Praying for a Miracle:
A Mother's Story of Tragedy, Hope and Triumph
by Gilda T. D'Agostino

On July 16, 1973 the unthinkable happened. Eighteen-year-old Rick D¹Agostino dove into a swimming pool and became an instant quadrapalegic.

For his mother, Gilda, and the rest of the family it was as if the world had come to an end.

Rick was handsome, athletic, and intellegent. The future which seemed so bright had become very dark.

As Rick¹s family sobbed, they could not know what the future held. Instead of an end, the injury marked the beginning of a remarkable new life for the D¹Agostinos.

This is the story of how one family refused to be defeated by tragedy. And most of all, it is a mother¹s account of how her son triumphed over terrible adversity and in so doing gave new meaning to the old adage: Where there's life, there¹s hope.