Boy, 4, Doing Well After Transplant, To Be Guest Of Honor At Wounded Warrior Event
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- One of two little boys who received organs from a girl who passed away in Nebraska is doing well enough to leave the hospital for a few hours on Saturday.
Angelo Giorno, 4, will be the guest of honor at a fundraiser to help veterans.
It was a little more than two weeks ago when he underwent a transplant to get a new intestine.
Dale Darazio and his husband Dean Kuhns say Angelo's diet is slowly expanding.
"He's been eating mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese and dip, which is chicken broth," said Darazio.
The couple took Angelo into their family in Derry, Westmoreland County, three years ago. He was born with his intestines outside his body and forced to spend 16 hours a day attached to an IV.
But then, earlier this month, came the transplant. Since then, things are looking good.
"The doctors are concerned with a little bit of rejection," said Kuhns. "They've got to find a balance with medications to get that cleared up, but other than that, you wouldn't know he was sick."
Angelo covered his face and grinned while our camera was there, but once KDKA's David Highfield asked him about food, he seemed to become more outspoken. The 4-year-old quickly said "Yes!" when asked if he liked macaroni and cheese.
His intestine came from Olivia, a little girl in Nebraska who died of brain cancer.
Her liver went to another local boy, Lucas Goeller.
Angelo's dads are very grateful: "It's hard to explain because it's very emotional. Olivia's family, we can't thank enough. We can't thank Olivia enough," said Kuhns.
The walls of Angelo's hospital room are covered with cards from well-wishers from around the world, but on Saturday, he'll actually get to leave the hospital for an event to help the Wounded Warrior Project.
"So they asked Angelo to come up and kind of be a guest of an honor perhaps, kind of get him out of the hospital for a little bit," said Darazio.
The event will be held at Z and M Cycles in Greensburg. Angelo's dads will be DJ's there.
Dale and Dean know there's still a long road ahead for Angelo, but so far, he's charging down it.
"All we got to do is keep praying and keep hoping," said Kuhns.
Doctors are telling them Angelo will still be in the hospital for several weeks, possibly as long as three months.
If you'd like to help the family with medical bills for Angelo, they're involved with a group that helps raise money for transplant costs: http://cotaforangelog.com/
Also, you can check out Angelo's Transplant Page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angelostransplant/timeline
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