Salem 12-Year-Old Returns Home After Family Coronavirus Ordeal

SALEM, MA — Nearly two months after Salem 12-year-old Mikayla DeCelle was hospitalized as the coronavirus swept through her family, she was released from Spaulding Rehabilitation and headed home this week.

DeCelle had moved from the hospital to Spaulding two weeks ago after a month-long battle against the virus and its aftereffects.

"Today is a great day!" said Ashley LeMay, who created a GoFundMe page on the family's behalf
that drew nearly $55,000 in donations, that day. "Mikayla is headed to Spaulding rehab where she will work on getting stronger and getting back to being independent! This is just another step in the process of the DeCelle family being back together under one roof!"

LeMay said last week that DeCelle's rehab was going well and that she was walking with the help of a walker.

"She was projected to come home from rehab in six weeks but the rehab adjusted it to January 19th," LeMay posted on Jan. 8. "Mikayla already has her outpatient appointments set up for when she comes home. Salem Public Schools are going to get her a tutor to help her stay on track for school."

Four members of the DeCelle family were stricken by the virus with 39-year-old Mike and his daughter, Mikayla, hospitalized and on oxygen. Erica, who is due with her third child in February, and Kylie, who is in high school, also contracted COVID-19 but had milder symptoms.

Mike DeCelle, who owns a tow company that did not operate while he was in the hospital because of a lack of staff, was also recently discharged from the hospital.

LeMay had set a fundraising goal of $75,000 with money still needed for Mikayla's rehab and costs as Mike recovers and gets back to his business.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached atScott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)

GoFundMe is a Patch partner.

This article originally appeared on the Salem Patch