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Stylist Finds Strength in Connection After Severe Car Accident
Two days before she planned to return to work, stylist Fiorella Castro was in a severe car accident. She is now recovering and plans to return to work thanks to the support of fellow stylists, family, friends and her own tenacity.
June 29, 2020
"Me, my client and my right hand in my studio, Gaby Navarette (@the.balayage.babe), my assistant and super talented stylist!"
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2 min to read
On April 25, just two days before she planned to return to work after stay-at-home orders lifted in Boyton Beach, Florida, stylist Fiorella Castro was in a severe car accident. She was rushed to the ICU, unconscious from the accident. She had to be intubated because she wasn’t breathing on her own.
She doesn’t remember the accident, but Castro remembers waking up in the hospital, her entire leg dark with bruises.
“I couldn’t walk, it’s like I was a newborn again,” Castro says. “I didn’t know why or where I was. I was so confused.”
When she regained consciousness, Castro woke up to a mountain of cards from clients, friends and Instagram followers praying for her and letting her know that she is strong and she is a survivor.
Castro calls herself tenacious. Although she suffers from brain injuries from the accident, she is now able to walk and balance on her own, in addition to use her phone and speak. But even in the hospital, she knew she was going to find a way to do hair again.
“My sister told me one of the first things after finally waking up from my coma was that I miss my Sola Salon Suite and my clients,” she says. “I’m working on making sure my brain can handle the hair life!”
Before she can return to work, Castro shouts out her friends in the industry for taking her clients, on top of their own after being closed for six weeks due to COVID-19. Dominique Mednick (@hairbydom22) got in contact with Castro’s sister and together they sent out an email via Gloss Genius to Castro’s clients letting them know what happened. In the meantime, Mednick has invited them into her salon, Aura Hair Co.
Castro says her accident was the universe’s way of telling her to slow down, honor time off, and enjoy downtime.
“Life is NOW,” she says. “If you’re off on Monday, YOU’RE OFF! If you are scheduled to work until 7pm, but you want to squeeze people in, BE smart, and don’t abuse the time you have TO LIVE.”
After clearance from her neurologist, Castro plans to return to work August 18, working three days per week.
Castro says she loves hearing from people, and uplifting messages have been helping her recovery. “I am so blessed to even still be on this earth to connect! If you’re compelled to connect with me, please do!”
Find her on Instagram at @fiorellacastrohair.
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