Alexia Nepola Shares an Update on Her Son Frankie's Recovery: "He's Doing Great"
The RHOM mom says she's gotten better at allowing Frankie to become more independent.
Alexia Nepola admits she can be an overprotective parent, but she’s learning to rein in those mama bear instincts.
The Real Housewives of Miami mom tackled the subject during a recent appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, where she shared a heartwarming update on her son Frankie Rosello. Alexia spoke candidly about her youngest child's recovery journey, which stemmed from a 2011 car accident that left him with a life-changing brain injury.
Fans got a closer look at Frankie’s progression in RHOM Season 5, which explored his work with the De Moya Foundation, a Miami-based nonprofit that aims to create opportunities for those with developmental disabilities.
Alexia Nepola says her son Frankie has gained more confidence
WWHL host Andy Cohen touched on Frankie's ongoing recovery during the January 24 episode and asked Alexia if her son had made any improvements in regards to becoming more independent.
“I think he’s more confident. I think he believes more in himself,” she said. “Frankie was in a serious car accident many years ago and he suffers from a brain injury… He’s doing so much better.”
Alexia went on to acknowledge all the love and support her family has received in the years since Frankie’s accident. She also expressed thanks for her Housewives platform, which has allowed her to raise awareness about traumatic brain injuries.
Alexia Nepola admits she was "scared" to let Frankie go
“I love that the fans are always rooting for us and praying for us,” she said. “And I’ve been able to inspire so many people because he has a lot of similarities with autistic children, because he had a brain injury and, obviously, we don’t really know how the brain is. We don’t know enough about the brain, that is the truth.”
She continued: “I love that we can help people and I give them that hope. But I’m also much better as far as, like, letting him go. I think that I was one of the ones that was stopping him from progressing, because I wanted to protect him. I’m so scared that anything’s gonna happen to him. But he’s doing great.”
Alexia Nepola reflects on Frankie's tragic car accident
Alexia opened up about her son’s journey in a heartbreaking Instagram post last year, admitting she was optimistic about the future but “will never recover from Frankie’s accident.”
“It’s only my wish that he can continue to improve in time, and he can be as ‘normal and productive’ as his limitations allow,” she wrote in a February 16 Instagram. “I will never accept the loss of my dreams for him, and I will never give up on him or (her oldest son) Peter [Rosello]. Our pain is so deep… I thank God everyday for allowing me to still have my Frankie. I have survived heartaches of all kinds...I hope to inspire all people to believe that remaining positive will eventually lead to a happy and healthy future.”
