About the Authors
Michael R. Grego is a young adult, recently graduated from Southport High School in Indianapolis, IN, May of 2007. Prior to his accident in June of 2003, he was an exceptionally well rounded student, received admirable grades in school, was an athlete, and played alto sax in the school band.
His automobile accident, when he was just 16 years old, resulted in Traumatic Brain Injury. He was in a coma for six months and demonstrated little progress during the first year following his accident. Five years later he has regained speech, reading and math, has some mobility, is able to guide his electric wheelchair and graduated from high school.
He continues to triumph through the recovery process. He has used his poetry to maintain ties with his ‘former life’. It has also helped him with his recovery process.
This is his first published work. He is currently working on a second book of poetry.
Mary C. Cantwell is a 35 year veteran teacher of special needs students. She is a 1973 graduate of Fitchburg State College, Fitchburg, MA with a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education/Mentally Challenged Children. She has her MS degree from Indiana University, Indianapolis in Special Education/Learning Disabilities.
She has taught in Perry Township Schools in Indianapolis since 1975 for RISE Special Services. Presently (since 1995) she is teaching the Intermediate CIP (Comprehensive Instruction Program) class at Southport Elementary School.
She has worked with both youngsters and adults with challenging behaviors and learning difficulties. She was a foster parent for 10 years caring for mentally and physically challenged high school children. As a single parent, she adopted and raised a child with special needs.
She has spent the past six years working evenings, weekends and summers with teenagers who have been injured in accidents resulting in traumatic brain injury. She continues to research and improve her knowledge of the unique needs of survivors of TBI through reading published medical books and novels written by them.
She has nurtured a life long love of reading and this is her first attempt as an author. She is working with Michael on a second book of thoughts and poetry. She is also in the process of writing a new book, titled “Conversations with Michael”, a story that follows Michael’s journey back to health by traveling with her through his type-written conversations with his teacher, nurse, friends and family during his second year of his recovery.
