

“The childcare therapist came today (Wednesday) with a surprise. She came with an emotional support dog named Sherlock. Sherlock is a Goldendoodle, but much more golden than a Doodle. The only thing we could tell was a Doodle was some slightly curly hairs on the inside of his ears. Sherlock came into Lulu’s bed and laid down with her.”

Gribbons wrote that Lulu and Ellie, Lulu’s twin sister, are dog lovers and cuddled with Sherlock on the hospital bed before boarding the transport jet.