Long Island teen Finn Schiavone overcomes paralysis, credits Navy SEALs as inspiration
A Long Island teenager says a Navy SEAL museum, and the people who run it, inspired him to overcome an unthinkable challenge.
Finn Schiavone overcame paralysis after a traumatic brain injury he sustained during wrestling practice almost three years ago.
"I lost my ability to walk, talk, read and write," Schiavone said.
He says the bravery on display at West Sayville's Lt. Michael P. Murphy Navy SEAL Museum is what inspired him as he went through rehab.
"It's like, truly amazing - what people were able to put their mind to," Schiavone said.
After two years of slight improvements, one day his aide rolled him into the museum in his wheelchair. Schiavone said something within its walls lit a new spark.
"I was dazed out, half the time. But I remember coming here, and I was like, this is the place. They're going to be with me," Schiavone said.
He was right.
"Every time he came back, something new changed"
"This kid had this infectious smile and charisma to him, but he couldn't relay his message," Lt. Michael P. Murphy Navy SEAL Museum Executive Director Chris Wylie said.
Wylie said the two developed an instant connection, and as Schiavone frequently returned to the museum, that bond grew.
"Winded up making this museum a normal spot, monthly or every other month, to come and visit and give him a little more inspiration," Wylie said.
Each time Schiavone showed off his progress. His rehab, six days a week, were helping him.
"Every time he came back, something new changed," Wylie said.
Finn Schiavone takes his first steps during a race in 2024.
Schiavone family
Last year, during a race, Wylie was there to help Schiavone take his first steps on his own.
"He ended up surprising his mother, taking a couple of steps. She never saw him get out of his wheelchair and be able to move on his own," Wylie said.
Schiavone made these significant improvements after two years in a wheelchair, which is when doctors say significant functional recovery is rare.
Now Schiavone is fully recovered, and competing in strength challenges at the museum.
"I have nothing but gratitude for this place," he said.
His next goal is to finish up high school and, once he graduates in two years, he wants to go into the Naval Academy and pursue special warfare.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
20 minutes ago
- Fox News
Pastor's son dies in tragic fall on graduation trip, family vows to 'honor him by living life to the fullest'
A pastor's son in Texas died after falling from a 50-foot waterfall in Washington state during a trip celebrating his graduation from high school. Brad Ray Herridge, a pastor at Ocker Brethren Church in Temple, Texas, said on Facebook that his son, Grant Herridge, died on June 8 following a "tragic accident" at Olympic National Park in Washington. The National Park Service said in a statement that an 18-year-old man fell off a 50-foot waterfall at Olympic National Park in Port Angeles, Washington. Eyewitnesses saw the teenager walking across rocks at the top of a waterfall when he slipped. The Olympic National Park Search and Rescue Team began its search immediately after Herridge went missing, but haven't recovered his body. Rescue operations were paused on Tuesday because of weather conditions. The teen's father said his son was "always so full of life," adding, "We are going to honor him by living life to the fullest in the future." Brad Herridge told KWTX his son left for a post-graduation trip on June 8, seeking to visit seven national parks around the United States. "He loved doing exciting, fun things," Herridge said. "He has a ring that he's been wearing for several years and the reason he got the ring was because of the saying that was inscribed in the ring that says, 'While we wait for life, life passes.'" Grant Herridge planned to attend Baylor University in the fall, according to his dad. "He had wanted to go to Baylor his whole life," Herridge said. "His mom and I graduated from Baylor, his mom works for Baylor… so Baylor's like in his heart." In a statement posted to Facebook, Grant Herridge's former school, Vanguard College Preparatory, said, "We love you, Grant." "You were a bright light and a true lighthouse in the Viking community, guiding others with kindness, joy, fun, and unwavering faith and inclusivity. Whether in the classroom, on the golf course, or in the halls, your light drew people in and made them feel seen, valued, and welcome," the school wrote. "The students, faculty, staff, and coaches are all better because of you."
Fox News
33 minutes ago
- Fox News
'28 Years Later' Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Alfie Williams preview new movie
All times eastern Special Report with Bret Baier The Evening Edit with Elizabeth Macdonald FOX News Radio Live Channel Coverage
Fast Company
an hour ago
- Fast Company
Optimize messaging to stand out during a chaotic news cycle
In today's media environment, even the most compelling stories risk being drowned out by the sheer volume of breaking news, commentary, and developments. Each hour seems to bring a new wave of headlines and alerts. The pace and amount of information in this nonstop news cycle makes it increasingly difficult for mission-driven organizations to rise above the noise and make their voices heard. For Meals on Wheels America, the leadership organization supporting more than 5,000 community-based organizations delivering vital services to vulnerable seniors, breaking through this noise isn't just a communications challenge—it's critical to our mission to ensure that every senior in America can live a nourished life with independence and dignity. Fortunately, Meals on Wheels is a well-known and respected brand. But with that recognition comes responsibility, to communicate with clarity, purpose, and precision. We must remain relevant while creating lasting impact. Often, this means rapidly assessing how new developments or decisions affect our network as a whole, then striking a careful balance in our messaging. We need to inform without alarming—communicating clearly when actions would harm Meals on Wheels providers, without sensationalizing the message or creating unnecessary chaos across the network. We're always thinking about the seniors we serve and avoiding undue panic that could make them worry about where their next meal will come from. The changing rules of engagement The rules of engagement have changed in today's environment. It's not just what you say, but how, when, and where you say it that determines whether your message sticks or gets lost amid the overwhelming barrage of content. I've learned in recent months that the noise isn't going to stop, so we must become more strategic, agile, and intentional in our communication. Here are four key lessons I've learned in our efforts to make Meals on Wheels America stand out in this media landscape: 1. Lead with authenticity In a world fatigued by constant misinformation, people crave honesty. While urgency is often necessary, overreliance on crisis language can desensitize audiences. Instead, clearly articulating why an issue matters now—grounded in authentic, relatable experiences and stories—builds a stronger, lasting connection that will resonate with your audiences. 2. Elevate your organization's unique value With countless causes and organizations competing for attention, differentiation is crucial. What makes your organization essential and why should people care? For us, it's not just that we deliver meals, it's that we provide a lifeline that keeps seniors healthier, connected, independent at home, and out of more costly alternatives. When I explain that for many seniors, a Meals on Wheels volunteer is the only human contact they have all week, something clicks for people and they get it. 3. Be transparent, especially when you don't have all the answers Trust is earned and built through honesty, even when the picture is incomplete. Acknowledging what you don't yet know while sharing how you're working toward solutions builds far more credibility than pretending to have all the answers. Transparency positions you as a reliable source—someone who values truth over conjecture, choosing to gather facts before offering conclusions. Our organization recently had to leap into action when a leaked government memo suggested our network's sources of federal funding would be frozen. We were receiving conflicting reports and couldn't get a clear answer on whether we would be impacted. When journalists started coming to us for clarity, we had to be honest: We didn't know, and that was the root of the problem! Leaked information was causing chaos, and suddenly, we were working with reporters to be a resource to one another, sharing information as we learned it. 4. Embrace creativity In a crowded landscape, it's often bold and unconventional storytelling that yields the biggest impact. By stepping outside the bounds of traditional advocacy, organizations can capture attention and inspire action. Equally important is humanizing your message—putting real faces to the challenges you highlight. This not only contextualizes complex issues, but also makes them more relatable, urgent, and emotionally resonant with everyday audiences. Rethink messaging Consider our recent message highlighting the positive economic impact for U.S. tax payers of investing in Meals on Wheels. While compassion drives our mission, data matters too, especially in policy-focused environments. By framing our work in terms of cost savings to taxpayers, like reducing the need for hospital and long-term care facility stays, we're adding a pragmatic, fact-based layer to our story. It's messaging that resonates among policymakers and the media. Additionally, we built our new creative campaign, ' On Hold ' around a universally relatable experience, to break through and drive increased awareness and urgency around senior hunger and isolation. The campaign creative brings this to life by matching all the hallmarks of being on hold—the annoying music, the impersonal prerecorded response—with growing frustration. The feeling becomes so visceral that our seniors start physically manifesting it. This unexpected approach brings cultural relevance to a serious issue while reinforcing our key message: Our seniors have been left on hold, waiting for America to care for far too long. It's time to answer the call and start prioritizing our seniors. In this congested media environment, we also need strategic storytelling, delivered intentionally across the right channels, in the right format, to the right audience. For organizations like ours, success means staying authentic while continuously emphasizing both the emotional and practical value of our work. It's equally vital to illustrate the 'why' and to clearly show what's at stake if local providers don't receive the federal funding on which they rely. Ultimately, the noise isn't going away, but neither will our determination to ensure that the needs of the seniors we serve are heard loud and clear. By optimizing and refining our messaging strategies, embracing creative risks, and staying attuned to what audiences truly care about, we can and will continue to make a meaningful impact, even amid the most turbulent news cycles.
