Sophia Canino was seriously injured in an accident in South Carolina.

By LAURA FRAZIER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 14, 2010

Updated: 06/14/2010 01:59 pm

GREENVILLE, S.C. - Family members of a 2003 Bloomingdale High School graduate who survived two tours of duty in Iraq say Sophia Canino is winning a war that began 18 days ago at the bottom of a rocky cliff.

The young woman's father, Luis Canino, said his daughter was hiking with friends around waterfalls in South Carolina on May 27 when the group tried to take a photo on the edge of a cliff. His daughter lost her footing, he said, and tumbled 150 feet onto the rocks below. “She's still fighting for her life, but she's made a tremendous amount of progress,” Luis Canino said Monday by phone from Greenville Memorial Hospital. “She's going to make it.”

Less than three weeks ago, Chelo Canino held her sister's hand at the hospital while a priest delivered last rites.

Since then, the former Army corporal, discharged from active duty in 2009 and serving in the Army Reserve at the time of the accident, has undergone numerous surgeries.

Her pelvis was fractured in six places. She needed 50 units of blood, and had to be revived twice.

Surgeons opened her abdomen and pulled her internal organs aside until they could stabilize her.

“There was so much bleeding and inflammation, they had to keep her organs outside of her body for five days,” her father said.

Canino remains in intensive care, but doctors recently delivered a critical piece of hope for the family. “There is no spine damage, and no brain damage,” her father said. “There will be a lot of therapy, but they say she can make a full recovery in about a year and a half.”

On Sunday , Chelo Canino wrote in an online journal, “So finally my sister is breathing on her own! It was so nice to see her talking and have a glimpse of the Sophy we all know. She is without question feisty.”

Canino will eventually be transferred to James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa for further treatment. Meanwhile, the family has contacted U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis to ask for help to make sure she will have veterans' medical coverage. To view her sister's online journal, go to www.caringbridge.org/visit/sophiacanino.

Top Right: Sofia Canino Bottom RightL Sofia Canino In Uniform

Our apologies, it's been a while since an update. Sophy's been working very hard towards rehabbing and getting back to being healthy again. She's been working so hard, rumor has it she might even be DISCHARGED from the hospital July 22nd.

She got her awesome pink cast off just yesterday. Can you believe its been almost two months since her hiking accident? Her pelvis is still healing nicely, and her belly wound is slowly and surely healing as well. We are so lucky.

We are all speachless. To have come this far in such short time, especially given the poor prognosis we initially got in the first few weeks is just amazing. We have no doubt both Sophia and our family have gotten through this thanks to your support and many prayers. I wish I could come through this computer screen and bear hug each and every one of you. I'd try to pick you up, spin you around, and give you the biggest smile of thanks.

Sophy has been in Tampa now for three weeks with Luke in tow. Mom has gone back to work, and both our parents are happy to be back home and getting caught up on things. Sophy has been able to convince the hospital staff to give her day passes - so she's even had a chance to go home for a few hours here and there.

A funny moment for us all: 4 yr old Anthony sees Sophia for the first time since her accident. We hear him mumble… “well, if I were you, I would watch where I was going, and I wouldn't take any pictures…” :)

It's a long frustrating road back still for Soph, but she's been hanging tough and working hard. She's surrounded by people who care for her and support her (even when it's tough love) and she continues to do great.

Sophia turns 26 July 20th. It will undoubtedly be a special birthday. We are so happy she's made it!!!!!

Hello! It is me, Sophie! I am doing a self update finally! I am doing well and getting stronger everyday. Luke is still here with me and will stay until August 2nd…. luckily he will NOT be returning to Afghanistan! HOORAY! I have so much thanks to give to soooo many people who have prayed for me and who have done so much for me while I was down that I don't even know where or how to start! My cast is gone, I've graduated from using a walker to a cane now and am slowly working on walking without but am still really unstable and my knee keeps giving on me, but in due time I WILL get there. My discharge date has gotten pushed back due to an infection but hopefully it will only be a week 1/2 like they say, but then again they said I'd get out today! haha oh well. Keep looking for more updates!

Ladies and Gents, at exactly 11:58am I walked OUT of the James A. Haley Veteran's Hospital as officially DISCHARGED! No more hospital for this gal!! ♥ :)