Ossining Family Seeks Volunteers

In June 2007 Michael Ragusa was the passenger in a near-fatal motor vehicle accident at the age of 13. Michael sustained more than two-dozen skull fractures and a severe traumatic brain injury.

After the accident Michael's doctors said he had less than a zero-percent chance of survival, but he beat the odds, though he remains quadriplegic. Since the accident, Michael has undergone 14 surgeries and he has been in seven different hospitals. Right now he is living at home and continues to focus on his recovery at the age of 18.

Michael's family is now asking the community for help. Michael's mother, Anne, says they are fairly new to the Ossining area—and that it's been difficult for them to network and make new friends.

"Since bringing Mikey home from the hospital three years ago, everyone we knew has dropped off from communication—and so despite being an Ossining student, he has had no peer group," said Michael's mother. "My efforts to engage with local organizations have been largely unsuccessful. We are also in need of volunteers to help to stretch him, so that his condition does not worsen. We know very few neighbors, unfortunately."

Michael's mother has been thankful for the efforts of charitable organizations and visits from the heroes of local fire, police departments and volunteer ambulance corps. "The uniforms in the community know Mikey very well," said Michael's mother. "The Ossining Fire Department brought two of their engine's to my son's birthday party on the 9th of October."

If you would like to volunteer please contact Michael's mother, Anne, at nrhogphotog@yahoo.com. Or you can call her at 914-266-0118.