FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.couriersun.com june 26, 2014 • The Courier sun 11 FLUSHING RESIDENT IN NEAR-FATAL MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT, FAMILY RAISING $500K FOR MEDICAL FEES BY LIAM LA GUERE [email protected] @liamlaguerre The family of a Flushing resident and St. John’s University alum who was in a near-fatal motorcycle accident on Father’s Day is in a desperate struggle to raise half a million dollars for medical fees. Anthony Michaelides lost control of his bike on June 15 while trying to merge into a freeway in Los Angeles and hit the guardrail, propelling him over the barrier and more than 100 feet down into a ravine, family members said. He suffered double lung collapse, bleeding from his brain, a ruptured spleen, a lacerated aorta, severe damage to his liver, fractured wrists and a broken left arm. Despite the injuries, paramedics found him alive and currently he is in stable condition at Los Angeles County General Hospital under heavy sedation. His family is hoping to raise money through upcoming events and crowdfunding site CrowdRise. “He is one of the sweetest and most generous persons you could meet. Whenever you needed help he was always right there,” said Michaelides’ cousin, Krysta, who started the CrowdRise page. “This is such a tragedy, I couldn’t sit back and do nothing. I think about him every day. But doing this and collecting donations like this is gathering positive vibes. It’s keeping me busy and in my mind, keeping Anthony alive for me.” The family has raised nearly $45,000 on CrowdRise already. Michaelides’ alma mater, Frank Sinatra High School, is organizing a show with proceeds to benefit him to be announced at a later date. Family and friends will host fundraising events in Pita Pan restaurant in Astoria on Saturday, and in Five Guys Burgers and Fries chains in The Bay Terrace shopping center on Friday and Saturday in the College Point location. Proceeds from sales during the day at the eateries will go toward Michaelides. There will also be #saveanthony shirts on sale for $15 during the events. Michaelides graduated from St. John’s University with a degree in psychology, and then earned a master’s last year from New York University in education counseling. His goal was to be a guidance counselor at Frank Sinatra, but since there were no open opportunities he moved to Los Angeles late last year. The school called Michaelides a few weeks before his accident to let him know there was a position opening, a sibling said, but now he won’t be able to take it. “It’s just really bad luck. Everything that happened is bad luck,” said Michaelides’ sister, Connie. “It would mean a lot to the family if he did get his dream job, but our priority is for him to get better.” Upcoming fundraising times and locations: Saturday, June 28th Pita Pan 37-15 30th Avenue Astoria, NY 11103 11 am - 2 am Friday, June 27th Five Guys Burgers and Fries in Bay Terrace Shopping Center 210-33 26th avenue Bayside, NY 11360 4 pm – 9 pm Saturday, June 28th Five Guys Burgers and Fries in Northside Plaza/College Point 132-01 14th avenue Queens, NY 11356 4 pm – 9 pm Photo courtesy the Michaelides family The family of Anthony Michaelides (middle) is collecting donations to pay for medical bills and other fees after his near-fatal motorcycle accident. Flushing Hospital Holds Open House for Advanced Imaging Center Flushing Hospital Medical Center will showcase the 3T MRI Scanner as well as the Siemans Flash CT Split Second Scanning, which are both new and improved additions of state-of-the-art technology in the Advanced Imaging Center. Flushing Hospital is holding an open house to all physicians and their staff to learn about the newest additions to the Advanced Imaging Center on June 23-27, 9:00 am- 11:00 am; June 26, 5:00 pm-7:00 pm. For additional information about the event, please call 718-670-5453. The 3T MRI Scanner is a technologically advanced MRI, complete with TIM integrated coil technology and an Open Bore design. Tim integrated coil technology provides excellent, more detailed image quality, whole-body coverage to avoid repositioning the patient for multiple exams, and takes half the time of a regular MRI. An Open Bore design gives the patient a more comfortable exam experience, enabling the 3T MRI Scanner to care for a wider range of people, including those who are obese or claustrophobic. The Siemans Flash CT Split Second Scanning is an advanced CT scanner that utilizes a Dual Source technology of SOMATOM Defi nition Flash, which allows scanning at high speeds for accurate diagnostic images for any patient, regardless of heart rate, the ability to hold one’s breath, and the ability to remain still. The CT Split Second Scanning also provides a low-dose CT, which guarantees dose effi ciency to administer the perfect dose level to attain the best possible image. This effi ciency can only be achieved by Dual Source technology, which makes scans fast enough to create the highest image quality at benchmark, low dose levels. Dual Source Dual Energy also produces two sets of data for every scan, which saves a non-enhanced scan as well as improves the quality of routine and non-routine exams. Flushing Hospital’s Advanced Imaging Center 4500 Parsons Blvd Flushing, NY 11355 ADVERTORIAL
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