Nicollette's Rehabilitation/Therapy
Donation protected
Though it’s been nearly 8 years since the tragedy, we can all remember it just like it was yesterday. It was September of 2007 and our Senior Year of High School had just begun. She was beautiful, smart, and motivated. Nicollette was kind to all, was actively involved in the community, in addition to running on the Oceanside Cross Country and Track teams. She was beginning to look at colleges and plan her future, before that very future of hers was senselessly taken away.
At just 17 yrs-old, Nicollette was involved in a tragic car accident, where she was T-boned by a drunk driver. To make matters worse, it was later revealed that it was the driver’s second DWI and thus he had very little insurance. Nicolette suffered a severe brain injury and her life was in utter jeopardy. That very night, she underwent immediate brain surgery. Doctors warned us that she might not survive the first 24 hours. Our innocent, beautiful friend’s life was drastically changed forever.
Nicollette spent seven months in a coma.
When Nicollette finally opened her eyes, she was breathing through a tube in her trachea and she had a shunt in her skull from the brain surgery. She was on a feeding tube, could not speak and had an eye patch to aid her impaired vision. In short, Nicollette had to completely start over. The doctors told her family that their daughter would have to learn how to walk again - in addition to her other motor skills - as well as how to speak. There was not much hope offered from the doctors, with little sign of improvement to ever come. Regardless, Nicollette, her family and friends refused to give up.
Nicollete has proved the doctors wrong and has surpassed so many of their expectations. After 7 years of countless rehabilitation centers, therapies, and medical methods, Nicollette can adequately communicate with friends and family and can even type on a computer. Although she has come so far from where she once was, Nicollette still has a ways to go. She is still unable to walk without assistance. She is incapable of completing basic life skills on her own. Nicollette, however, is still not ready to give up.
Last year, Nicollette was introduced to “Keep Moving Forward,” a particularly intensive physical therapy program that takes rehabilitation for victims of traumatic brain injuries to a whole new level. The new program has been an absolute game-changer in her attempts to once again lead a normal life. One example is the innovative use of bungie cords to help Nicollette regain a sense of balance. The state of the art technology has led to more change in one year than what has been witnessed in the previous seven years. Despite this, the “Keep Moving Forward” program is NOT covered by the family’s insurance. Though they have fought hard to get it covered, they have had no success in swaying the insurance company’s opinion.
After seeing how much success Nicollette has had with the new program, her family and friends truly believes that, if she is able to continue, she may someday be able to walk again and perform daily life skills with little to no assistance. With your help, Nicollette still has hope left for the future. She has proven time and time again over the last eight years that her ability to overcome adversity is unparalleled. If Nicollette’s story has touched you in any way, her family would immensely appreciate any amount that you can offer. 100% of the donations will go directly towards Nicollette’s therapy at “Keep Moving Forward Inc.”
*For those of you who are not comfortable donating online, donations may be dropped off to Barbara Gandolfo at the Century 21 American Homes in Oceanside- 2911 Long Beach Rd, Oceanside, NY 11572. All donations will be immediatly dropped off at the family's home.
At just 17 yrs-old, Nicollette was involved in a tragic car accident, where she was T-boned by a drunk driver. To make matters worse, it was later revealed that it was the driver’s second DWI and thus he had very little insurance. Nicolette suffered a severe brain injury and her life was in utter jeopardy. That very night, she underwent immediate brain surgery. Doctors warned us that she might not survive the first 24 hours. Our innocent, beautiful friend’s life was drastically changed forever.
Nicollette spent seven months in a coma.
When Nicollette finally opened her eyes, she was breathing through a tube in her trachea and she had a shunt in her skull from the brain surgery. She was on a feeding tube, could not speak and had an eye patch to aid her impaired vision. In short, Nicollette had to completely start over. The doctors told her family that their daughter would have to learn how to walk again - in addition to her other motor skills - as well as how to speak. There was not much hope offered from the doctors, with little sign of improvement to ever come. Regardless, Nicollette, her family and friends refused to give up.
Nicollete has proved the doctors wrong and has surpassed so many of their expectations. After 7 years of countless rehabilitation centers, therapies, and medical methods, Nicollette can adequately communicate with friends and family and can even type on a computer. Although she has come so far from where she once was, Nicollette still has a ways to go. She is still unable to walk without assistance. She is incapable of completing basic life skills on her own. Nicollette, however, is still not ready to give up.
Last year, Nicollette was introduced to “Keep Moving Forward,” a particularly intensive physical therapy program that takes rehabilitation for victims of traumatic brain injuries to a whole new level. The new program has been an absolute game-changer in her attempts to once again lead a normal life. One example is the innovative use of bungie cords to help Nicollette regain a sense of balance. The state of the art technology has led to more change in one year than what has been witnessed in the previous seven years. Despite this, the “Keep Moving Forward” program is NOT covered by the family’s insurance. Though they have fought hard to get it covered, they have had no success in swaying the insurance company’s opinion.
After seeing how much success Nicollette has had with the new program, her family and friends truly believes that, if she is able to continue, she may someday be able to walk again and perform daily life skills with little to no assistance. With your help, Nicollette still has hope left for the future. She has proven time and time again over the last eight years that her ability to overcome adversity is unparalleled. If Nicollette’s story has touched you in any way, her family would immensely appreciate any amount that you can offer. 100% of the donations will go directly towards Nicollette’s therapy at “Keep Moving Forward Inc.”
*For those of you who are not comfortable donating online, donations may be dropped off to Barbara Gandolfo at the Century 21 American Homes in Oceanside- 2911 Long Beach Rd, Oceanside, NY 11572. All donations will be immediatly dropped off at the family's home.
Organizer and beneficiary
Le Na
Organizer
Oceanside, NY
LoriAnn Iacone
Beneficiary
