WEST SENECA, NY - Don Loschiavo's essay tells his daughter's tragic story better than anyone else ever could. It is a story of heartbreak and perseverance, told from the perspective of a father, left helpless as his little girl struggles to recover:
"Alyssa Loschiavo was struck by a van in May of 2011 and suffered severe head trauma. Within an hour of the accident doctors preformed a Craniotomy, repaired a collapsed lung and fought massive internal bleeding. Physicians and Surgeons didn't expect her to live. As news of the accident spread through social media thousands of individuals from countries as far as Norway and Germany and states as far away as California and Texas rallied for Alyssa and her family.
More than 10,000 people joined a "Pray for Alyssa" page on social media to support her and her fight. Alyssa is in a semiconscious state not able to speak a word since the accident.
Alyssa has many challenges in front of her already beating some that would have placed her in home permanently. Alyssa's (and her family's) challenge now is transportation. Her needs include what could be a lifetime of doctors visits and therapy trips."
The essay is part of an entry for a web contest the Loschiavo's have entered as part of National Mobility Awareness Month. The contest is for a wheelchair accessible van. It is something that would be a God-send for this family that has been drained both emotionally and financially by the past year.
Don and his family are hoping that by updating a community that rallied around their little girl on Alyssa's progress, they can also rally support in the form of votes on line. You can vote and find out more information by visiting the contest website.