Antonio Ciccone was a promising young athlete and scholar, juggling multiple AP classes and varsity sports at Fox Lane High School, when tragedy struck in the spring of 2001, his senior year. During the first varsity lacrosse game of the season, Antonio was severely injured in a collision with another player.

July 16, 2018

Wheels4Tony 2018

July 16, 2018

Wheels4Tony 2018

July 13, 2018

Tony Ciccone and I have been working on a social media campaign to raise $60,000 for a conversion van to replace his 18-year vehicle that just died. Wheels4Tony underscores how important mobility is to Tony's independence. He continues to fight for goals he believes in like finishing his undergraduate degree and pursuing a professional path, as his health allows. For Tony, no transportation means isolation which is extremely unhealthy. His friends and family participate gladly when he has transportation taking him in the van to social events. This is a registered 501(c) (3).

July 13, 2018

Today, July 13, 2018, we kick off the Wheels4Tony campaign to raise $60,000 for Tony Ciccone to replace his van that died after 18 years. The campaign can also be viewed on Facebook

January 10, 2014

Happy New Year! Once more I want to reach out to the HelpHopeLive and Laxin4Tony supporters to update you on my progress since my holiday greetings of 2012.

I’m very happy to report that 2013 has been a great year, one in which I have made more progress than I have since my accident in 2001. First, thanks to the medical support the fund affords me, I have had no major health challenges in the entire year, no further post op complications from the neck surgery of Summer 2012, no hospitalizations, no major infections. My medical needs are well managed and it shows.

In fact, I have lost 70 pounds, restored my blood pressure to normal levels and have completed two intensive rehabilitation therapies at the Burke Rehabilitation Hospital as of last summer. If you look at the link and photos below you will see me standing upright on a standing frame designed to develop muscle strength, improve bone density and reacclimate my body and nerves to an upright position and using a specialized bicycle which uses electrical impulses to assist my legs in moving the pedals. I have never had access to this level of rehabilitation before. It is not clear which technology will prove to be the most beneficial but the current plan is to get home based versions of these apparatuses where they can be utilized every day. The ongoing objective is to create as much independence as possible; my personal goal, however long it takes, is to one day walk again.

Further, without the burden of health constraints I have resumed my studies at the New School online college and am maintaining a 3.8 GPA there. I hope to graduate with my Bachelors in 2015.

In fact, I am beginning to look into employment possibilities for the coming years. My plan is to develop my existing skills in computers and computer programming, and am researching relevant online courses to improve the programming languages I have used in the past such as JavaScript, C#, and Python. Assessment at the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services in Connecticut was completed but thus far the agency has not been able to accommodate the complex needs of an educated quadriplegic.

Any thoughts or leads anyone might have about opportunities in all aspects of computers and programming are more than welcome! I am determined to translate my existing and anticipated expertise into marketable skills.

All in all, this has been the best, most productive year of my life since 2001. Although it may be a cliché in other situations, in my case, I could NOT have done it without you, the HHL/Laxin4Tony community.

My heartfelt gratitude to all of you. Words still cannot express what your help means, and has accomplished, for me.

Best wishes for the 2014!

Image link

http://imgur.com/GN6sf4M

Click to see video of me on FES cycle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdNu4WcTV18