Mother of crash victim shows love
By EILEEN SCHULTE, Times Staff Writer
Published September 3, 2007
The e-mail started out with four simple words: "I am John's mom."
With that, Debbie Graziano broke her silence about a crash that critically injured her son John Graziano.
Her message was one of strong support for the youth who was driving the car and for his famous parents.
"They are like an extended family," she wrote in an e-mail sent to the media. "Since the day of this nightmare, they have been with us physically, emotionally, mentally and financially. They came and faced our family and friends not knowing what response they would get."
On Aug. 26 in Clearwater, Nick Bollea, whose father is the wrestler Terry Bollea, also known as Hulk Hogan, crashed a yellow Toyota Supra. John Graziano was Nick Bollea's passenger.
Frustrated by a week of "hearing small bites of what is being said in the media (regarding) my son's accident, I can no longer remain silent," Debbie Graziano wrote.
"One week ago, two good friends got into a tragic accident," she wrote. "Two families are devastated. Two mothers are comforting each other and caring for each other's children according to their needs and will continue to do so until, as Terry said, we walk John out of here."
She said that John Graziano has been close to the Bollea family for six years. She said the two families celebrated when John Graziano left for Marine boot camp and again when he came home after serving in Iraq.
She added that the Bolleas have not just sent in food and supplies to the hospital, they personally deliver them.
She said the two families cry together, laugh together and admire John for his dry humor, his courage, his generosity and his love for his family.
She stated that her family has been abundantly blessed by support from family, friends and those she doesn't even know.
"I cannot begin to thank our community for how they have carried us on their shoulders from restaurants, dentists, Palm Harbor Elementary School ... my son's Marine buddies who will begin a second tour of duty in Iraq in the fall are here," she wrote. "I'll close with this: We are two families who love John. It was a horrific accident. Nick is experiencing every step in the process with us."
Eileen Schulte, Times staff writer