Nineteen months after being struck by a car while riding his bicycle, Andrew Rosa is coming home.
Rosa, 16, suffered Severe Traumatic Brain Injury and multiple bone fractures on May 17th, 2010 while riding his bike home in Selden, New York. Since then he has had multiple brain surgeries and remains in a “minimal conscious state,” according to the Stay Strong Andrew Foundation.
Rosa, who had been a junior firefighter, has been living at St. Mary’s Hospital for Children in Bayside, where he receives 24-hour care. His family has been working to bring him home on December 17th. This required significant home renovations, which began on July 29th and included a structural addition to the home, a ramp to get into the house and a lift to help him move within his new bedroom. Rosa still needs a van to travel to doctors’ appointments and physical therapy.
The foundation supporting Rosa has more than 30 sponsors including SureHands, which donated the lift that will be used to carry Rosa between his bed, wheelchair and shower chair. The device has a value of $15,000 and has already been installed.
Scott Rubesh of Custom Carpentry by Scott, and a sales representative for SureHands, has been involved with the family for the last eight months to assist with planning and advise them on what was needed to make the house accessible.
Rubesh said he was compelled to get involved when he learned about the nature of Rosa’s injury, which occurred as he was resting on his bike. “I have a son about the same age,” Rubesh said.
Rubesh said the lift will improve Rosa’s quality of life. “It makes it easier on the caretakers. There’s less chance for the people to get injured,” he said about the device.
The Long Island chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry contributed the labor along with Alure Home Improvements Co. from “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” Sponsors also include Home Depot, Summit Remodeling, Lowe’s, Family Lumber and many more. Dozens of laborers have donated their time and materials to bringing Rosa home.
In addition to the renovation help, there have been multiple fundraisers to help the Rosa family. There was a second annual Dinner Fund Raiser and Chinese Auction at Butterfields Restaurant in Hauppauge this summer. The Selden Fire Department has also hosted several fundraisers including a pasta dinner, bake sale and two car washes.
For more information visit www.staystrongandrew.com/.
This article was published in the January 2012 issue of Able News.
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