A disabled Florida woman, Gaby Assouline, has died 11 months after a tragic incident at an airport. Assouline was traveling in a wheelchair from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to Denver when she and her mother requested help from Southwest Airlines staff while navigating down a plane walkway. According to an ongoing lawsuit, the request was refused and Assouline was forced to make her way down the jet bridge on her own. Tragically, she was thrown from the wheelchair and landed on her head, suffering catastrophic injuries that left her paralyzed from the neck down.

Assouline’s mother, Sandra, has maintained that she and her daughter made a formal request for a wheelchair and help moving around the airport. Southwest Airlines, however, has contended in court papers that Gaby refused rather than requested help, which has drawn the ire of her family.

Despite the heart-wrenching circumstances, Gaby’s family says she put up a great fight with grace and a strong belief that she would leave the hospital and come home. Unfortunately, complications robbed Gaby of that ending. She was bedridden for 11 months before passing away, surrounded by loved ones who were crying, praying, and sharing her stories.

Gaby suffered from a genetic muscle disease that turned muscle tissue into bone, a malady that hampered her mobility. Her mother said that after the plane incident, Gaby was forced to use a feeding tube and could no longer speak. The fear and pain in her eyes when she would wake up in those brief moments of clarity was too much to bear, her mom said at the time.

Despite the tragedy, Gaby’s family said they were blessed to be with her bedside and that she was not alone at the end. They also wrote that Gaby’s life was tragically interrupted 11 months ago, but she left an impact on those she touched.

Southwest Airlines acknowledged Gaby’s passing this week and offered its sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all whose lives she touched. The airline said it has a 51-year commitment to caring for their people and customers and remain engaged with the parties involved.

In conclusion, the death of Gaby Assouline is a tragic reminder of the importance of providing adequate assistance to disabled individuals. While the circumstances surrounding the incident are still being litigated, it is clear that Gaby was a beloved daughter, sister, and friend who fought valiantly against her disabilities and will be deeply missed by those who knew her.