Monday 26th July, will be one year since Stephen Patrick ‘Benny’ Gibson was struck by lightning while playing cricket at Marine Park in Brooklyn NY, USA.
One year after that incident Gibson is still struggling to get his back to normal and according to him its has been a long and difficult road, one that will leave an indelible mark on him.
Gibson who has been at Roosevelt Island in a rehabilitation center, since he left Belle View hospital, last year is counting his blessing that he is alive.
Despite his speech is not as it was before the incident the former Daphine resident, was able to express his feelings.
He sees his recovery as “amazing for the amount of voltage that went through me and I still survive.”
Ironically the 42-year-old Electrican, burns have healed with very few visible scares, but he is still unable to walk and daily has to undergo therapy for his speech and movement.
While Gibson can’t recalled the incident he is able to remember the Saturday prior and events after he regained conciousness at the Beth Israel Hospital in Manhattan.
The last of his deceased Mother’s ten children Gibson said that he feels “blessed, but he long to ‘walk,’ however his legs are still weak so he gets around by wheelchair or with the aid of a walker to cover short distances.
Through it all Gibson has a very strong support system in the form of his girlfriend Cleopatra “Cleo’ Richards, who when ever he refers to her he smiles.
Unable to stop from smiling and cuddling Cleo,he said, “she is my heart, without her and God I would have died”
“I know so because she has done everything she can do for me, she is the only person who never leave me,” he said emotionally while he stretched over and hugged Cleo.
Since the incident Cleo has visited Gibson daily whatever the weather, she is taking that commitment even further when this Sunday 25th July, to mark the anniversary, she will bring him for a visit in Brooklyn.
First they will be going to church, at the New Hope Penecostal Church on Lovinia Ave in East NY. Following church Gibson will be at 751 Troy Av between Linden and Lenox.
Gibson concluded by saying he is “looking forward to being in Brooklyn as he not sure if he can remember how the place is and mostly he want to get out of here (Roosevelt), its boring just sitting here.”
Vincy2dbone 