Giving your all
Local girl beats the odds after serious car crash puts her at square oneBy Walt Frank, wfrank@altoonamirror.com
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Fact Box
THE MINORI FILE
Name: Denielle Minori
Age: 21
Hometown: Tipton
Education: Graduate of Bellwood-Antis High School
Family: Parents: Dennis and Gloria Minori; brothers: Joshua, 25, Jonathan, 23, and Jared, 16.
BELLWOOD - Denielle Minori has the same goals as many other young ladies.
''I want to go to college and get married,'' blurts out the bubbly 21-year-old daughter of Dennis and Gloria Minori of Tipton.
Just four years ago, Denielle couldn't even talk.
After completing the first day of her junior year at Bellwood-Antis High School in August 2004, tragedy struck.
Denielle was driving to meet a friend in Portage when her car ran off Route 164 and struck a utility pole.
She didn't appear seriously injured, with just a few cuts on her shoulder, but the impact of the crash caused a diffuse brain injury and she was taken to Memorial Medical Center, Johnstown, by medical helicopter.
''The doctors said, 'Get your family here; she is very very sick.' There was a good possibility she wouldn't survive because of the pressure on her brain,'' Dennis Minori said.
Denielle remained in intensive care in a drug-induced coma for about three or four weeks.
''We didn't know what to expect. There was no one who could say where she would be in a year, let alone in two weeks,'' Dennis Minori said.
Despite several medical setbacks including a brain infection and spinal meningitis, Denielle survived and came home in a wheelchair in May 2005.
She faced a long road to recovery.
She was unable to use her right side, had trouble with balance, cognitive problems and couldn't walk or talk.
During her early recovery, Denielle underwent speech, occupational and physical therapy at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital and Easter Seals-Central Pennsylvania in Altoona.
''She couldn't say any words. She couldn't even open her mouth. Her first words were ''yes'' and ''no;'' she wasn't speaking at all. Now we can't shut her up and we will never try to shut her up again,'' Dennis Minori said.
Her brother Joshua also helped with rehabilitation.
''He was hard on her, but we attribute him for a lot of the gains she made in physical therapy,'' Dennis Minori said.
Since coming home, Denielle has progressed from walking with a walker to two canes to a single cane.
''Now she can walk down the hall with no cane but she has to hold onto things,'' Dennis Minori said. ''She scares the living daylights out of me.''
She returned to Bellwood-Antis in January 2006 but needed help.
Robin Deamer, an educational therapist at the Discovery Center at Great Commission School in Altoona, was brought in to work with Denielle.
''She provided her with educational therapy that helped stimulate all parts of the brain,'' Dennis Minori said. ''Robin deserves credit for a lot of her initial early recovery.''
Deamer said working with Denielle was like working with a stroke victim.
''She had brain trauma. She could think and write but to say it was something else,'' Deamer said.
After a neuropsychological evaluation by Dr. Sue Beers in Pittsburgh, which was recommended by Bellwood-Antis officials, it was suggested that Denielle be put in a private school for students with brain injuries; however, there were no facilities in Pennsylvania for young people with brain injuries.
The Minoris visited the May Institute in Brockton, Mass., which specializes in providing comprehensive services to children and adolescents with autism, brain injury, developmental and behavioral disorders.
Denielle enrolled in May 2006 and spent more than two years at the facility.
Enrolling their daughter at the institute more than 400 miles from home was difficult but turned out to be a good decision.
''Taking Denielle up to the May Institute, we went on a big leap of faith. It was not an easy decision to be that far away,'' Gloria Minori said.
''We had a very good experience up there. She made tremendous gains. Every time she would come home we saw something different with her,'' Dennis Minori said. ''They tried to get her into the community. She learned to ski with a seat skier, did boating; she had jobs to do, she delivered Meals on Wheels.''
Christina Bellas, who now serves as associate director of education at the May Institute, was Denielle's classroom teacher for about a year.
''Denielle was always a pleasure to work with. She always gave 110 percent. The greatest thing was seeing the progress she made. To see how her vocabulary expanded, from naming things to conversations was one of the best things,'' Bellas said. ''She had to learn to walk again; she has definitely come a long, long way.''
Denielle left the May Institute Aug. 15, her birthday, and received her high school diploma from the Bellwood-Antis school board in September.
''It felt great to get my diploma, it felt fantastic,'' Denielle said.
Bellwood-Antis Superintendent Brian Toth said it was a pleasure to present Denielle with her diploma.
''Her stamina, character and strong will and desire are above and beyond what you see in a student,'' Toth said. ''It is rare you see that dedication to overcome what happened to her medically in that accident.''
Denielle is continuing with physical and speech therapies, and her parents hope she can further her education, possibly at the Hiram G. Andrews Rehabilitation Center in Johnstown, which focuses on career opportunities and independent life skills.
''The sky is the limit. We want to continue with her academic abilities,'' Gloria Minori said. ''I want a life for her where she is part of society and a contributing citizen and not totally dependent on others - that is the goal.''
Denielle continues to maintain a positive attitude.
''Life would have been more enjoyable without the accident, but what I think is more important is the progress she has made and where she is at,'' Dennis Minori said. ''She laughs and is fun to be with. She doesn't dwell on the past.''
Deamer, who is working with Denielle again, praised the Minoris.
''This family is a very unique family. They are 100 percent dedicated to their daughter,'' Deamer said. ''I am so amazed to see the difference in the progress she has made, it has been tremendous.''
Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 946-7467.
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USA27MP
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01-16-09 2:41 PM
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A few comments. To guttertroll:the story was not about the incident. It was about Denielles recovery. No need for that comment. I am a friend of this family and was with them the night this happened. If you would like me to explain what happened, I would love to meet you. Just let me know, off this site. No comment back necessary...everyone is tough on the internet! To KlaudVR: I am in US Army, DO NOT put this kid in the same sentence with a Soldier. To Cressonboy: Your right, its pathetic To the family: Keep up with the progress, Denielle's story is a great one. --JWS
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gordon65
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01-13-09 5:28 PM
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melijan..you are soooo right!! This article is about an amazing girl who has beat all the odds!! The world seems to only revolve around these pathetic excuses for posters who can't just say something nice and move on!!! Thank God she is on the road to recovery. She deserves all of our respect for working hard for her achievements and especially having a positive attitude! Not like "some" people here!!!!
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livinginBEDROCK
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01-13-09 12:10 AM
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Maybe those that want to blame her or those that don't should pull the police report of the crash and see what the investigation found?
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KlausVR
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01-12-09 11:11 PM
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santeejohnny; so G-trash might be a female? Interesting take. Maybe it was shortened from GutterTROLLOP!
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FrogGirl9104
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01-12-09 10:52 PM
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ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS I THINK ITS NICE THAT SHE HAS OVER COME HER PROBLEMS AND SHE IS STILL ON THE EARTH AND ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE NO HEART AND NEED TO KEEP THE RUDE COMMENTS TO THEIRSELFVES AND HOPEFULLY ONE OF THESE DAYS THAAT WILL HAPPEN TO ONE OF THERE FAMILY MEMBERS AND SOME ONE SAYS THE SAME RUDE STUFF TO THEM AND THEN THEY WILL RELIZE THAT ITS NOT NICE TO SAY
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melijan
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01-12-09 7:47 PM
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Denielle and her family dont deserve the rudeness of comments that are posted her. Here is a young lady that beat all odds and some people decide to trash her for that. I remember the day the accident happened as my daughter was not far behind her on route 164 and called to tell us she would be late due to the accident. Also, Denielle friend was a classmate of my daughters so we got updates on her condition and one point it was very grim for full recovery. It is great to hear that she is doing well and has a bright future ahead of her and gives hope to others out there.
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santeejohnny
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01-12-09 6:12 PM
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I suspect that from the writing style, and words used, that gutter is actually a female. Note I said female, not lady.
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KMadak
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01-12-09 5:09 PM
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Being someone who has heard the story from firsthand sources, she hit a pot hole, which jumped her to the edge of the road, which made her lose control of the vehicle. She's made an amazing recovery, and the fact that anyone is attacking anyone on this story just sickens me. God Bless you Denielle.
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42Employlaw1981
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01-12-09 4:21 PM
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Gutt you crack me up... before I even saw the comments I figured you would be arguing something stupid or make a stupid remark. Bottom line... the focus of the article is the girl and I'm impressed with her overcoming the odds!
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KlausVR
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01-12-09 1:46 PM
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Actually, from past posts it appears G-trash doesn't work. Hints he's retired Army (or some other branch). If so, he's of the minority pathetic type who never made a decision his entire career (including what to wear each day) and is embittered that non-military types don't kneel down and thank him for service to his country. Yep, just a pathetic, embittered man. Just ignore him (it).
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seabear
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01-12-09 12:47 PM
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Thanx Cressonboy! I always wanted to know who that piece of s$%* was! Guess I was close didn't know guttertroll occupation was cleaning sh-t--rs!! Surprised to know he works with all the blogs he does here. This should help the family out too. I now know why my instincts tell me not to participate in this chatter all the time. Well today chatter I will. My deepest admiration to the Minori family. Denielle keep at it honey! This is a courageous story. Your family is made of the right stuff! How many more stories of personal triumph against all odds are in Blair county? Denielle; you have our total respect,love and support.
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pasatiempo
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01-12-09 12:31 PM
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...they do when there is a defect in the road or a rpoblem with the car... but that is beside the point troglodite! What it sounds like you are saying is that she DESERVES to be in the situatioon that she is in! She had an ACCIDENT and regarless of whose fault it was she is someone's daughter! How would you feel if someone said that about your mother? Some of the stupid and hateful things that you write on here absolutely blow my mind! WOuld feel that way if it was someone that you loved? Are even capable of that emotion? That is so sad!
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glasshouse
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01-12-09 11:20 AM
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CressonBoy, Who makes hateful posts on this board???
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CressonBoy
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01-12-09 10:32 AM
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pasatiempo, We have to give gutterball a break. He's a patheric little man who has no family or loved ones. His whole life revolves around making hateful posts on this board when he is not working at his "career", that is, when he is not cleaning $ hit ters at Micky D's. One thing you can say for sure, gutterball is NOT brain damaged. He'd have to have a brain for it to be damaged.
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pasatiempo
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01-12-09 9:55 AM
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OMG Troll! Are you serious! I hope that you never breed you heartless jerk! Accidents happen! Heaven help you should you ever have one! Don't you have an "off" switch?
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