Marivel Hurtado emerged from the south entrance of Cobre Valley Hospital on Friday, Aug. 7 to the loving acclaim of friends and family, the mayors of both Globe and Miami, police cars and even trucks from Globe and Tri-City fire departments. They first paraded by her hospital window many waving signs of faith and hope, before she appeared with an escort composed of those who had helped to bring her through “the valley of the shadow.” 

After driving herself to Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center on June 28, things got scary for Hurtado and her family. She had to go on a respirator, but Hurtado prevailed and on Friday, Aug. 7 she was released from the hospital. 

Even a week before her release back to her own home and faithful grandson Drake Garcia, who is happily “spoiling” her as she had been happily spoiling him for his whole life, according to her daughter and Drake’s mother, De Annette Hurtado-- even then she might not have made it all the way home. 

The plan was to send her to the valley for intensive physical therapy in order to get her firmly on her feet again.  But Marivel herself took charge, doing intensive physical therapy so well at the hospital that she was able to go straight home on Friday.  Among the first to welcome her with a hug was her grandson Drake

The parade was organized by Evelyn Vargas, with the staff of the hospital who had nursed Hurtado. 

Her daughter De Annette did her part in creating the celebration of life and love for and by the whole community.