The Miss Jamaica organization has shared a social media message about “healing” and “recovery” following Gabrielle Henry’s very public tumble and the island’s battering by Hurricane Melissa.
The official Miss Universe Jamaica Instagram account posted a statement on Monday, over one week after Henry, who is Miss Jamaica, had to be carried away on a stretcher after she fell off the stage during the international major beauty pageant held in Thailand.
“After Hurricane Melissa, we rise with gratitude – for safety, for community, for the strength that binds us together,” the post read. “This is our time to rebuild with hope, to restore with compassion, and to uplift each other with kindness.”
As the statement concluded, it asked people to “be intentional” and “empathetic” to those around them.
“Even in hardship, Jamaica’s spirit remains unshaken – we endure, we unite, and we shine. Welcome, December – a month of healing, courage, and forward movement,” it read.
The post comes after the organization shared an update regarding Henry’s health. Last month, on its Instagram Stories, it was explained that Henry’s sister, Dr. Phylicia Henry-Samuels, is currently with Henry and their mother, Maureen Henry, at the hospital where she is being treated.
According to Dr. Henry Samuels, however, “Gabby isn’t doing as well as we would have hoped, but the hospital continues to treat her accordingly.”
The pageant star will remain in the intensive care unit (ICU) for a minimum of seven days as “doctors continue their close monitoring and specialised care,” the statement read at the time.
Elsewhere in the update, the organization asked for “Jamaicans at home and across the diaspora to continue keeping Gabrielle in their prayers” during this “profoundly difficult time.”
“We respectfully ask the public and social media users to avoid sharing negative comments, misinformation, or speculation that may cause further distress to the family,” the statement continued.
“Our primary focus remains on Gabrielle’s recovery and the well-being of her loved ones. We kindly request continued compassion, sensitivity, and privacy as the family navigates this challenging period.”
In footage of the incident circulated online, Henry could be seen posing at the front of the stage in an orange bejeweled gown and high heels when she abruptly fell to the ground.
Hours later, the Miss Universe Jamaica Organization issued a statement on Instagram informing fans that she had been rushed to Paolo Rangsit hospital near Bangkok, where “medical professionals are attending to her care and have advised that she is not suffering from any life-threatening injuries.”
