Perfectly Guided: Mother Shares 23-Year Journey of Advocacy, Miracles and Resilience

Local resident Donna Giffune is a physical therapist, a registered nurse, and a teacher. But these are just hats she wears, her vocation is supporting and advocating for her son, Ben. Perfectly Guided…How Saving Ben Turned into Saving Me is a memoir by a loving mother 23 years in the making.

Giffune first attended Russel Sage College in 1983 where she studied to become a physical therapist. Three years after Giffune graduated, she welcomed Ben into the world.

Early in Ben’s life, Giffune noticed abnormalities in Ben’s development. But when she brought her concerns up to her family physician, he told her: “You are a concerned mother who happens to be a physical therapist.”

She went to Albany Medical Center where she met a doctor who said to her three words she will never forget: “I believe you.” On September 11th, 1992, Ben had a CT scan on his brain which revealed a large tumor.

Doctors were able to completely remove the tumor; which left Ben with permanent learning disabilities. “I wasn’t fazed by it, I evolved through him,” said Giffune.

Ben’s surgery at Albany Medical Center left his mother with a $150,000-dollar medical bill. Her insurance would not cover it, but Giffune never paid a dime on her son’s life-saving surgery. 

Her sister worked as a stewardess at US Airlines in Albany, “She must have mentioned it at work,” said Giffune. “When I called Albany Medical Center a few weeks later, the balance was paid off. I never saw the bill. To this day I don’t know who paid for Ben’s medical bills.” 

Giffune went back to college to earn her teaching degree in 2007. She introduced brain-based learning to her son, a technique that emphasizes problem solving. “Ben’s my teacher and I’m the student,” said Giffune.

Inspired by his mother, Ben decided he wanted to earn a college degree of his own. 

Through a partnership with Saratoga Bridges and Skidmore College, Ben was able to attend a modified class load to achieve a certificate of learning. He walked the stage at Skidmore College graduation in 2010.

As fate would have it, Ben would not be through the woods of his health complications. In 2016, Ben suffered a stroke, from which he was able to make a full recovery. After, Giffune felt inspired to attend nursing school to better understand her son’s health.

Today Ben is working at a local Market 32, a job he has held for 19 years and lives in an apartment with 3 other roommates. 

“I was perfectly guided all the way,” said Giffune. “You come out the other side with gratitude.”

Perfectly Guided… How Saving Ben Turned into Saving Me is available for purchase at Northshire Bookstore and on Amazon. Two copies are also available at the Saratoga Public Library.