Paula is Home

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. -Margaret Mead”

Yesterday marked a momentous occasion for one 78-year-old man and his family, as their daughter, mother and friend, Paula Persichini-Petitti, arrived safely back home in Boston after a long and arduous journey. 

Paula had been working on the Lakota Sioux Indian Reservation on Tuesday, June 23rd, providing diabetes and alcohol screening counselling to tribe members. On her way back to her guest house, she and her friend were rear-ended at 60 mph by a woman in a pick-up truck. Her friend was seriously injured, but Paula was less fortunate and spent the last 18 days in a coma. Her Thalamus, the part of the brain where the body can best learn to make new synapse pathways and heal itself, had been damaged. 

The journey home was made possible by the tireless efforts of friends around the globe, who raised thousands of dollars to fund her life flight. The struggle to make up the medical bill differences and keep the lights on continues, however. Despite Paula’s dedication to bringing medical supplies, doctors and hope to thousands of people in third world hospitals, her medical insurance would not cover the life-flight to bring her to the Mass General Hospital’s coma awakening treatment centre. 

Fortunately, her dear friend Jennifer Sea-Booras, with her medical expertise, was able to handle every detail of Paula’s care, from the specially outfitted medical plane to the ambulance services. Thanks to her, Paula is now back home.

Buddy Persichini-Petitti was preparing to take out a second mortgage on his home in order to bring his daughter, Paula, back to the United States. After a plea for help was posted online, the media was alerted to Paula’s plight. Two years prior, I had been following Paula’s story and had discussed writing a book about her life and travels. After I contacted her friend, Terri Tobin-Young, articles about Paula were published in several outlets, including the Huffington Post and LA Progressive. Jennifer and her husband Harry then set up a Twitter page and a microcredit PayPal account to raise funds. 

The story was picked up by FOX News 25 in Boston and The Brockton Enterprise, a regional paper in Massachusetts. Within a week, $16,000 had been raised, with Buddy making up the difference. Paula is now back in the United States, where she will receive treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital, one of the country’s leading coma and brain injury recovery centers. The Fund for Paula Persichini-Petitti remains open and is still being supported by donations of $1, $5, and $10. 

Dozens of people worked tirelessly to bring Paula home, and this evening is a time of celebration. To honor their efforts, a Red Auerbach victory cigar was lit, a dram of single malt was enjoyed, and a toast was made in their honor. Now, the focus shifts to helping Paula recover and pushing Congress and President Obama to fix the broken healthcare system so that families no longer have to risk bankruptcy to get the care they need. Welcome home, Paula. It’s time to wake up and get to work.

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