Video: From Tragedy to a Walk Down the Aisle
BILL BAGNANI: I was so grateful for being
able to walk my daughter down the aisle
and making it to the wedding and really doing great.
And, really, I'm thankful for every day I've got.
I'm 70 now, and I'm a quadriplegic.
That's like-- my insurance company thought I'd die years
ago, but I haven't.
And so I'm going to try and stick around
as long as possible.
I never thought that I'd have a daughter.
Let's say we went back 20 years.
I never thought, oh, I'm going to end up adopting, a daughter.
So back in July, when Naomi said she was going to get married
and wanted me to walk her down the aisle, I was like, oh,
my god, that's fantastic, and then moved back up here
and then started working with Jordan Vineyard & Winery out
in Alexander Valley.
The winemaking staff, I worked with the winemaker
to actually have hands on making the wine.
And that's where I got hurt at in 1991.
There was some water on one of the catwalks.
And I slipped off of it and fell on the back
of my neck about 12 feet down to the concrete floor
and broke my neck and my spinal cord.
DANIEL BRENNER: He's a paraplegic.
He has a tracheostomy, so he requires advanced pulmonary care
on a daily basis.
He's had several issues with kidney problems.
And prior to all that, he's had multiple risk factors
for heart disease-- things like coronary disease, conduction
disease.
The Power of One to folks at Sutter
is taking care of the patient as a collective group, all
working together and hoping, like with Bill,
that the end result is actually greater
than all those pieces put together.
And with him, he's, I think, really
a great example of how multiple physicians all talk.
And the care, I think, has been extremely well
coordinated-- understanding his situation, everything
from his home life to transportation needs.
He's a very unique patient.
He requires really individualized care.
And Sutter, I think--
I give credit to all the physicians involved
and all the caregivers involved.
And whenever I talk to him or communicate with him,
I know I'm going to walk away feeling better
about my life, his life, our goals as a health care system,
that we can do a lot of good.
His goal was to be at his daughter's wedding
and to distill all of that down to just wanting
to be there for someone else, really, just puts
it in a whole different perspective,
that he's doing this for his family and to reach that day.
BILL BAGNANI: What great people are at Sutter.
There's-- I mean, damn, when I look at the people,
my doctors are unbelievable.
They're great.
The nurses, unbelievable, great.
I can't say enough highly about them.
I'm very thankful.
They're keeping me alive, you know what I mean?
But [SNIFFLES] I'm sorry.
It's just very emotional.
Because sometimes I can't believe how lucky
I've been in many ways.
It's like you say.
I could have died right there in '91 and a number of times since.
But I've just--
I didn't die, and my life's been really rewarding.
In 1991, Bill Bagnani traded the hustle of Silicon Valley for the serenity of wine country, taking a job as an assistant winemaker at Jordan Vineyard and Winery in Healdsburg, Calif. Life felt promising until a tragic accident changed everything
While working on an elevated catwalk, Bagnani slipped on water and fell 12 feet onto a concrete floor. The impact broke his neck and damaged his spinal cord, leaving him with quadriplegia, a symptom of paralysis that affects a person’s limbs and body from the neck down. Bagnani couldn’t then imagine what his future would hold. Dreams like walking a daughter down the aisle seemed impossible.
Thirty-four years later, Bagnani, who is 70 and living in Geyserville, experienced a milestone that filled his heart with joy. Though he never had children of his own, Naomi Bagnani Abla, the daughter of his former caretaker, who has for years lovingly called him “Uncle Bill,” asked him to walk her down the aisle. For Bagnani, this was a dream come true.
“I never thought I’d adopt a daughter,” Bagnani said. “When Naomi told me she wanted me to walk her down the aisle at her wedding, I was like, ‘Oh my God! That’s fantastic.’”
Bagnani’s journey hasn’t been easy. In addition to quadriplegia, he lives with a tracheostomy and requires highly specialized, coordinated care. His survival and quality of life are possible thanks to a dedicated team of specialists across Sutter Health, including Sutter Medical Group of the Redwoods, Palo Alto Medical Foundation and Sutter West Bay Medical Group.
“As a patient with multiple complex conditions, Bill requires a large, synchronized team to keep him healthy,” explained Dr. Daniel Brenner, a SMRG cardiologist. “Bill’s case is a perfect example of Sutter’s ‘Power of One’ and how exceptional care happens when multiple physicians work together as a team.”
The Power of One philosophy at Sutter means treating patients collectively, ensuring every specialist is interconnected and involved in all aspects of a patient’s care. For Bagnani, this collaboration has proven lifesaving.
Bill Bagnani’s care team includes board-certified physicians from specialty groups across Sutter Health.
“My doctors are unbelievable,” Bagnani said. “The nurses, the entire staff – they’re all great! They’re keeping me alive.”
Reflecting on his journey, Bagnani feels grateful. Sometimes I can’t believe how lucky I’ve been,” he said. “I could’ve died in 1991, and a number of times since. But I didn’t. And my life has been really rewarding.”
Discover Similar Stories
Choose a service topic below to read more stories like this one.
Your Partners in Whole-Person Health
Meet the Care Team
