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She was tall, beautiful, and full of life! That was my firstimpression of Marie, just like a typical Canadian Italian teenager who hasbig dreams, wants to do things and go places. Marie is thedaughter of Karen and George Salvatore. Karen used to be theprincipal at the school where I work, and she is also a good friendto many people in the education circle. Karen and her husbandGeorge are probably two of the most fun, loving and down to earthpeople I have ever met. Marie, like her parents, has that warm andpassionate Italian flare, and a hard working attitude with apositive outlook of life. At the age of 18, Marie was ready to flyaway on her own in her final year of high school.
Life was good and future was bright until that dark snowy nightbefore New Year a few years ago. After studying for hours, Marie and herfriend decided to visit a local coffee shop to get a coffee and achange of scenery. In her brand new car that she just received forher birthday, she was full of satisfied feelings after a hardworking night with a good friend. Driving ahead of her friend, theunthinkable event happened. Marie’s car skidded on the black ice sodark and sleek that the car turned round and round. Apole on the side of the road finally stopped her car, but it alsoended the dreams, hopes and bright future that Marie and her family had plannedfor her.
Marie had a severe head injury and was in a coma on life support for a long time.While funeral preparations were being discussed and the priest had been calledto say the Last Rights, Marie, to everyone’s surprise, awoke from thecoma, and stepped out of the darkest black hole for an angel who was too youngto leave us. Marie lives yet suffered serious trauma to her head. Due to the severe brain injury, she has beencompletely paralyzed ever since. Her survival, however, has brought a glimpse of hope toeverybody around her.
Marie is suffering from severe Acquired Brain Injury. The road to recovery has been full of obstacles for her. She has to re-learn all the simple lifeskills that we take for granted. From learning to speak to learningto sit up, every day is a baby step to another frustrated and tediousprogress. A brave soul such as Marie has encountered countlessundeserving failures since her coma. Fortunately, she has asupportive family; her caring parents, Karen and George, lovingbrother, Chris, and her large extended Salvatore family.
Karen and George are exceptional parents who have offeredunconditional sacrifice, and desperately want their daughter torecover. George had a great sense of humour and full of life. Karen did come back to workafter Marie moved home from the hospital. George, being the strongman he was, took on the jobs of driving, lifting and carryingMarie, and putting Marie in her wheelchair wherever they went. Their house was remodeled and renovated to accommodate Marie’sdisability. After raising two children, Karen has to re-live the experiences of baby steps and motherly care nursing their dearest growndaughter. The family continues to seek the best treatments for her, andeven have a full time live-in caregiver to provide 24-hourassistance for Marie.
In August 2006, George went into a clinic for his complaint of a supposed-to-betypical back pain. The checkup turned into a diagnosis of cancer,and then operations. He slipped into a coma after the surgery andthen one thing lead to another. When he finally came home in December 2006, he had only a few days leftto be with Marie. George loved Christmas. His friends and familygave him early Christmas parties. Every day was Christmas at theSalvatore’s household before Christmas Eve 2006 when George finallyleft Marie and his family forever. He was 57. Two weeks afterGeorge passed away, the Salvatores again lost their eldestmatriarch, George’s mother.
Karen is a petit woman who is passionate about life. Karen has been throughso many obstacles in life, but she would never expect to lose hersoul mate at his golden age and to be left to care for her injureddaughter alone. Before his passing, George always wanted to seekthe best possible treatment for Marie in hope that one day shewould be able to walk again. Now Karen has to continue to carry on this torchto walk every step with Marie to her recovery. Karen is willing totry anything, anything possible even with just a minute chance of amiracle for Marie. A mother has to try!
In late April 2007, Karen will be taking Marie to China for the experimentalSpinal Cord Stem Cell Injections. Along with the injections, Mariewill be receiving intensive physiotherapy and speech therapy. Thetreatment is still experimental without any guarantee for success.Karen is determined to stay beside Marie in the hospital for amonth. "George used to do that," she told me, "I have to be there for her byher bed side." I guess this is what George would have wanted.
I pray for the luck and miracle the Salvatores desperately need. I long to see Marie’s smileand hear Karen’s laughter again in June.
………………………………………………………………………..
Post Note:
This trip to China is costly. Karen’s school, Sunny ViewMiddle School in Brampton, has organized a fund-raising dinner on April 13th toraise funds for their trip to China. For more information, please contact the school at 905 789-1707. Donations are also welcome. Please contact:
Sunny View Middle Address: 30 Chapparal Drive
City: Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Postal code: L6R3C4
School phone: 905-789-1707
School fax: 905-789-6983
Life was good and future was bright until that dark snowy nightbefore New Year a few years ago. After studying for hours, Marie and herfriend decided to visit a local coffee shop to get a coffee and achange of scenery. In her brand new car that she just received forher birthday, she was full of satisfied feelings after a hardworking night with a good friend. Driving ahead of her friend, theunthinkable event happened. Marie’s car skidded on the black ice sodark and sleek that the car turned round and round. Apole on the side of the road finally stopped her car, but it alsoended the dreams, hopes and bright future that Marie and her family had plannedfor her.
Marie had a severe head injury and was in a coma on life support for a long time.While funeral preparations were being discussed and the priest had been calledto say the Last Rights, Marie, to everyone’s surprise, awoke from thecoma, and stepped out of the darkest black hole for an angel who was too youngto leave us. Marie lives yet suffered serious trauma to her head. Due to the severe brain injury, she has beencompletely paralyzed ever since. Her survival, however, has brought a glimpse of hope toeverybody around her.
Marie is suffering from severe Acquired Brain Injury. The road to recovery has been full of obstacles for her. She has to re-learn all the simple lifeskills that we take for granted. From learning to speak to learningto sit up, every day is a baby step to another frustrated and tediousprogress. A brave soul such as Marie has encountered countlessundeserving failures since her coma. Fortunately, she has asupportive family; her caring parents, Karen and George, lovingbrother, Chris, and her large extended Salvatore family.
Karen and George are exceptional parents who have offeredunconditional sacrifice, and desperately want their daughter torecover. George had a great sense of humour and full of life. Karen did come back to workafter Marie moved home from the hospital. George, being the strongman he was, took on the jobs of driving, lifting and carryingMarie, and putting Marie in her wheelchair wherever they went. Their house was remodeled and renovated to accommodate Marie’sdisability. After raising two children, Karen has to re-live the experiences of baby steps and motherly care nursing their dearest growndaughter. The family continues to seek the best treatments for her, andeven have a full time live-in caregiver to provide 24-hourassistance for Marie.
In August 2006, George went into a clinic for his complaint of a supposed-to-betypical back pain. The checkup turned into a diagnosis of cancer,and then operations. He slipped into a coma after the surgery andthen one thing lead to another. When he finally came home in December 2006, he had only a few days leftto be with Marie. George loved Christmas. His friends and familygave him early Christmas parties. Every day was Christmas at theSalvatore’s household before Christmas Eve 2006 when George finallyleft Marie and his family forever. He was 57. Two weeks afterGeorge passed away, the Salvatores again lost their eldestmatriarch, George’s mother.
Karen is a petit woman who is passionate about life. Karen has been throughso many obstacles in life, but she would never expect to lose hersoul mate at his golden age and to be left to care for her injureddaughter alone. Before his passing, George always wanted to seekthe best possible treatment for Marie in hope that one day shewould be able to walk again. Now Karen has to continue to carry on this torchto walk every step with Marie to her recovery. Karen is willing totry anything, anything possible even with just a minute chance of amiracle for Marie. A mother has to try!
In late April 2007, Karen will be taking Marie to China for the experimentalSpinal Cord Stem Cell Injections. Along with the injections, Mariewill be receiving intensive physiotherapy and speech therapy. Thetreatment is still experimental without any guarantee for success.Karen is determined to stay beside Marie in the hospital for amonth. "George used to do that," she told me, "I have to be there for her byher bed side." I guess this is what George would have wanted.
I pray for the luck and miracle the Salvatores desperately need. I long to see Marie’s smileand hear Karen’s laughter again in June.
………………………………………………………………………..
Post Note:
This trip to China is costly. Karen’s school, Sunny ViewMiddle School in Brampton, has organized a fund-raising dinner on April 13th toraise funds for their trip to China. For more information, please contact the school at 905 789-1707. Donations are also welcome. Please contact:
Sunny View Middle Address: 30 Chapparal Drive
City: Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Postal code: L6R3C4
School phone: 905-789-1707
School fax: 905-789-6983
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