Hit and Run: A Story of Survival and Motivation

By Nancy Bonansinga

Positivity can be challenging, but it's worth cultivating. Even when life deals us blows, maintaining an upbeat attitude takes effort yet pays dividends. My intention in authoring this book was to inspire at least one person to transform pessimism into optimism. Negativity is draining, while positivity energizes. Though persevering isn't always

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nancy Bonansinga
• Release date: Jan 18, 2024
• ISBN: 9781963501049

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Hit and Run

A Story of Survival and Motivation

Nancy Bonansinga

Copyright © 2023 Nancy Bonansinga

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

ISBN: 978-1-963501-03-2

Dedication

This book is wholeheartedly dedicated to my beloved daughter, family, and friends. Your unwavering love and support guided me through this challenging journey.

Sincerest thanks to the dedicated members of the NC Police Department, Bethpage Fire Department, EMTs, Nassau University Medical Center trauma center, Northwell Health trauma surgeons, doctors, nurses, and staff. Without each of you playing such a pivotal role, this book would not have come to fruition. You all contributed immensely to Stephen’s recovery process.

Most of all, I am eternally grateful to Stephen, whose uplifting attitude and motivation inspire us all. His positivity in the face of adversity is a true testament to the resilience of the human spirit. I forever appreciate everyone who touched our lives during this difficult time.

Acknowledgment

A shout-out to the organizations that we have worked with over the years:

S.I.L.O. Suffolk Independent Living Organization

F.R.E.E. Family Residences and Essential Enterprises

Head Injury Association

The Social Brain

Thank you all for your help and support.

Table Of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgment

About the Author

Preface

Chapter 1: Life-Changing Moment

Chapter 2: Road to Recovery

Chapter 3: Therapy

Chapter 4: Role Reversal

Chapter 5: Family and Friends

About the Author

Nancy Bonansinga is a first and last-time writer, and writing this book has been arduous. Hailing from Brooklyn and later relocating to Long Island, she sought to share a deeply personal story close to her heart. It recounts the unfathomable trauma of her son’s hit-and-run accident, which nearly claimed his life. Despite the odds stacked against him, he clung to the slimmest chance of 1% survival.

Each word poured onto the page reopened wounds for the writer. There were days when progress seemed impossible when the pain made looking at the manuscript unbearable. This heart-wrenching memoir highlights the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. It speaks of hope rising from despair and finding light even in the darkest places.

The writer aspires to comfort those embroiled in their struggles to inspire positivity and motivation in readers. If their story can help just one person transform hardship into personal growth, every relieved anguish will have been worthwhile. This is a poignant tale of healing and the indomitable power of the human will.

Preface

Positivity can be challenging, but it’s worth cultivating. Even when life deals us blows, maintaining an upbeat attitude takes effort yet pays dividends. My intention in authoring this book was to inspire at least one person to transform pessimism into optimism. Negativity is draining, while positivity energizes. Though persevering isn’t always easy, focusing on the bright side lightens our load. My son beat the long odds by staying hopeful. Despite being given a 1% chance of survival in the accident, he now uplifts others in his day program, urging them to keep trying.

His example motivates me - and hopefully you, dear reader - to meet adversity with faith. By striving to see the good, we can unlock our potential. Progress requires patience, but each small step brightens the way. Stay positive.

Chapter 1: Life-Changing Moment

April 6, 2011

The dread that haunts every parent’s soul is the shrill ring of a phone piercing the stillness of the witching hour—a call that delivers the gut-wrenching news: their child has met with calamity.

Unfortunately, I received that call in the middle of the day. I went to work that day like any other and decided to come home for lunch, which I rarely did. I worked for a large insurance company and had only forty-five minutes for lunch. I worked for this company for twenty years and could count on one hand the number of times I came home for lunch. When I got home, my answering machine was flashing. I pressed the button to listen to it. It was from North Shore LIJ Hospital regarding my son Stephen. The caller left their phone number and requested to return the call. I said to myself that I should call as soon as possible. I called the number and spoke with a young woman named Angela. I gave her my name and told her I was returning a call. She put me on hold, and a few minutes later, I spoke with Dr. Madhok, a neurosurgeon. He told me Stephen had been in an accident. He was in critical condition with severe head trauma. Severe head trauma?!?! The specter from my past came alive. I remember telling the doctor, Don’t you tell me that. Don’t say that. You have to understand that I had a similar situation with my husband. I didn’t want to hear those words again.

On January 3, 2003, my husband had a cerebral hemorrhage. I had to make a decision. Those were the doctor’s words. You have to make a decision. There was no brain activity. He was hooked up to life support with machines breathing for him and keeping him alive. I knew in my heart that this was not what he would have wanted. There was no quality of life. Not that