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Father's Tragic Injury Prompts Education Fund

By Christopher Grillo

Living and working in Manhattan, Frank Jones normally arranged to stay in Hicksville on weekends with his friend Jim Dorsey so he could spend Saturdays with his daughter, Jennifer, who lives with her mother in North Massapequa. On a tragic and unforgettable Saturday morning last February, Dorsey woke to discover his friend surrounded by a pool of blood.

Sustaining something similar to an aneurysm, a congenitally malformed blood vessel in Frank's brain exploded while he slept. He was transported to Nassau County Medical Center in East Meadow where he remained until April. He has spent the last six months at St. John's Land, a rehabilitation facility in King's Park, where his response to therapy has been painfully stagnant.

"They don't see any signs of recovery," said Dorsey. "He'll never be able to work again and support his wife and daughter."

The traumatic head injury has left Frank bedridden. He cannot walk or feed himself. He can form sentences but speaks very softly. Miffed by his crippled recovery, the administration at St. John's suggested three weeks ago that Frank be relocated to a long-term facility where he can receive proper care.

"He has memory lapses. Somedays he's coherent and somedays he's not," said Joe Visconti, a friend of the family who has worked with Karen, Frank's wife, for three years in the Town of Oyster Bay's Department of Intergovernmental Affairs. "They said that everything they can possibly do, they've done. But I'm an optimistŠIf they can't help him anymore, we'll just bring him somewhere that can."

"They feel he's not responding to therapy. The therapy is very intense and he's always in a lot of pain," said Karen who shares Visconti's optimism. "I know Frank and I feel that there's a lot more of him to give."

After three weeks of research and interviews, Karen found a suitable facility - the East Neck Nursing Home in West Babylon - which is only 15 minutes from home. St. John's in King's Park is a 45 minute drive.

"We'll be able to see him more often, especially during the week when Jennifer has school," said Karen, apparently relieved. She expects him to be transferred by the weekend. "I will feel much better knowing that he's closer to home."

Frank Jones and Karen McGowan were both born and raised in Hicksville, both graduating from Hicksville High School. Frank's childhood pal Jim Dorsey is also a Hicksville native. "We were like brothers," he remembered, noting that Frank has many caring friends. "Everyone is trying to chip in and do what they can."

Some of their closest friends have recently concerted their efforts and planned a fund-raising dinner dance to benefit their daughter, Jennifer, for when she goes to college. Dorsey is part of that committee chaired by Ed O'Neill, a member of the Joseph Barry Council Knights of Columbus in Hicksville.

"Unfortunately, he worked one of those jobs where he didn't have many benefits," said O'Neill, a Hicksville resident and close friend for nearly 25 years. Frank worked at Maggio's, a meat market in Manhattan. "We felt that if we could organize a fund raiser and invest all of the proceeds, by the time Jennifer went to college we'd be able to pay for her education." The 9-year-old currently attends Albany Avenue Elementary School in North Massapequa.

The fund raiser, scheduled Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m., will take place at the Knights of Columbus hall on Heitz Place in Hicksville. There will be a cocktail hour and open bar followed by a sit-down dinner and four hours of live music and dancing. Thanks to the generosity of the Knights and their caterer, use of the hall, food and drinks will all be donated at cost.

"All of the remaining funds will go to Jennifer's education fund," said O'Neill. Tickets cost $50 each.

Despite his disabled condition, Frank has shown potential signs of recovery, often revealing during visitation hours the love for his family that resides in his heart.

"He always recognizes his wife and daughter," said Visconti. "They are probably the most important part of his rehabilitation. They're the best therapy."