Local reporting says Bonilla underwent surgery years earlier after a tumor removal, during which rods and screws were placed in her spine; one screw allegedly damaged her spinal cord and left her paralyzed from the ribs down. On April 1 she revealed she had agreed to a settlement with a doctor for 1.5 million pesos (about $25,000), calling the amount inadequate given the lasting harm but citing legal costs and pressure as reasons to accept.
Damy Méndez of Eat Without Guilt remembered Bonilla as the heart of the project, praising her energy, commitment and the impact of her work with the organization.