Connetquot Family in need
Donation protected
On December 3rd, 2015 - the Panico family had their lives changed drastically. Mike Panico, husband and father, sole provider and hard working man had a massive heart attack. He died 13 times but thanks to a man named Jamie at Lakeland FD and the amazing team at Stonybrook, he was brought back each time. This took a toll on his health though, and he will never be the same It took awhile, he was in a coma for about two weeks and there were concerns about mental functions but Mike is a fighter and he made it through this, He was released Christmas day.
In February he returned to the hospital with congestive heart failure. He made it through that. He was doing ok through May 2016 - when his left main ventricle once again became 100% clogged. He went into a-fib 3 times and again, Lakeland FD was there along with Stonybrook to get him stable. He was home 8 days later.
Fast forward to August 26, 2016 - Mike now knows the signs and instead of trying to be the invincible strong man that he's always been to his family - he allowed his family to take care of him and call 911. Lakeland FD to the rescue again – he was released from Stonybrook Hospital on the 29th after being told he went into heart failure due to the CHF.
The Panico’s are a family who, despite all of this, keep their sense of humor and their faith in their higher power, but they are in financial hardship, and because of all these medical issues, unable to dig themselves out - Each time Mike seems to be doing better – they take one step forward and three steps back. This last time was their last straw.
The children are all working and buy their own school supplies, clothes and other essentials. Mike has been trying to keep the trucking company going to bring in some sort of income - but driver after driver has cost them more in repairs than in income. Eileen works around the children's schedule (thankfully she can choose her own hours) so that someone is always home with Mike, in case of emergency. (And luckily she was home with him this last time)
They've applied for assistance and unfortunately, they don't get much. Disability pays their taxes and despite what you might think - food stamps for the family covers the basics. It doesn't allow them to get personals such as toilet paper, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner and other personal items. (That comes from Eileen’s part time salary) They are now behind on many bills - electric, water, phone and the credit card bills from before his illness remain unpaid. Eileen’s car died and she’s fighting with the dealership to get it fixed, their pool liner ripped ( they don't care about that though because they don’t think of that as a necessity!) And they find themselves severely struggling.
Mike has been trying to sell the camper (again it's not a necessity and it needs to go) as well as a tractor and trailer to help alleviate some of the burden they have. So far, no luck.
They don't believe in handouts for themselves. They feel like they can’t ask their community for more help especially after the outpouring of generosity in December. They had hoped to just be able to continue to pay it forward by being active in the community through groups such as the civic and the PTA . And they continue to do this.
They were raised to give back and never thought they’d be on this end. They are both hard-working people who didn't realize that they were "one medical emergency away from disaster" Unfortunately, that medical emergency happened and here they are.
They need your help. They won’t ask for it. We tried to convince them to do this.. We know they will continue to help the community – but we are asking for them. We hope you can find it in your hearts to once again be as generous as possible to help them get through this – we know they appreciate it and we know they will continue to volunteer to help their community in sweat equity to pay it forward.
Keep praying for them. Spread the word about the camper for sale and the truck and tractor for sale. We are asking you to donate here on Go Fund Me or send checks to them at their home - PM us on facebook for the address
(link - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100013393805353 )
or email us at [email redacted]
Thank you for helping us help them!
In February he returned to the hospital with congestive heart failure. He made it through that. He was doing ok through May 2016 - when his left main ventricle once again became 100% clogged. He went into a-fib 3 times and again, Lakeland FD was there along with Stonybrook to get him stable. He was home 8 days later.
Fast forward to August 26, 2016 - Mike now knows the signs and instead of trying to be the invincible strong man that he's always been to his family - he allowed his family to take care of him and call 911. Lakeland FD to the rescue again – he was released from Stonybrook Hospital on the 29th after being told he went into heart failure due to the CHF.
The Panico’s are a family who, despite all of this, keep their sense of humor and their faith in their higher power, but they are in financial hardship, and because of all these medical issues, unable to dig themselves out - Each time Mike seems to be doing better – they take one step forward and three steps back. This last time was their last straw.
The children are all working and buy their own school supplies, clothes and other essentials. Mike has been trying to keep the trucking company going to bring in some sort of income - but driver after driver has cost them more in repairs than in income. Eileen works around the children's schedule (thankfully she can choose her own hours) so that someone is always home with Mike, in case of emergency. (And luckily she was home with him this last time)
They've applied for assistance and unfortunately, they don't get much. Disability pays their taxes and despite what you might think - food stamps for the family covers the basics. It doesn't allow them to get personals such as toilet paper, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner and other personal items. (That comes from Eileen’s part time salary) They are now behind on many bills - electric, water, phone and the credit card bills from before his illness remain unpaid. Eileen’s car died and she’s fighting with the dealership to get it fixed, their pool liner ripped ( they don't care about that though because they don’t think of that as a necessity!) And they find themselves severely struggling.
Mike has been trying to sell the camper (again it's not a necessity and it needs to go) as well as a tractor and trailer to help alleviate some of the burden they have. So far, no luck.
They don't believe in handouts for themselves. They feel like they can’t ask their community for more help especially after the outpouring of generosity in December. They had hoped to just be able to continue to pay it forward by being active in the community through groups such as the civic and the PTA . And they continue to do this.
They were raised to give back and never thought they’d be on this end. They are both hard-working people who didn't realize that they were "one medical emergency away from disaster" Unfortunately, that medical emergency happened and here they are.
They need your help. They won’t ask for it. We tried to convince them to do this.. We know they will continue to help the community – but we are asking for them. We hope you can find it in your hearts to once again be as generous as possible to help them get through this – we know they appreciate it and we know they will continue to volunteer to help their community in sweat equity to pay it forward.
Keep praying for them. Spread the word about the camper for sale and the truck and tractor for sale. We are asking you to donate here on Go Fund Me or send checks to them at their home - PM us on facebook for the address
(link - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100013393805353 )
or email us at [email redacted]
Thank you for helping us help them!
Organizer and beneficiary
Tee Birds
Organizer
Lake Ronkonkoma, NY
Eileen Panico
Beneficiary
