On February 4th at 4:24 p.m. in Hattiesburg, MS, my daughter, Isabella Saborio, and her dog, Handsome, were shot through the ceiling of her apartment while she was lying in bed doing homework. The bullet caused a compound fracture, shattering the bones in her right forearm. It then passed through Handsome’s leg, through Bella’s chest, and lodged above her liver.

Bella required immediate emergency surgery. Doctors inserted plates and screws into her arm and removed the bullet through her back.

Bella is a student at the University of Southern Mississippi and plans to graduate in May with a degree in Criminal Justice. Because of her resilience and determination, she returned to school one week later to take her midterm exams. Bella has always dreamed of becoming a police officer, but due to this horrific incident, those dreams have been put on hold.

There is no legal recourse for compensation, and Bella is unable to work. I am asking for help with basic needs, including tuition, housing, transportation, medical expenses, prescriptions, physical therapy, counseling, and lost wages.

As Bella shared on social media, “I have a long road to recovery ahead of me, but I am determined not to let this stop me from living the life I have always dreamed of.”

Any donations will go directly to Bella and will help her continue her recovery and pursue her dreams.