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ife can change in Ask Anthony his recollections of him back to the emergency room. In
L
the blink of an eye. the accident and he will tell you he the hospital for several weeks, they
A phrase we’ve all remembers sitting at the intersection ran exhaustive tests finally finding
heard, one most of waiting for the light to change and his that the material originally used to
us have uttered a next cognizant moment was waking repair his aorta, (damage sustained
time or two, but no up almost a month later in the hos- in the car accident) was dropping off
one can recognize pital. In that time, he had numerous and traveling throughout his system
the truth of that expression better surgeries to repair damage to his heart, causing blood clots in his stomach
than Anthony Alfaro. diaphragm, intestines, and trachea. He and both legs.
In a split second one late Febru- had no medical insurance. Back to the operating room, first
ary afternoon in 2007, events were set After nearly two months in the hos- for surgery to repair the original work
in motion that would see Anthony’s pital, Anthony returned home to Sac- on the aorta and place a stent, at the
life change forever. There was fear, ramento. He spent several months same time do some vascular work on
sometimes incredible pain, uncertain- recuperating but in the back of his one leg. Then additional surgery, do-
ty, and countless medical procedures, mind, he had bills to pay, a son to sup- ing more vascular work on Anthony’s
but if you are expecting to feel sor- port, and he felt well enough to return other leg. For two months, this round
row and pity, think again. This of surgeries seemed to do the
is a story of a young man with trick yet soon his left leg was
courage, resilience, and an inde- numb and tingling and his toes
structible spirit. were beginning to turn black.
Anthony is a “horse show While advising Anthony that
kid” in every sense of the the only way he would get bet-
word. Nearly fifteen years ago ter was to amputate a portion
as a young teenager he tagged of his leg, the doctors said they
along with his dad, back gate would not force him, it was a
starter Andy Burney, and be- decision only he could make.
gan working on the ring crew at He anguished about it for al-
California shows. As he gained most two months before he de-
experience, he also began work- cided to go ahead.
ing as a starter and announcer. It would seem likely that
Anthony’s good looks, sense of the trials of the last two years
humor, easygoing nature and a would have created a bitter and
killer smile made him a favorite of ex- to work in June of that year. depressed man, but nothing could
hibitors and staff alike. By early 2007 By November he was starting to be further from the truth. Anthony
he was doing his own back gate at the experience back pain and he visited today is a man with no leg pain, in
HITS Thermal shows. a chiropractor, however gained little fact, no pain in general. He has been
Late one afternoon he was driving relief, and was starting to experience fitted for and is walking with a pros-
back to the hotel with friends and knee pain as well. Without benefit of thetic leg. His face is free of traces
co-workers, Arturo (Speedy) Dias medical insurance, Anthony visited of the distress that was his constant
and Zack Price. Anthony’s car was medical clinics regarding the painful companion, and when asked how he
stopped at a red light, and when the issues. No additional tests were per- feels now his answer is just one word,
light turned green, he began to pro- formed, the problems continued and “Grateful”.
ceed through the intersection. In an the medical solution was to prescribe “I’m amazed at the love other peo-
instant the car was t-boned in the more and more medications. By the ple have shown for me,” he says of all
driver’s door by another car that had Pebble Beach Summer Shows last the support he’s had from others in
run the red light. All three friends year, he was in constant and severe the last several years.
were hurt badly, but Anthony took pain. His grandmother, Susan, has taken
the brunt of the impact and was in an By fall of last year, he could not keep care of Anthony in and out of the
immediate fight for his life. any food down and his family took hospital, and Anthony says that she
“Whenever I couldn’t take care of myself, there has always been family or
friends to carry me through. I couldn’t ask for more than that.”
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