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Sports

Syosset Accident Victim Heals on the Hardwood

Seriously injured in a car accident last October, Louie Ciavarella is back watching his daughter play basketball for the Braves.

Louie Ciavarella hopes to stand on his own soon.  For now, he's just thrilled he can make it to the stands...the court-side stands at Syosset High School.

Louie is a Syosset resident and his daughter Victoria plays basketball for the Braves.  He says he's never missed a game his daughter has played, but that streak came to screeching halt two months ago.

Near-Fatal Accident

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Ciavarella was driving on Northern Blvd. in Old Brookville on Oct. 18, when he was involved in a head-on collision.  He suffered serious injuries to his ankle, heel, pelvis, hip, tibia, and fibula, along with multiple rib fractures.

"It just happened so fast, I don't remember what happened," Louie said.

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Ciavarella spent nine weeks in the hospital, and has undergone six surgeries, with more ankle surgery still to come.  He's currently an inpatient at North Shore Manhasset rehab center, as he continues the long climb back to independence.

"In the beginning it was very challenging - mentally, psychologically, physically," Louie's wife Susan said.  "It's a long recovery for him...a big strain on everyone."

If you ask Louie the toughest part of his rehab, it's not building strength or trying to put weight on his leg.  It's missing his daughter's games.  Louie missed several games while in the hospital, and it wasn't just not seeing his Victoria play that was eating at him. 

Basketball In His Blood

Louie coached his daughter and many of her teammates in Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) games for years.  It's the bond of basketball that relationship that has helped the Ciavarella's through this ordeal.

"I can't stress how grateful we are for [the support]," Susan said.

"Every person in Syosset that we know has chipped in to help my wife, whether it's shoveling snow, bringing dinner at night...the parents on the team, extraordinary," Louie added.

What happened next is just as extraordinary. Louie decided it was time to return to the basketball court.  He left the rehab center, by ambulette at first, and came straight to the games: in his wheelchair, center court.

"It gave us a lot of confidence, it was really shocking that he came," Victoria Ciavarella said of her dad's return. "Having him here just means a lot."

Good Luck Charm

More than that, it meant wins.  Louie's first game back watching the girls was at Freeport.  A win.  Then his triumphant return to the Syosset High gym against Hempstead.  Another 'W'.  Then on to Oceanside.  Make it three for three.  The Braves, it would seem, had found a good luck charm.

"He provides such strength and support, and a positive attitude," Susan said.  "I think [the players] can relate to that, and maybe that'll help them to win."

How far does Louie think his presence will take Syosset?

"If it was up to me, I'd say they'd win every game, but basketball's a tough sport," he said. "Some of these teams have good players."

With basketball driving him, Louie Ciavarella continues to make strides, and he hopes to be able to walk onto the court some day soon.  When the court goes dark,  he returns to rehab, and Susan, Victoria, and her sister Emily return home.  That's when what he's been through really hits Louie, and he gets emotional.

"It's very lonely up there at night, but my wife...I couldn't do it without her," he said. 

And having a whole team of Braves on your side can't hurt either.

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