A WARRIORS STORY
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A WARRIORS STORY
I would like to share a story about a woman most of you reading this have known most of your lives. A woman whose door to her home is always open as well as her heart. A woman who puts the needs of others before her own. A woman who has sacrificed her life for family. A woman who I am proud to have been born to. The woman I call MY MOTHER.
Here is her story....
At 6 months old, my mother Judith “Judy” Cuccinello had contracted Polio. Doctors put braces on her legs and told her parents that she would never walk without them. Her parents (my grandparents) Louis and Angelina refused that fate and with the help of the best medical team of doctors and my mother’s determination to walk, dance and play like other children proved that she can overcome the impossible and beat the odds.
Now let’s fast forward to 1980. My mother was home finishing up laundry and as she was putting the towels away in her linen closet, the top shelf had collapsed on her causing her to fall backwards and onto her bad leg breaking her femur. Once again, the doctors told her she would never walk again and this time she would be bound to a wheelchair. Judy did not accept that. She knew that this was just another bump in the road that she had to get over, so she can get back to caring for her two sons and all their friends who were always at their house, that she treated as her very own when they came over. She went to Kessler Rehabilitation for 6 months and worked effortlessly to prove to her doctors that she is stronger than they think and again beat the odds. Only this time she needed the assistance of a walker and she was ok with that.
For years my mother has worked for DMV holding the title of “Supervisor”. She started in Haledon, ran the super busy Paterson location until finally settling in Oakland where she would retire in 2017. Judy worked full-time, late nights and weekends all at the same time being a single full-time mother and provider. As you can see, her disability didn’t stop her from achieving her goals or doing ANYTHING! Unfortunately, again in 2001 while on her way to work in Oakland, the steering had locked up on her car causing her to lose control and hit a guardrail. At that moment a speeding van was coming over the hill only to crash into her. She was rushed to the hospital and that’s when I heard the words I never would imagine hearing. Those words were the doctors telling us she would not make it due to bleeding on her brain. No one wants to hear that! I sure didn’t want to hear or believe that! I know for sure my mother wasn’t going to let that happen! Six months later, my mother’s will to live proved everyone wrong AGAIN! Since leaving Kessler Rehabilitation after her car accident she was now using a wheelchair. This didn’t stop her from working her long hours every day, attending parties and celebrations, playing with her four beautiful grandchildren, taking care of her adult sons and her younger brother, getting her hair and nails done, shopping, cooking and having everyone over for Christmas Eve (her favorite family gathering.) Her ability to walk had changed, but it never changed the happy, loving, caring and selfless person she was.
This past Mother’s Day, we took her out for dinner as always to celebrate, so that mom can have her annual steak & lobster that she looks forward to. We ate, laughed and overall had a great day and I know she enjoyed herself too. Later, that night my mother called me saying she wasn’t feeling well and she thought she was having a reaction to an antibiotic she was taking. A few hours later she called me back saying that she wanted to go to the emergency room. Panic struck but I knew I had to keep my cool and not make my mother any nervous than she already was. My mother was taken to St. Joe’s that night where we were told that she a “minor” stroke and she would be ok. But two and a half days later she was transported to Kessler Rehabilitation where she spent nearly a whole month and her “minor” stroke turned into a “major” stroke causing her entire right side to be paralyzed. For the last four and a half weeks she has been in JDT Rehab Facility where her stroke has now taken over her life. My mother has paralysis to her right side and needs assistance when feeding as well as personal care. I have exhausted all my personal and sick time at work to care for my mother in her time of need and took a hit financially. This is where I swallow my pride and do what I need to do for the woman who did EVERYTHING for me in my 46 years of life. A friend of mine had mentioned to me about starting a Go Fund me page to help with the medical costs that the insurance company won’t cover. Her insurance also stopped paying for the care she has been receiving at JDT and sent her home on July 22nd. My mother is in need of a 24/7 live-in caregiver and if any of you have been in this situation, you know that the expense is excruciating. At one point the social worker mentioned to me about putting my mother in a nursing home and they will take her home to pay the difference! My mother will NOT go to a nursing home nor will anyone take the home where memories have been made since before my brother and I were born! This is where I plead my case and reach out to all of you.
I am hoping to raise money to help offset the cost of my mother’s medical expenses including her care and any equipment for her home she may need that her insurance does not cover. I never in a million years thought I would be in this position but now my mother needs me more than anything and I owe this to her. She has given me unconditional love, support and most of all life. My mother has been through hell and back since she was 6 months old and I ask every day, why? Why her? What did she ever do to deserve this? It is now that I need to be as strong as she’s always been, and I will not fail her.
With that being said, I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my mother’s story and how these last three months have been. Regardless of her situation right now, she is my WARRIOR and I know she will hopefully beat the odds again WITH ALL OUR SUPPORT! That’s why any amount you can spare will help to get her back on the road to recovery. I truly thank you from the bottom of her and my heart.
Remember this, sometimes we take for granted the people who love us the most without even realizing it. A mother’s love is like no other and through bad times and good, she will be there for you. Never be too busy to pick up the phone to say “hi” and always say “I love you”. Every second counts and you never know what will or can happen if your too busy for the people who love you the most.
Love to you all,
Lou Cuccinello
I would like to share a story about a woman most of you reading this have known most of your lives. A woman whose door to her home is always open as well as her heart. A woman who puts the needs of others before her own. A woman who has sacrificed her life for family. A woman who I am proud to have been born to. The woman I call MY MOTHER.
Here is her story....
At 6 months old, my mother Judith “Judy” Cuccinello had contracted Polio. Doctors put braces on her legs and told her parents that she would never walk without them. Her parents (my grandparents) Louis and Angelina refused that fate and with the help of the best medical team of doctors and my mother’s determination to walk, dance and play like other children proved that she can overcome the impossible and beat the odds.
Now let’s fast forward to 1980. My mother was home finishing up laundry and as she was putting the towels away in her linen closet, the top shelf had collapsed on her causing her to fall backwards and onto her bad leg breaking her femur. Once again, the doctors told her she would never walk again and this time she would be bound to a wheelchair. Judy did not accept that. She knew that this was just another bump in the road that she had to get over, so she can get back to caring for her two sons and all their friends who were always at their house, that she treated as her very own when they came over. She went to Kessler Rehabilitation for 6 months and worked effortlessly to prove to her doctors that she is stronger than they think and again beat the odds. Only this time she needed the assistance of a walker and she was ok with that.
For years my mother has worked for DMV holding the title of “Supervisor”. She started in Haledon, ran the super busy Paterson location until finally settling in Oakland where she would retire in 2017. Judy worked full-time, late nights and weekends all at the same time being a single full-time mother and provider. As you can see, her disability didn’t stop her from achieving her goals or doing ANYTHING! Unfortunately, again in 2001 while on her way to work in Oakland, the steering had locked up on her car causing her to lose control and hit a guardrail. At that moment a speeding van was coming over the hill only to crash into her. She was rushed to the hospital and that’s when I heard the words I never would imagine hearing. Those words were the doctors telling us she would not make it due to bleeding on her brain. No one wants to hear that! I sure didn’t want to hear or believe that! I know for sure my mother wasn’t going to let that happen! Six months later, my mother’s will to live proved everyone wrong AGAIN! Since leaving Kessler Rehabilitation after her car accident she was now using a wheelchair. This didn’t stop her from working her long hours every day, attending parties and celebrations, playing with her four beautiful grandchildren, taking care of her adult sons and her younger brother, getting her hair and nails done, shopping, cooking and having everyone over for Christmas Eve (her favorite family gathering.) Her ability to walk had changed, but it never changed the happy, loving, caring and selfless person she was.
This past Mother’s Day, we took her out for dinner as always to celebrate, so that mom can have her annual steak & lobster that she looks forward to. We ate, laughed and overall had a great day and I know she enjoyed herself too. Later, that night my mother called me saying she wasn’t feeling well and she thought she was having a reaction to an antibiotic she was taking. A few hours later she called me back saying that she wanted to go to the emergency room. Panic struck but I knew I had to keep my cool and not make my mother any nervous than she already was. My mother was taken to St. Joe’s that night where we were told that she a “minor” stroke and she would be ok. But two and a half days later she was transported to Kessler Rehabilitation where she spent nearly a whole month and her “minor” stroke turned into a “major” stroke causing her entire right side to be paralyzed. For the last four and a half weeks she has been in JDT Rehab Facility where her stroke has now taken over her life. My mother has paralysis to her right side and needs assistance when feeding as well as personal care. I have exhausted all my personal and sick time at work to care for my mother in her time of need and took a hit financially. This is where I swallow my pride and do what I need to do for the woman who did EVERYTHING for me in my 46 years of life. A friend of mine had mentioned to me about starting a Go Fund me page to help with the medical costs that the insurance company won’t cover. Her insurance also stopped paying for the care she has been receiving at JDT and sent her home on July 22nd. My mother is in need of a 24/7 live-in caregiver and if any of you have been in this situation, you know that the expense is excruciating. At one point the social worker mentioned to me about putting my mother in a nursing home and they will take her home to pay the difference! My mother will NOT go to a nursing home nor will anyone take the home where memories have been made since before my brother and I were born! This is where I plead my case and reach out to all of you.
I am hoping to raise money to help offset the cost of my mother’s medical expenses including her care and any equipment for her home she may need that her insurance does not cover. I never in a million years thought I would be in this position but now my mother needs me more than anything and I owe this to her. She has given me unconditional love, support and most of all life. My mother has been through hell and back since she was 6 months old and I ask every day, why? Why her? What did she ever do to deserve this? It is now that I need to be as strong as she’s always been, and I will not fail her.
With that being said, I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my mother’s story and how these last three months have been. Regardless of her situation right now, she is my WARRIOR and I know she will hopefully beat the odds again WITH ALL OUR SUPPORT! That’s why any amount you can spare will help to get her back on the road to recovery. I truly thank you from the bottom of her and my heart.
Remember this, sometimes we take for granted the people who love us the most without even realizing it. A mother’s love is like no other and through bad times and good, she will be there for you. Never be too busy to pick up the phone to say “hi” and always say “I love you”. Every second counts and you never know what will or can happen if your too busy for the people who love you the most.
Love to you all,
Lou Cuccinello
Organizer
Lou Cooch
Organizer
Little Falls, NJ