
Local resident thanks Hunterdon Medical Center neurosurgeon for saving her life
HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ – Readington Township resident Christina Napoli has a lot to be thankful for.
On January 27, 2023, Christina was heading to work as a preschool teacher when she slipped on black ice and hit her head. Not realizing the severity of her injuries, she cleaned up a cut above her eye and continued with her day, opening up her preschool.
“When I got to work, my colleagues didn’t think I looked well, and my headache started getting worse, so my director drove me to Hunterdon Medical Center’s Emergency Department,” Napoli explained.
Christina doesn’t remember much after arriving at the hospital, but Dr. Richard Buonocore, a neurosurgeon, recalls her case vividly.
“Christina had the most severe brain bleed I’ve ever seen. We rushed her to the operating room and performed an emergency craniotomy to access the brain and repair the bleed.” A craniotomy is a surgical procedure in which a small hole is made in the skull to allow doctors to treat the brain. Dr. Buonocore added, “Had Christina not had this procedure at Hunterdon Medical Center and needed to be transported to another facility, she wouldn’t be alive today.”
After the surgery, Christina was able to talk and even enjoyed a chopped salmon burger. “I remember Dr. Buonocore was amazed that I was eating and talking so quickly. Everyone who cared for me at Hunterdon Medical Center was so kind and treated me like family,” Christina said.
Christina faced a long road to recovery, with strong family support helping her as she navigated rehab with daily physical and occupational therapy. “I was back to work five weeks after my surgery, walker in hand. Returning to teach my four-year-olds was a key part of my recovery,” Christina explained.
Nearly two years have passed since Christina’s fall, and she remains thankful. “For the past couple of years, I often send Dr. Buonocore pictures of places I’ve been, weddings I’ve attended, and family I’ve spent time with, telling him that it’s because of him I get to experience all these things.”
Dr. Buonocore, a neurosurgeon with a special interest in stereotactic radiosurgery, joined Neurosurgical Associates of Central Jersey in 2019. He is affiliated with Hunterdon Medical Center.