After a Bike Accident, He's Giving Back to His "Angels" at Jefferson Moss-Magee

“May 2025 will be 10 years from that morning when I got on that bike,” Tony Degliomini says. His journey started in May 2015 when, participating in a charity bike ride in South Philadelphia, he hit a sinkhole and was paralyzed from the neck down.

After being rushed to Jefferson Hospital for emergency neck surgery, he was in the ICU for a week before being brought to Jefferson Moss-Magee Rehabilitation Hospital on Race Street. “At that point in time, there really was no prognosis on the severity of my paralysis,” he shares. “I had to learn to walk again. As I progressed each day and each week, they said, ‘Well, things are looking good. It looks like you’re going to gain back a lot of your functionality, but we don’t know to what extent.’”

After a month, he was moved to Magee’s “Boot Camp”, the outpatient program on Columbus Boulevard, where he underwent six more months of intense care.

“I wouldn’t be here without my care team,” Degliomini shares. “They were family. From the doctors, to the nurses, to the therapists, to the people who maintain the building, to the cafeteria workers, the whole team uses a holistic approach to rehab. They really understand what is needed to get through that journey. There are so many needs, from emotional to physical, and they use love and compassion along with their expertise in how to get people back to a normal way of life again.”

In addition to physical and occupational therapy, he also participated in music, art, and horticulture therapy. “And I love the dogs from the canine companion program,” he says. “They are amazing. All of these programs allow you to take little steps forward, and were critical in getting me into a mindset that I needed to do the rehab and also feel like I was accomplishing something at the same time.”

After about a year, Degliomini was able to walk again without assistance. Today, giving back—and paying it forward—is never far from his mind—or his heart. He shares, “One night in the hospital I was praying, and I said, ‘God, if you would be able to help me and guide me through this, with your help, I promise the rest of my life that I will give back.’”

He continues to fulfill that promise. Several years ago, he was asked to participate in Jefferson Moss-Magee’s Gala fundraiser, the Night of Champions. Today, he co-chairs the event’s committee.  “This is an opportunity for me to be part of something that helped me,” he says. “This year is our 25th anniversary. Being part of everything is a dream come true and fulfills my promise to give back each day. It’s a perfect match for me and my mission in life going forward.”

“Philanthropy is vital to funding the special therapy programs that are so near and dear to my heart,” Degliomini shares. “Proceeds from the Night of Champions go specifically to art, horticulture, music, and canine therapies. I speak about the programs that I actually participated in.”

“10 years ago, I left the house and thought, ‘I’ll be back this afternoon. I’m going to put on some spaghetti and do some gravy,” he says. “I didn’t come back for over a month. Jefferson Moss-Magee saved my life. Without their expertise, guidance, compassion, and love, my family wouldn’t have anything today.”

Learn more about the 25th Annual Night of Champions on May 2, 2025. Proceeds benefit Patient and Community Programs at Jefferson Moss-Magee Rehabilitation.