He Survived an Auto Accident

Kelly Giglio and a friend were on their way to the airport, ready to spend Thanksgiving Day watching their daughters play in a national field hockey tournament. Then the friend's cell phone rang and delivered devastating news: Giglio's son Tony Jr., then 16, was in a terrible automobile accident on his way to school.

As soon as Kelly arrived at Lehigh Valley Hospital, she saw nurse specialist LuAnne Procyk, R.N., assistant to neurosurgeon Mark Li, M.D. Li and his staff had cared for Kelly's husband, Tony Sr., when he battled a fatal brain tumor just months earlier.

“LuAnne saw I was hysterical and in shock," Kelly says. “So she took me to a private room, sat me down and explained everything."

The news was promising, but frightening: Miraculously, Tony Jr. suffered no broken bones, internal injuries or spinal damage. But he did suffer severe head trauma. In the minutes after Giglio arrived from the accident scene, first Li and then trauma surgeon Michael Badellino, M.D., performed surgery. The most pressing need: stopping the bleeding inside Tony’s head.

For the next 19 days, as Tony emerged from a medically induced coma and recovered in the hospital, a team of caregivers—including intensive care nurses Susan Niemkiewicz, R.N., Julia Werkheiser, R.N., and transitional trauma nurse Joanne Bodder, R.N.—helped him heal and offered support to his mother. “They were honest and informative, always accessible, and they respected Tony’s privacy,” Kelly Giglio says.

By Christmas week, Tony began speaking again and remembering events that had happened prior to his accident. Since receiving follow-up care at a local rehabilitation hospital (including physical, occupational and speech therapy), he’s resumed life as normal.

Now age 18, Tony is on track to graduate with his classmates at Emmaus High School in June 2006. He’s also keeping a busy schedule, refereeing youth basketball games, snowboarding, lifting weights and caddying during the summer. He’s even considering trying his favorite sport—baseball—again this spring.

“Dr. Li says it usually takes two years to completely heal from an accident like this,” Kelly Giglio says. “Already, Tony has come so far. He’s filled with confidence, and every day, every month he gets better. He’s returned twice to thank Dr. Li and his team, and each time they offer handshakes, hugs and are so happy to see him.

“I truly believe I received one miracle in my life,” she adds, “and that’s the return of my son. I know it’s the miracle his father would’ve chosen.”

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