Kate Donahue, 25, arrived at the University of Miami burn unit Wednesday morning and remains in a medically-induced coma.
She was unconscious when her fiancé, Jesus Sanchez, died on Tuesday at the Puerto Rico trauma center where the couple was being treated. Patrice Moore, a family spokesperson, said her niece's vitals are stable, but she is in critical condition with burns over most of her body.
"I think we were all pinning our prayers and pinning our hopes on the belief that Katie and Jesus would survive this together," Moore said.
Moore said it is unclear how long Donahue will remain in an induced coma, or when she will find out about her fiancé's death.
The attack happened in Puerto Rico on New Year's Day. Sanchez, 28, had just asked Donahue to marry him-- they were to be married in Seattle's Kerry Park in July. He then took her to the Caribbean to meet his family. During a gathering of relatives, police in Puerto Rico say Sanchez's uncle, Justino Sanchez Diaz, splashed gasoline or kerosene on nine people, then set them on fire with a blowtorch.
"It's a very difficult situation right now," family friend Justin Stein said. "There's a lot of love surrounding both families ... We can't stress enough how wonderful Jesus' family has been."
Three other people were killed in the attack, and since the blaze Sanchez Diaz has refused to eat or talk about a possible motive, police said.
Donahue works as a nurse for Group Health, and Sanchez was a Boeing engineer.
Donahue's mother, Michelle Donahue, told reporters both are very much in love.
"Their last words before they were intubated were, 'For each other,"' she said. "She loves him. He loves her. The last six months have been the happiest time of her life."
An account has been established at Wells Fargo Bank to help with medical bills, transportation costs and funeral expenses. The account is #6174877891, or people can ask to donate to Kate Donahue and Jesus Sanchez Vazquez.
Original article here.
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