‘What a small town is all about'

Highland Mills community looks to assist family in the aftermath of a serious motorcycle accident HIGHLAND MILLS -Anthony Favia’s life changed on the Fourth of July. Last Sunday morning, the Highland Mills resident was taking a motorcycle ride with a friend, heading west on Route 17 when for reasons unknown, he lost control of his 2010 Harley-Davidson bike on the section of the Quickway known as the Wurtsboro Mountain. Favia, 39, the father of three young daughters, slid across the road, hitting the right wire guardrail, severing his right leg below the knee. He also suffered head injuries in the accident. And an infection in the remaining part of his right leg is so grave that surgeons will remove it this week. He remains in critical condition at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. Friends of the Favia family are now rallying to help raise funds to assist the family with expenses not covered by insurance as Favia begins his very long road to recovery. Adding to the family’s challenges is that with Favia in the hospital, the family has also lost its income. He is an electrician with the IBEW Local 3 in New York and wife Keren is a nursing student. “He and his buddy were going for a guy bike ride early in the morning,” said family friend Beth Guglielmello. “He had called his wife to tell her he was getting a bite to eat and was then heading home. But something just happened. Something went wrong. No one knows what happened.” Favia is heavily sedated but gave his wife Keren a thumbs-up sign and squeezed her hand on Tuesday, said Guglielmello. Guglielmello said Favia’s physicians have told the family the next few days will give them additional tell-tale information about his head injuries. But his simple thumb up gesture was a “silver lining in this black cloud,” she added. Willing to help “Anthony is all about family,” said Guglielmello. “He’s the one who would give the shirt off his back to anyone.” Guglielmello noted Favia helped raised money for Julia Pierce, the Harriman girl who was treated for leukemia and for who the group “Julia’s Journey of Hope” was formed. She went to the Little Pals Preschool in Monroe with Favia’s daughter Emma. “He went to his friends in the union and said, ‘You have to give money to help this girl,” said Guglielmello. “That family, they are the first people to rally around anyone who needs help. Yes, there are concerns over the finances. He’s the sole breadwinner and she’s a student.” Friends have made sure meals are being readied for the family at home, as well as babysitting help so Keren Favia can be with her husband as much as possible. “Keren is very strong,” said Guglielmello. “I can’t believe there could be anything more heartbreaking. She worries about everything a mother would worry about. It’s mind-boggling. Right now, we want to make things easier. She’d be the first person to do this for anyone else.” Guglielmello said the Favia girls - Emma, age seven, and five-year-old twins Kaylah and Sarah - know their father is injured. “They’re smart girls,” she said. “They know he’s hurt and the doctors are fixing him. They miss him. They cry for him every day. With Keren in school, he would be in charge of bedtime. He’d have the kids all day on Saturday. He is the first person to make sure she was studying. He’s very supportive of her wanting to become a nurse. ” ‘What a small town is all about’ In only a few days’ time, friends of the Favias have created a fund in the family’s name. They’ve applied for a non-profit tax identification number, opened up a bank account and post office box number, and set Friday, Aug. 20, as a date for a benefit at the Earl Reservoir in Highland Mills. Details are being developed and organizers said the event will be open to everyone. “This event will help them with the things that crop up,” said Guglielmello. “Everything is just going to get so expensive. There’s gas, tolls, food, everything.” In the meantime, Guglielmello is grateful for the quick response by community members in such a short time. “It’s amazing how many people want to help,” she said. “We’re trying to figure out ways for people to help. And we will. This is what a small town is all about.” Keren Favia expressed her thanks on the social networking site Facebook, where the group, “Friends of Anthony,” has been formed. As of Thursday morning, more than 205 people had joined. “Thank you to all you wonderful people out there who have been bringing us food, helping with kids visiting us in hospital and helping me get through this one day at a time,” she wrote. “I truly would not be able to do this without all of this astounding love and support from all of our amazing friends. We are truly blessed to live in such a loving community where everyone comes together in time of crisis.” As the family continues to cope, Guglielmello hoped people would think positive thoughts about Favia’s recovery. “He’s such a strong family man and such a good friend,” said Guglielmello. “He has that laugh that is just so contagious. I can hear it now. This is just really bad luck.” Can you help? To assist the Favia family with expenses not covered by insurance, send a check payable to : “Friends of the Favia Family” fund, and mail to: Friends of the Favia Family, P.O. Box 634, Highland Mills, N.Y. 10930. To extend an offer of help, call Beth Guglielmello at 827-6561. Save the date Friday evening, Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. for a family fun night to benefit the Favia family at the Earl Reservoir in Highland Mills. The Town of Woodbury Parks and Recreation Department is donating the use of the facility for the benefit. More details will follow. Join the Facebook group To join the group, visit www.facebook.com, and in the search box, key in: “Friends of Anthony.”