Turkey For You.... Turkey For Me

If I ever get hit in the face by a turkey, I am NOT going to be anything like Victoria Ruvolo. If you haven't heard, Mrs. Ruvolo was driving her car one night, with a passenger in the car, in Suffolk County in the state of New York. A car driving the opposite direction with several teenagers in the car decided to hurl a 20 pound frozen turkey out their window, and towards Mrs. Ruvolo's car. The turkey smashed through the windshield, hitting her in the face, shattering EVERY bone in her skull. She lost control of the car ( you think? ), and the passenger grabbed the wheel, and while the car most assuredly crashed, it would have been worse if not for the passenger.

The kids did NOT stop to help, nor call 911. They fled, and were caught shortly there after. They had broken into a car and stolen a credit card, which was used to purchase copious amounts of groceries, including the turkey. Store surveillance is what led to their arrest.

This happened last November. Mrs. Ruvolo was in a coma for a while, and by the grace of God, is now recovering. The kid, Ryan Cushing, 17, was charged with a whole array of crimes. His trial just wrapped up this week.

He had a possible 25 year sentence for throwing the turkey. His sentence?

Six months.

The prosecutors wanted a much longer sentence, but were moved when Mrs. Ruvolo asked for leniency. She pleaded to the judge that Cushing only receive the minimum sentence.

That's some forgiveness. She initially spent five weeks in the hospital, and has undergone numerous surgeries. She had never met Cushing until the day of the sentencing. She hugged him, and told him that she loved him, and that he should, 'make the best of his life'.

Wow.

This kid better go on to cure cancer or something. The other kids involved in the day's activities will probably receive longer sentences than Cushing got. They're up for a litany of charges that include things such as; forgery, larceny ( both are felonies ), and felony criminal possession.

I am impressed with Ruvolo's compassion, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have had the same compassion myself. It's a very long time before your life gets back to normal after a trauma and injuries like that. I don't know that I'd be okay with the kid's life being back to normal before mine was.

Cushing should have to spend the rest of his life with Ruvolo's picture taped to his forehead - to help remind him how precious life is - both hers, and his own.