Vinny's Journey to Independence Needs Your help

Vinny Vitale was involved in a severe bicycle accident with a car on September 30, 2024, in Barnegat, NJ, resulting in multiple serious injuries, including a broken neck, broken jaw, and traumatic brain injury. After emergency surgery and a month in the hospital, he was transferred to a rehabilitation center for ongoing recovery. Despite some improvements over the past four months, Vinny faces long-term challenges, including limited use of his limbs due to spinal cord and nerve damage from the accident.

Vinny's recovery involves both physical and brain rehabilitation. As of now, he has very limited use of his legs and is in a wheelchair chair. He also can’t use his left arm or either hand. Fortunately he has some use of his right arm. He also suffers from muscle atrophy, brain injury, and delayed speech and memory issues.

Vinny is known for his kind, humble, and empathetic nature. As a highly intelligent and detail-oriented engineer and manager, he excelled in his work and was a self-starter and complex thinker. He was also a skilled handyman.

We hope Vinny will continue to recover, but progress is very slow. The goal is for Vinny to return to daily life and hopefully work in some capacity while adapting to his new circumstances. With therapy and support, he aims to resume normal activities, including eating, living, and working, despite his disabilities.

Vinny was an avid sports enthusiast and enjoyed outdoor activities like mountain and road biking, paddleboarding, kiteboarding, and snowboarding. He recently tried a motorized surfboard, showcasing his adventurous spirit. Unfortunately, while doctors believe some recovery is possible, it is unlikely Vinny will be able to enjoy many of these activities again. He faces new physical, mental, and financial challenges, which is why we need your help.

Family was central to Vinny's life, and he often took his father and uncle to medical appointments, demonstrating his deep family commitment. Unfortunately, Vinny’s father passed away while Vinny was in the hospital recovering from his accident, and now Vinny’s mother is also in a rehab facility recovering from a serious infection while mourning the loss of her husband. Maria is now forced to take on the huge responsibility of caring for Vinny. Neither Vinny nor Maria will be able to work until Vinny’s situation hopefully improves.

To support his recovery, Vinny and Maria need financial assistance. They are too proud to ask for any financial help, but they need it. This is why I’m starting this GoFundMe drive in Vinny’s honor. The funds will be used to provide essentials for Vinny. He requires a motorized wheelchair, ramps at home, a chair lift, a new van with wheelchair access, and home modifications for accessibility, such as installing an elevator, widening doors, and reconfiguring the bathroom. He will also need a caregiver and home health aide for daily activities.

Vinny's next step involves another surgery on March 24th on his left shoulder to hopefully regain some movement, as his left arm is currently 100% disabled. After this surgery, he will need to stay immobilized in an assisted living facility for six weeks before resuming rehab. However, his medical insurance is now denying further care due to exhausted benefits. The costs for home renovations, a vehicle, rehab, and home help exceed $150K for short-term expenses, and these expenses are not covered by insurance. Then there will be ongoing needs and costs associated with caring for Vinny.

Your donation can help Vinny navigate these challenges and regain his independence. Let's support Vinny and Maria in this journey. Thank you in advance for your help and support.