Mark's Recovery from Head On Accident
Donation protected
My name is Beth Hall, and Mark Balistreri is my cousin. On November 4th Mark was struck head on in St Petersburg, Florida by an impaired driver traveling the the wrong way on the same road. Mark's car collided head-on with the wrong way driver, resulting in critical injuries. Mark sustained 22 broken bones, two punctured lungs, two shattered ankles, broken leg, a broken nose, wrist, ribs, and thumb. Mark also suffered a focal stoke that nearly paralyzed his left side and impacted the vision in one eye, in addition to developing pneumonia shortly after the accident.
Mark's family rushed to his side from New York, and remains in Florida. After 27 days in intensive care and a handful of surgeries, Mark has been moved to an acute rehabilitation facility. Here he will work toward the removal of the trach and feeding tubes that have been sustaining him. Since the accident, Mark has NOT been able to eat or speak.
Mark’s recovery to this point is truly a miracle and it is with a tremendous amount of gratitude that we seek support for his long recovery ahead. He is fighter and steadily healing, but his journey of healing will be long.
Mark has spent his career in healthcare working primarily with the elderly. He is truly compassionate and blessed with a selfless heart. He has helped so many, and now he needs our help.
Mark is surrounded by immediate family in the short term, but all of his family and most of his friends reside out of state. This makes support for this pledge even more important. The total cost and duration of his recovery is not known, but will take considerable time and financial resources. Please join his family in supporting Mark's recovery journey.
Following is a new story detailing Mark's accident:
Local News Coverage of Accident
Footnote:
According to “Mothers Against Drunk Drivers” someone is injured every 2 minutes by a drunk drivers and an individual in America is killed every 50 minutes by a drunk driver.
Mark's family rushed to his side from New York, and remains in Florida. After 27 days in intensive care and a handful of surgeries, Mark has been moved to an acute rehabilitation facility. Here he will work toward the removal of the trach and feeding tubes that have been sustaining him. Since the accident, Mark has NOT been able to eat or speak.
Mark’s recovery to this point is truly a miracle and it is with a tremendous amount of gratitude that we seek support for his long recovery ahead. He is fighter and steadily healing, but his journey of healing will be long.
Mark has spent his career in healthcare working primarily with the elderly. He is truly compassionate and blessed with a selfless heart. He has helped so many, and now he needs our help.
Mark is surrounded by immediate family in the short term, but all of his family and most of his friends reside out of state. This makes support for this pledge even more important. The total cost and duration of his recovery is not known, but will take considerable time and financial resources. Please join his family in supporting Mark's recovery journey.
Following is a new story detailing Mark's accident:
Local News Coverage of Accident
Footnote:
According to “Mothers Against Drunk Drivers” someone is injured every 2 minutes by a drunk drivers and an individual in America is killed every 50 minutes by a drunk driver.
Organizer and beneficiary
Elizabeth Hall
Organizer
St. Petersburg, FL
Mark Balistreri
Beneficiary