Left for Dead: From Surviving to Thriving

by Jan Krause Greene, Michael Bardellini

After being left for dead as the victim of a hit and run, cyclist Mike “Mikey B.” Bardellini was protected by good Samaritans until first responders arrived. For the next 24 hours his life hung in the balance. This is the story about Mikey B’s arduous yet miraculous recovery from a hit and run accident that caused severe head trauma resulting in the loss of a part of his skull, brain surgery, a coma and partial paralysis. It is the story of a mother’s unwavering belief in the power of prayer and the medical care that saved him. It’s also a story about the friends and family who supported him during his ten-year continuing recovery. Above all, this is the story about Mike’s will to live, to thrive and to embrace his new life while managing the invisible disability of a traumatic brain injury. **REVIEW**“Left for Dead is a compelling account of Mike Bardellini's tragic, yet life affirming story that will speak to fellow brain injury survivors and their families and offer them hope for recovery to a life after brain injury. I believe it will offer insight and awareness of traumatic brain injury to all others, to plant the seeds of kindness, compassion, empathy that survivors and their families need from humankind.”~Sandra A. Madden, author of Hearts All Around Us and contributing author to Chicken Soup for the Recovering from Traumatic Brain 101 Stories of Hope, Healing, and Hard Work

105 pages, Paperback

Published June 26, 2020

About the author

I live in a suburb of Boston. I was raised in a suburb of Washington, DC. I came to Boston to attend Boston College and I have been here ever since. Odd, because I really don't like winter.
I have five sons,four grandsons and one granddaughter. While raising my kids, I wrote Homefront, a popular newspaper column chronicling my life as mother, teacher and writer. Currently, I am the occasional co-host of a cable television show, Oneness and Wellness - a good news Show. I also present my original poetry at a variety of venues. I describe myself as a seeker and visionary, whose poetry and fiction examine life's big questions from the perspective of characters both young and old, struggling to understand their place in the world.
I formed my opinions about life at an early age and they haven’t really changed much since then – I believe war does not create lasting solutions, love will be the real revolution, and the human heart can expand until it holds love for the whole world.
I have been a teacher, a newspaper columnist, a bank teller, a house cleaner, an executive director of a non-profit dedicated to education advocacy, a diversity trainer, AIDS activist, a group facilitator, and a waitress. Whatever it took to raise 5 kids and remain true to my values. I can’t carry a tune, but I love to sing and don’t know any steps, but I love to dance!

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspirational!