Friends, family and strangers will gather at Kappa Kappa Gamma, 401 SW 13th St., on Saturday, July 11, at 8 p.m. to pray and light candles for the recovery of Gabriella Molden.
Molden, 22, is currently recovering from a scooter accident in the trauma center of UF Health Shands Hospital. When she was riding her scooter on Southwest 13th Street at Museum Road without a helmet on June 15, Molden collided with an oncoming truck. She suffered a traumatic brain injury.
Molden graduated from UF in May with her bachelor’s in psychology. She planned to continue her education and become a physician assistant.
Sam Coughlin, president of Kappa Kappa Gamma at UF, has known Molden for three years.
Coughlin helped plan the event and said she is looking forward to praying for her friend’s recovery.
Michelle Molden-Sevison said her daughter might be moving to Florida Hospital in Orlando so she can be closer to home. If this happens before the event, she said she will light a candle in Orlando with her daughter. She plans to attend if she is in Gainesville.
Molden-Sevison said her daughter has made a lot of progress with her recovery. She believes prayers have made a difference.
She said thinking about the event gives her goosebumps.
“I know it’s going to be beautiful to see all the love and support,” she said. “I’m very much looking forward to it.”
[A version of this story ran on page 1 on 7/9/15]
Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect a clarification. Electronic candles were used at the ceremony at the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority house. We did not specify what type of candles were used.
