3 families tell their story for Heart Walk, Sept. 23

Lewiston Porter Sentinel, September 16, 2006

The biggest killer in the Buffalo Niagara region isn’t crime or cancer but an epidemic from heart disease and stroke. Every family who loses a loved one knows how important prevention, treatment, and research is. Survivors know how fortunate they are.

This year the American Heart Association is putting a special face on the Buffalo Niagara Heart Walk that will take place Saturday, Sept. 23, at Dunn Tire Park, 275 Washington St., Buffalo.

The association is especially honoring those who, all by themselves or with the unconditional love of another, have found a way to keep fighting to stay strong and keep living.

They will be walking in this year’s Heart Walk and have set personal goals to raise funds for the critical dollars needed to fuel research and education in the area of heart disease and stroke.

Nicolas Gambino

Nicolas Gambino and his mother, Maureen.

Nicolas Gambino, 5, of Lewiston was born with a rare syndrome that caused a congenital heart defect, Tetrology of Fallot.

He was also born with a tethered spinal cord and esophageal artesia. This is a birth defect in which the esophagus, which connects the mouth to the stomach, is shortened and closed off at some point along its length. This defect almost always occurs in conjunction with a condition in which the esophagus is improperly attached to the trachea, the “windpipe” that carries air into the lungs. Two days after he was born, Nicolas had surgery to detach the esophagus from his trachea.

However, when the doctors at Women’s and Children’s Hospital went in from the left side of his tiny body, they could not initially do the surgery, as they learned his aorta was flipped. They had to close him up and go into the other side of his body.

Soon after, he recovered well and then underwent two open-heart surgeries. In the first one, Nicolas was Mercy-flighted to the Cleveland Clinic so they could put a shunt in his heart. This allowed enough oxygenated blood to travel through his body. It was a close call. Nicolas’ underwent a second open-heart surgery when he was about 8 months old to repair the heart so it could function as close to normal as possible.

In June of 2003, he also had angioplasty because the pulmonary valve was narrowing again. Nicolas’ heart will never be completely healthy. He has a leaky valve that may have to be replaced one day. His aorta is flipped in the opposite direction, and he has narrowing around the valve, which will most likely need widening through another angioplasty in the future.

Nicolas’ life was saved because of research funded through the American Heart Association. Without funding, research would be minimal. As Nicolas and others with heart defects continue to grow, we need to provide them with the best future possible.

Nicolas started kindergarten in September.

Jared Lombardi

Jared Lombardi, 6, of Ransomville is a survivor. He is the beneficiary of recent medical advancements, which have made his very survival possible. Jared began life with a congenital heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot. Jared or “Jear-Bear” as he is affectionately called by his family, was born on June 19, 2000, 13 months and 3 days after his “big” brother Jacob, to Jason and Jennifer Lombardi of Lewiston.

Although no problems had been anticipated, shortly after his birth delivery room nurses at Mount St. Mary’s Hospital felt “something wasn’t quite right,” so Jared’s pediatrician, Dr. Robert Gadawski, was notified. Upon his recommendation, Jared was transferred to Women and Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, where his heart condition was diagnosed by cardiologist Dr. Joseph Orie.

At 3 months of age he traveled to Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital for his first surgery, followed one year later by his second surgery, at the Cleveland Clinic.

This June 19, Jared celebrated his sixth birthday. To see this robust, happy-go-lucky youngster today, one would never guess what this little guy has endured. His bright, bespectacled eyes, ever-present smile and gregarious personality inspire everyone around him. He previously attended school every day at Niagara Children’s, where he was dubbed “Smooch” by the faculty and staff. By the grace of God, the prayers of many, and the miracle of modern medicine, Jared embraces a future full of promise. He now attends Lewiston-Porter Elementary every day for school.

Patrick Ieraci

Patrick Ieraci and his mother, Beth.

The joy at the birth of a fourth son quickly turned to despair when the Ieraci family of Lewiston was told that Patrick was born with a congenital heart defect. Patrick had both transposition of the great arteries and a hole in his heart. He would need surgery immediately to survive.

After enduring two open-heart surgeries in the first month of life, Patrick is today a happy, inquisitive and very active 7-year-old who loves to swim and play baseball.

The family is the first to tell you that they quickly learned that heart disease does not affect only older adults. The Ieraci family wants Patrick’s story to help make people aware that heart disease can strike at any age, but also inspire other families who have to face this difficult road to carry on and persevere. Through research funded by the American Heart Association; Patrick’s future is bright and full of promise.

You can help support the American Heart Association and Nicolas, Jared and Patrick by making a donation today. Visit buffaloniagaraheartwalk.org or call 614-1997 to register, to walk or to donate.

This year’s goal is $520,000. The American Heart Walk event is 3.1 miles or a 5K. Registration is at 8:30 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m.