First year Bronco’s Fight inspires Forgiveness

On August 14, new teacher Loressa Pecoraro was on the way home after her first teacher work day when a teenage driver fell asleep at the wheel, hitting her head-on, causing severe injuries.

The accident occurred on U.S. Highway 380, causing back-ups for several hours. The student, from a different district was uninjured, but Pecoraro suffered a punctured lung and many broken bones. In September, she moved from the intensive care unit at Parkland Memorial Hospital to a rehabilitation unit in Frisco, where she undergoes treatment.

On her fundraising page, James Barfield said doctors expect it will be three months before she can put any weight on her more damaged right leg and she will be in a wheelchair for some time. He also reported it will be close to a year before she recovers fully.

Denton ISD granted Pecoraro a temporary leave of absence. Pecoraro graduated Texas Tech last spring, and had accepted a position at Denton High teaching Family and Consumer Science, as well as coaching the freshman cheerleaders. Barfield said her desire was to be a godly influence to those young girls just starting out in high school with all its pressures. Pecoraro has helped to lead worship since she was 13 and most recently helped to lead worship at Redeemer Church in Lubbock, TX.

Even though Pecoraro was only here for one day, she is still considered part of DHS.

“She is a part of our Bronco family,” head principal Dan Ford said. “Bronco Nation consists of the students, the parents, the staff, the community, and the alumni. That’s all part of it. For us it is kind of like a parenting situation. Being the principal of the school, you sometimes get called ‘Dad’ and Ms. Koontz will get called ‘Mom’. But when something like this happens you take them in like family and you wrap your arms around them and you love them and support them.”

Many DHS organizations have donated gift cards for Pecoraro and her family. Denton High organized a fundraiser on Sept. 25, at Genghis Grill. Genghis Grill donated 20 percent of proceeds to Pecoraro when diners mentioned they were there with Denton High School. Additionally, Gofundme.com has a page for Percoraro where people can donate money towards her medical bills. In the first month the site was online, donations totalled $28,000 out of the $50,000 needed for medical bills.

There isn’t much information about the student who hit Pecoraro. His record is protected since he he is a minor. According to the Denton Record Chronicle, he visited Pecoraro at Parkland to apologize. Pecoraro forgave him without hesitation.

“How many of us, in the same situation could say that we would do the same thing?” Ford said. “We simply get pushed in the hall and get upset. Here this lady has gone through probably one of the most traumatic accidents she has ever been through and she is all ‘I forgive you’…wow. We should all aspire to be like her.”

Looking at the situation, Pecoraro was someone no one one really knew yet. She came for training one day, then her life suddenly took a wrong turn. People handle an event such as this in one of two ways – optimistic or pessimistic. Pecoraro choose to deal with her accident with forgiveness. The amount of optimism and compassion she has as person is inspiring.

“When she comes back we’ll welcome her with open arms,” Ford said. “And say, ‘Welcome home’ home – is the key. This is her home and we want to make her feel like that. And I know she is excited to come.”

To donate or receive updates about Pecoraro, visit her fundraising page.

This story has been published on the Best of SNO website. The Best of SNO website showcases great student journalism from members of the School Newspapers Online Network.