Chuck Dibilio's mother says her son continues to improve

FROM KEITH GROLLER

Finally had the chance to talk directly to Bonnie Coyle Ronco, Chuck Dibilio's mother, on Monday night.

Bonnie is a doctor and understands her son's situation better than most parents would in this situation.

She said that he continues to make vast strides on the road to recovery.

"He understands what has happened. I've been very honest with him," she said. "He's typical Chuckie. He's smiling and says everything is going to be fine and he's going to get through this. He's not going to let anything keep him down."

She was hopeful that a couple of tests today (Tuesday) would provide a better idea of what caused the stroke.

"Those tests will also give us a better idea of what the treatment has to be," she said. "So far everything has come back normal. All of the possibilities they've tested for so far have come back normal. But we feel it has to be related to the spleen problem he had about a year and a half ago because he's clotting abnormally."

She said she's so pleased with the hospital Chuck's at -- Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, which ranks among the best hospitals in the world.

"We're hopeful that they will come up with an answer and we'll go from there," she said.

As for Chuck, she said he's "chomping at the bit" to get out of the hospital.

"He feels normal, he's feels good except for the little bit of problem he has processing words," she said. "But he feels good and wants to get back to school and back to sports. He wants to get back to his normal life and that's good because his positive attitude is what has gotten him to where he is."

She also said that the whole family has received so many get-well wishes in recent days, and while it has been overwhelming at times, she said it is very much appreciated.

"It's what has gotten me through the last few days," she said. "To see this support and how the whole community has just wrapped their arms around him ... it has been beautiful. It has carried me through some of the harder days and it means so much to Chuck."

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