The doctors put Mario in an induced coma for twenty-one days. It was not expected that he would live. Many people prayed for Mario and his family and even though Mario lived, he was considered a vegetable with a poor prognosis for any meaningful recovery. With more prayers and healing Mario slowly recovered.

After one hundred forty-one days of hospitals, Mario finally responded to a doctor and got into a rehabilitation facility. He stayed in rehab for forty days and finally came home. He wore diapers, couldn’t talk, walk, eat, or move most of his body.

The first few years of taking care of Mario were extremely challenging. It has been a difficult journey, but inch-by-inch Mario has kept improving. He never gives up and through the love of his family and friends remains happy most of the time. Richard Carlson a friend of Mario’s and author of the “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” books said, “Mario is the happiest person I know.” And Mario says, “Smile because somebody loves you.”