Lisa's Road to Recovery

On May 3rd, my niece  Lisa Zitello,  took advantage of the first nice day to get outdoors and went kayaking, something she has done many times.  As fate would have it,  the unknown undercurrent pulled her over a 10 foot falls and she capsized.  The river's current pulled her downstream while those on the shore shouted to keep her alert and let her know help was on the way.   Luckily, two young brothers had just arrived to go fishing and saw her being swept away and disappear under the water.   They knew they had to act and one of them jumped in to get her while the other brother got a rope to throw out.   These two brave young men fought the current and,  while holding her out of the water,  brought her to the shore where the rescue squad had arrived. 

They immediately started resuscitating her and did so all the way to the hospital.  There she was placed in an induced coma  and put on a ventilator.   And thus, the long journey to recovery has begun.   She is now at Cleveland Clinic.   She's been given anti-biotics to fight off an infection and she is being  given anti-seizure medication.   The ventilator has been removed and they now have her on a tracheotomy and a feeding tube has been inserted. There have been some positive signs of her responding to some pricks on her arm.   While the doctors are optimistic, they said it is going to be long, long road to recovery.   She will  soon be transferred to a long-term rehabilitation facility near the Clinic.  Because of the pandemic, her family has not been allowed to be with her.   The staff at the Clinic hold the phone up to her ear so her family can talk to her.  

For those who know Lisa, she lights up any room she’s in.  She is always the life of the party and her infectious laugh pulls you in from the moment you meet her.   She has a positive outlook on life and is one of the kindest, sweetest, and generous persons I know.  A talented artist,  her creative side shows in everything she does.   She has two wonderful children whom she adores and a loving, devoted husband.   Together they operate Fresh Prints,  a custom silk screening/printing business in Ohio.   

We are starting this fund-raising campaign to help with the many expenses that will be incurred with her recovery.   We are encouraged that the doctors are very hopeful for her recovery.    But we know it will be a long process.  Please help us bring Lisa back.  We need to hear her laugh again.