Jackson Free Press

Dancer Nicole Marquez left the hospital—hopefully for good—on Thursday. Jacksonian Marquez, who was featured in a JFP cover story in November, moved to New York City about a year ago to pursue her career as a dancer and actress. Last Aug. 30, her building super found Nicole in an airshaft after she fell six stories from the building's roof, breaking her neck, back, pelvis and half her ribs. She has been in the hospital since then, with a few brief furloughs in the past couple of months.

Nicole said she'd be happy never to spend another night in a hospital bed, ever again.

"It is so nice sleeping in a bed with down comforter," she told me when I reached her by phone this afternoon.

For the last several months, the community has rallied to help cover the cost of Nicole's medical care, attending "You Can't Stop This Dancer" benefits all over town. Nicole's mother, Susan Marquez, says there are additional benefits in the works, so stay tuned for the details when they're available.

Nicole is working with a physical therapist daily to speed her recovery, Susan said. After her fall and several surgeries, doctors gave her a 50/50 chance of ever walking again, but today, Nicole is getting around without a wheelchair, with only the aid of a walker.

"She's going to start doing Pilates next week," her mother said.

Previous Comments

ID

142827

Comment

Go, Nicole!

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2009-01-11T22:42:58-06:00