Posted on 09/05/2008 8:11:15 AM PDT by IrishMike
The main reason I am writing this column is that many people have asked me how I first realized I was suffering from a brain tumor and what I have done about it. But I also want to relate the reaction to my disease, mostly compassionate, that belies Washington's reputation.
The first sign that I was in trouble came on Wednesday, July 23, when my 2004 black Corvette struck a pedestrian on 18th Street in downtown Washington while I was on my way to my office.
I did not realize I had hit anyone until a shirt-sleeved young man on a bicycle, whom I incorrectly thought to be a bicycle messenger, jumped in front of my car to block the way. In fact, he was David A. Bono, a partner in the high-end law firm Harkins Cunningham. The bicyclist was shouting at me that I could not just hit people and then drive away. That was the first I knew about the accident. Mr. Bono called the police, and a patrolman soon arrived.
After I said I had no idea I had hit anyone until they flagged me down and informed me, Mr. Bono told The Washington Post, "I would not believe that." Fortunately, the investigating officer, P. Garcia, was a policeman who listened and apparently believed me. While Mr. Bono and other bystanders were taking on aspects of a mob, shouting "hit-and-run," Officer Garcia issued a right-of-way infraction against me, costing me $50, instead of a hit-and-run violation that would have been a felony. Following Officer Garcia's instructions, I promptly paid the $50 fine at Third District Police Headquarters in Northwest Washington, in cash and in person.
Officer Garcia's justification in believing me was soon confirmed by the diagnosis of my brain cancer, in which I have lost not only left peripheral vision but nearly all my left vision, probably permanently. Several people have asked me whether the person I hit was crossing in front of me on my left. I answer, "I never saw him."
David A. Bono
Partner
Washington Office
David Bono represents business clients in complex and appellate litigation, and he advises them with respect to their federal regulatory obligations. In his trial-level work, for example, Mr. Bono successfully argued on behalf of a coalition of the nation’s thirty-six largest railroads for a nationwide injunction against a possible labor strike. His representation before the United States Supreme Court has included a case affirming the federal courts’ inherent power to impose sanctions for bad-faith conduct, and the Court appointed Mr. Bono in another case to brief the constitutional rights of property owners. His regulatory advice has included environmental and securities matters.
Mr. Bono is a former trial attorney with the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., where he represented the interests of federal agencies, Cabinet officers and other Executive Branch officials with respect to federal regulations, statutes and policies. For example, he was lead trial counsel for the Secretary of Transportation, the Attorney General, and the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Justice in the federal lawsuit that prevented the Exxon Valdez from returning to Prince William Sound, Alaska. He also represented the Secretary of Energy in litigation seeking $120 million for his alleged wrongful termination of a contract to purchase electricity.
Mr. Bono graduated magna cum laude from Duke University in 1982, with double majors in Public Policy Studies and Economics. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1986, where he was an Editor of the Harvard Law Review and placed second in the Williston Negotiation Competition. He served as a law clerk to The Honorable Edward R. Becker, Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and the Bars of the United States Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Phone: (202) 973-7603
E-Mail: dbono@harkinscunningham.com
Sorry.
Prayers offered up for you MarineMom613.
You have to take care of yourself girl, it is hard losing your Mom and so many close in the last 9 months. They and your brave son would want you to take care of yourself, have it checked out better.
God Bless you, God Bless your son. Thank him for me.
((((hugs))))
From a mom of two marines.
Semper Fi
Prayers up for Novak, and prayers up for you. You have your plate full right now.
Loss of peripheral vision is often connected to glaucoma, which is easily treated, either by minor eye surgery or using daily drops.
I can really sympathize with you. I have lost three sisters to cancer in the last five years. When it runs in the family, it’s always at the back of your mind.
But don’t worry, be happy. Even Jesus says that, in different words:
“Don’t worry about tomorrow. Sufficient unto the day are the troubles therein.”
Live each day to the fullest, pray always, and treat everyone you meet with respect and kindness.
Plame and Wilson are beneath contempt.
“I’m told that President George W. Bush has not liked my criticism, particularly of his Iraq war policy. But the president is a compassionate man, and he telephoned me at 7:24 a.m. on August 15, six minutes before I went into surgery. The conversation lasted only a minute, but his prayerful concern was touching and much appreciated.”
As only that loving and kind man would.
Go see an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. Make sure you don’t have glaucoma. You have to get a diagnosis, the sooner the better.
I’m not sure but what I might have been just as belligerent with someone who had just struck a pedestrian with his car and continued on as though nothing had happened. The shock of seeing some struck by a car, then the person not stopping, having to chase them down and then jump in front of the car to stop the driver would make me pretty insistent when I finally talked to the driver. From the witnesses point of view this was a clear cut case of hit and run. Sadly, it happens all the time, people hit a pedestrian or bike rider and flee the scene on purpose.
I think I would be inclined to cut the witness a bit of slack.
“You would not believe some of the horrible statements about Bob Novak on the Obama Blogs.”
You would not believe some of the horrible statements about Bob Novak here on FR.
Sadly, in the wrong places, a driver will be beaten to death by a mob if he doesn't flee & find the cops.
It pains me to admit it, but when I'm really depressed one thing that always cheers me up is the thought of just mowing down one of those smart-ass kids that saunter out in front of me mid-block, assuming I'll slow to avoid them. In my present state of mind I am confident I will be able to resist this temptation for now. I can't make any promises for a week or two from now.
Do you ever get the feeling the world is becoming just too darned complicated these days?
ping
Thank you for the ping . . . our President is one of a kind!!
“I think I would be inclined to cut the witness a bit of slack.”
Right, Mr. Bono sounds like a real nice guy.
“While Mr. Bono and other bystanders were taking on aspects of a mob...”
Plus if it was a bike messenger he probably had it coming.
Many of us have the same feelings. The arrogant kids nowadays are not like those in previous years, who were taught by parents and teachers alike to look both ways, cross only at the corner, etc. and watch out for their own safety.
My daughter-in-law, a doctor, always mutters under her breath when she has to brake for some moron teenager shuffling across the street with his butt sticking out of his droopy drawers, "You're gonna make a great organ donor!"
My wife had a benign brain tumor about the size of a big plum removed about 10 years ago. The only reason we knew was because she kept bumping into walls and hearing things that weren't there. It was an acoustic neuroma. It all made sense after we found it with MRA imaging.
We have a large Catholic high school in our neighborhood. Their gym is on the opposite side of a fairly busy road from their classrooms. The city has put up a pedestrian crossing traffic light to let the students cross safely. They totally ignore that light. They just stream across while the light is green for cars and red for them. The first kid there pushes the walk button and they don’t even wait for it change, they just head on across. And they stream across regardless of the status of the crossing signal. Really aggravates me.
I went into the office one day and complained. The administrator advised they had tried to control them better but they just simply refused to go along with the rules. They felt there was nothing else they could do put a stop to it. I told him I would bet him $1,000 that if I drove through the crosswalk one day while it was full of students ignoring the signal and killed or seriously injured a dozen or so them they would soon learn what the red signal means. I told him to ‘fess up, it wasn’t a matter of “can’t” do anything to stop it, but rather one of “won’t” do anything to stop it. Big difference.
Let me hasten to state clearly, before the flame throwers can be gotten from the closet and fired up, I am NOT recommending anyone mow down a dozen or more kids in a school crosswalk, even if they are walking against the signal. My point is the behavior could be stopped if they would give it sufficient priority.
My wife had a benign brain tumor about the size of a big plum removed about 10 years ago.
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Prayers and best wishes.
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