Teen who lost hand and leg to shark returns home after months in hospital

MOUNTAIN BROOK, Ala. (WBRC/Gray News) – After losing two limbs to a shark and spending months in the hospital, a 15-year-old Alabama girl returned home in style.

Crowds lined the streets of Mountain Brook for the parade to welcome 15-year-old Lulu Gribbin home Saturday afternoon. The teen rode in the back of a golf cart decorated with balloons in her favorite color, purple, to the tune of “Sweet Home Alabama,” WBRC reported.

“Lulu, strong! We love you!” shouted some of the participants in the parade.

Lulu's left hand and right leg had to be amputated after she was bitten by a shark on June 7 while swimming in the Gulf of Mexico in Walton County, Florida. Her mother said the first words the teen said after the surgery were, “I did it.”

Lulu's strength was on full display during her homecoming parade. Attendees could see her prosthetic arm and her big smile.

“It's remarkable how she's overcome it. She's shown such perseverance,” said one woman who attended the parade with her two young granddaughters.

Kati Ortis, an 11th-grader at Mountain Brook High School, where Lulu also attends, says the teen's perseverance is also celebrated at school.

“There are nods everywhere. Teachers are saying they are excited to see her and that we need to support her and show her the love she needs,” Ortis said.

Lulu's family is now settling into life at home. They say they are grateful for the generosity of the community.

In late July, Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama announced she would introduce a new bill in Gribbin’s honor. Dubbed “Lulu’s Law,” the bill would encourage authorities to quickly send alerts to the public via cellphone text messages if a shark has bitten someone or if conditions exist that could lead to a shark bite.

Last Monday, it was announced that the bill was co-sponsored in the House by the entire Alabama delegation.

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