WILLOUGHBY, Ohio — In a stellar show of support, hundreds of people from across the community gathered for a spaghetti dinner, all in honor of Willowick Police officer, Maddie Orton.
"She is the toughest girl I've ever met, she's improving every single day, she's still recovering, it's going to be a long recovery, but every time I see her, she's doing better,' Future sister-in-law Jenna Smith said.
"It's been really amazing from where she started, she wasn't waking up for a while so it's great to see that she's conscious awake and aware," friend and organizer Julia Carnett said.
Orton survived a stroke just two days before her wedding. Her survival likely due to her Mom knowing the signs of a stroke and getting her immediate help.
Now, Maddie is recovering, but the people here want her to know she's not alone, raising money for the mounting medical bills as Maddie heals.
"Her medical expenses are going to be enormous, we thought about GoFundMe but we wanted to do something that was more meaningful," Smith said.
Friend and co-worker Carnett put this whole thing together in a month. And five-hundred tickets sold out quickly.
She says it's worth it for Maddie, "She's an amazing person inside and out, and wherever you are with her, you're going to laugh. every time, no matter where you're at, you're laughing."
So it's appropriate that today, a day in honor of Maddie, also serves as a day of levity for those that know her and love her.