Baby Leo is Fighting Trisomy 18
Donation protected
My Brother and his wife, Zach and Patty Fazio are expecting a baby boy! Baby Leo is not like most babies. He was born a fighter. Leo has two brothers, Lucca and Brody. They are so excited to meet their baby brother.
They too are quite strong, as they were recently told by their amazingly strong parents that Leo may not be able to be on this earth with us for very long because Leo is growing differently in his mommies belly. Leo has a very rare terminal illness called Trisomy 18 (commonly referred to as Edwards Syndrome). Patty and Zach shared this unfortunate terminal diagnosis with Lucca (5) and Brody (4) in the most beautiful, caring way possible. Here is what they told the boys:
”Words from Mom & Dad to Lucca & Brody:
Mom & Dad want to talk to you about something that is very important.
We want you to know that sometimes when babies grow in their mommies bellies, they grow differently ... & we don’t know why-
You know when you go to the Dr, they can tell that you are growing BIG and STRONG by measuring what? - how much you grew and how much you weigh and by listening to how strong your heart is- & the drs ALWAYS told us and saw that you were so very strong! And they still do-
So when the drs look at our baby Leo- your baby brother, they see that Leo is growing differently -
He is growing small and his heart is growing small and not as strong. What do you think that means?
We don’t know why Baby Leo is growing differently but what we do know is that God has chosen your little brother to be a very special baby- because his heart isn’t growing strong like yours & like Mommy’s and like Daddy’s - his body won’t be strong and he won’t be able to live here with us for very long.
His beautiful & very strong spirit and soul will be able to live forever in heaven. So he will be able to play with Papa, Aunt Catherine, Great Nono & Tucker. And he will ALWAYS- ALWAYS- ALWAYS- be your little brother, and you always his big brothers.
He just won’t be able to ride a bike with you or play toys with you.
One other very important thing that we know is that it’s ok to be sad. We will be really sad that Leo won’t be here living with us for that long.
We also want you to know that there is nothing that we did in our behavior that made this happen-
Leo doesn’t want you to worry-
He wants us to be excited that he’s here alive with us now!! And that we get to take Leo on vacation with us!!!
Mom and Dad love you so very much & we are always going to have Leo in our hearts forever!!!
We are very lucky to have you!! And we are very lucky to have each other! And Mom & Dad feel so happy about that!! “
The boys have been so incredibly strong after learning about baby Leo. Lucca said that he hoped baby Leo could live until
he was at least 10! Brody wants to teach Leo Karate! We are so proud of them for being so positive and understanding after learning this news.
Patty and Zach have Created a loving, safe and open communication with the boys about baby Leo. They continue to grow Their love for their boys and each other through all of this and want Leo to always be remembered. I know that their strength and Leo’s fight through this journey will help bring awareness and most importantly bring the support that is needed to many other families experiencing this type of grief from the loss of a child.
We want to support Zach, Patty, Lucca, Brody and Baby Leo both emotionally and also try and help with the financial burdens that come along with a terminally ill diagnosis such as Leo’s. Leo may or may not make it to term. If Leo does make it to term, Patty will be delivering around 37 weeks, the week of September 16-26 at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. We are all praying everyday for baby Leo. We hope you will join us in prayer and celebrate Leo’s life with us in your heart.
If you are financially able to make a contribution to baby Leo’s medical care, it would mean the world to us! Any unused funds will be donated back to families who have a fighter like Leo who is diagnosed with trisomy 18 also known as Edwards Syndrome. Thank you so much for any support you can provide.
All our Love,
The Fazio, Ametrano and Storch Families
For more information, please contact Abbey Ametrano
They too are quite strong, as they were recently told by their amazingly strong parents that Leo may not be able to be on this earth with us for very long because Leo is growing differently in his mommies belly. Leo has a very rare terminal illness called Trisomy 18 (commonly referred to as Edwards Syndrome). Patty and Zach shared this unfortunate terminal diagnosis with Lucca (5) and Brody (4) in the most beautiful, caring way possible. Here is what they told the boys:
”Words from Mom & Dad to Lucca & Brody:
Mom & Dad want to talk to you about something that is very important.
We want you to know that sometimes when babies grow in their mommies bellies, they grow differently ... & we don’t know why-
You know when you go to the Dr, they can tell that you are growing BIG and STRONG by measuring what? - how much you grew and how much you weigh and by listening to how strong your heart is- & the drs ALWAYS told us and saw that you were so very strong! And they still do-
So when the drs look at our baby Leo- your baby brother, they see that Leo is growing differently -
He is growing small and his heart is growing small and not as strong. What do you think that means?
We don’t know why Baby Leo is growing differently but what we do know is that God has chosen your little brother to be a very special baby- because his heart isn’t growing strong like yours & like Mommy’s and like Daddy’s - his body won’t be strong and he won’t be able to live here with us for very long.
His beautiful & very strong spirit and soul will be able to live forever in heaven. So he will be able to play with Papa, Aunt Catherine, Great Nono & Tucker. And he will ALWAYS- ALWAYS- ALWAYS- be your little brother, and you always his big brothers.
He just won’t be able to ride a bike with you or play toys with you.
One other very important thing that we know is that it’s ok to be sad. We will be really sad that Leo won’t be here living with us for that long.
We also want you to know that there is nothing that we did in our behavior that made this happen-
Leo doesn’t want you to worry-
He wants us to be excited that he’s here alive with us now!! And that we get to take Leo on vacation with us!!!
Mom and Dad love you so very much & we are always going to have Leo in our hearts forever!!!
We are very lucky to have you!! And we are very lucky to have each other! And Mom & Dad feel so happy about that!! “
The boys have been so incredibly strong after learning about baby Leo. Lucca said that he hoped baby Leo could live until
he was at least 10! Brody wants to teach Leo Karate! We are so proud of them for being so positive and understanding after learning this news.
Patty and Zach have Created a loving, safe and open communication with the boys about baby Leo. They continue to grow Their love for their boys and each other through all of this and want Leo to always be remembered. I know that their strength and Leo’s fight through this journey will help bring awareness and most importantly bring the support that is needed to many other families experiencing this type of grief from the loss of a child.
We want to support Zach, Patty, Lucca, Brody and Baby Leo both emotionally and also try and help with the financial burdens that come along with a terminally ill diagnosis such as Leo’s. Leo may or may not make it to term. If Leo does make it to term, Patty will be delivering around 37 weeks, the week of September 16-26 at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. We are all praying everyday for baby Leo. We hope you will join us in prayer and celebrate Leo’s life with us in your heart.
If you are financially able to make a contribution to baby Leo’s medical care, it would mean the world to us! Any unused funds will be donated back to families who have a fighter like Leo who is diagnosed with trisomy 18 also known as Edwards Syndrome. Thank you so much for any support you can provide.
All our Love,
The Fazio, Ametrano and Storch Families
For more information, please contact Abbey Ametrano
Co-organizers (2)
Abbey Ametrano
Organizer
Lewes, DE
Zachary Fazio
Beneficiary
Zach Fazio
Co-organizer