Natalie Wilson returns home

HINCKLEY TWP. — For the first time in more than a month after sustaining a severe back injury while sledding in February, 17-year-old Medina resident Natalie Wilson has returned home. Upon arriving home Wednesday afternoon with her dad, Natalie was greeted by dozens of friends, neighbors and relatives holding signs, taking videos and waving as she passed them down her street. Gina Wilson, Natalie's mother, said that while the last month has been an emotional one for the entire family, Wednesday was an exciting day and highlighted the support that Natalie has received throughout the entire process. In the time since Natalie's accident on Hinckley Hill in the Cleveland Metroparks Hinckley Reservation, there has been more than $30,000 raised between two GoFundMe accounts, and students in the Medina County Career Center's construction trades program recently built a ramp to allow Natalie to get up to the back door of her home in her wheelchair. "It's helped us get through a very hard time, to know that we have such great support here," Wilson said. "We've had meals for almost six weeks now. (Since we've been) back and forth from the hospital and getting the house prepared, we definitely needed that. Everything had to be changed so we can have wheelchair access." During Natalie's stint in the hospital and work in rehab, Wilson said her daughter has kept her spirits high and has handled everything extremely well. "She's so brave (with) what she's been facing and all the unknowns," Wilson said. "She's done great with it. No complaining. There are definitely days where the reality sets in where she's paralyzed but there are also times that she's making jokes about it." Patty Alberino, Natalie's grandmother, said Natalie and the family's faith has played a huge role in remaining positive and continuing to move forward during these struggles. "It's amazing to see how God has worked in such a quick way," Alberino said. "She was in the hospital and rehab for 30 days. We give God the glory for all that and it's pretty amazing to see her coming home so soon. We're really happy." Barbara Punchak, one of the Wilsons' neighbors, came out Wednesday with a sign welcoming Natalie home and talked about how her trademark positivity helped get her through this last month. "It means she's very loved," Punchak said of the welcoming party. "She has a positive attitude. You have to be positive to heal." On Tuesday, Jim Wilson, Natalie's father, acknowledged that there are going to be emotional hurdles both she and the family face as she adjusts to her new reality. Alberino said it'd be surprising if Natalie didn't have her days where things are less than stellar but went back, once again, to the positive attitude she has and said that, combined with her faith, will keep her going. "(It shows) how strong she is and where her faith is and the type of person she is," Alberino said. "She's kept her smile. She's going to have her moments and that's normal. We wouldn't think that would be normal if she didn't. She's been amazing and she's been a rock. She's blessed me just by watching her strength and how she's handled this situation. She's strong." Contact reporter Jack Kopanski at (330) 721-4063 or jkopanski@medina-gazette.com.