LI 21-Year-Old Leaves Rehab 9 Mo. After Spinal Cord Ski Injury

PLAINVIEW, NY—Nine months after a ski accident changed a Plainview family's life, a 21-year-old woman and her parents celebrated her leaving rehab. Rebecca Koltun moved into an assisted living facility this week, where she will live with her parents.

The college senior spent months living in a hospital after she suffered a spinal cord injury while skiing that paralyzed her from the neck down.

Koltun told News 12 that she's excited to not be in a hospital, and to be able to see friends and go places.

Koltun moved into Brandywine Senior Living in Melville.

Friends, family and neighbors all pitched in to donate $969,581 of a $1 million dollar goal, through the New York Catastrophic Injury Fund. The Koltuns will need nurses, and to outfit their family home to accommodate Rebecca.

"Needless to say this day was a huge milestone. It is a joyful day for all of us and while we are nervous about her leaving the hospital environment we feel as prepared as we will ever be to make this huge leap. Tomorrow is a new day. Look for us in Trader Joe’s or Panera," the Koltun family wrote about the milestone on the fundraiser page.