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Woman walks through front door less than three months after paralyzing spinal injury

Jaime Carnucci walks in her front door (Photo via Facebook/Jennifer Vaughn)

This August, while vacationing with her husband and friends, 37-year-old Jaime Carnucci dove into a shallow lake “at an odd angle” and broke her neck.

“I remember hitting the bottom of the lake and it was just a weird feeling," Carnucci told Good Morning America. "I never felt any pain; it was just a ringing in my ears. I felt like I was floating.”

The spinal cord injury left the New Hampshire mother of two paralyzed on her left side. 

Last week, she returned home — and walked through the front door

After 70 days of surgeries and rehabilitation, Carnucci was able to regain much of her strength and her ability to walk. 

During her recovery, her husband, Frank, started a Facebook movement using the hashtag #CarnucciStrong. Friends, family members and strangers rallied around the family, sending Carnucci photos, cards and notes of encouragement. 

Two people even sent embroidered pillows to motivate Carnucci. 

“It turned into not just pictures of Jaime, but people holding up signs with #CarnucciStrong,” Frank told the Kennebec Journal. “It was just an onslaught of friends and family.”

“It’s exploded,” he continued. “Our neighbours started making yard signs and bumper stickers. The next thing you know our neighbourhood is covered in signs.”

Friends also launched a fundraising page to help the Carnuccis pay the mounting medical costs.

“If I didn’t have that support, I definitely would not have been anywhere near where I am now," Carnucci said. "Before I knew it, there were hundreds of people with the ‘Carnucci Strong’ signs and shirts. It was everywhere. It was nonstop. I was in complete disbelief.”

“We’ve asked ourselves repeatedly how do you say thank you? There’s no way,” Frank said earlier in the month. “The room is completely covered in cards. If she’s having a bad day she looks around the room and there’s her motivation. We’re both so grateful and humbled by it.”

Now at home, Carnucci still has a long way to go to regain full function of her left side — but she’s determined to continue therapy and make a full recovery. 

“I still have issues with my left leg, and my left hand isn’t working so well so I still have a lot of rehab to do,” she told Good Morning America. "I’ve got a ways to go — but it’s coming."

Frank updates his wife’s progress on Facebook.

“It was like therapy for me when Jaime would fall asleep. It was a way to let it out,” Frank said of writing about his wife’s recovery. “It’s turned into it’s own thing. Jaime is inspiring others. They don’t know her, but they see she is fighting.”

Follow their remarkable story here.