Chris Ferranti Spinal Injury Recovery Fund
Donation protected
Last Monday, July 27th, 2020, my cousin Chris Ferranti and I were at Ortley Beach with a group of friends, when we all entered the water. Chris dove into a wave that was stronger than he anticipated and was forced down, rolling his head forward and hitting his neck on the sand below. At first, we were unaware of what had happened, but when Chris took too long to get up from the water, his best friend Sam Marshall went to help him stand. Chris quickly told us that he couldn’t stand or feel anything, and we immediately carried him out of the water and onto the beach where a lifeguard quickly stabilized him and called 9-1-1.
Chris was rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where it was determined that he had shattered his C6 vertebrae in his neck and had no sensation from the chest down. He underwent a 6-hour emergency spinal surgery where the fragments of shattered vertebrae were removed, and his C5 & C7 vertebrae were fused together. During surgery it was discovered that a fragment of bone had punctured the sac protecting his cerebrospinal fluid, but fortunately they were able to repair it.
Currently Chris is sedated and on a ventilator, to assist his breathing while his body rests and heals.
The silver lining of this situation is:
When he is not sedated and intubated, Chris is able to breathe on his own. He also has sensation and limited use of his hands; however, he will need to completely relearn how to use them. Most importantly, his brain was not injured during the accident. When he is awake, he is in extremely good spirits and is 125% determined to walk again. He also keeps referring to himself as “a miracle” which everyone agrees, he is in fact an absolute miracle.
For those of you who don’t know him, here’s a little bit about my awesome cousin:
- Chris is 22 years old and just graduated Montclair State University in May of 2020, with a B.F.A. in Theatre and was a Dean’s List student.
- Chris has already started to build quite the reputation in his field and has had the incredible opportunity to work with Production Resource Group (PRG), The Santa Fe Opera, The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and many more.
- Chris is one of the kindest, most genuine people you will ever meet. He is brutally honest, incredibly quick witted, funny and passionate. He is also an activist, Electrician and aspiring Lighting Designer with a passion for stand-up comedy, art, music, books and he is incredibly proud of his Jersey roots.
- Chris was raised by 2 of the most wonderful and loving people on the planet, Mike and Mary Ferranti. Mike and Mary have spent day in and day out at his bedside, supporting and encouraging him endlessly. He is an only child and the closest thing I have to a brother.
While the future looks a little blurry right now, we are all incredibly inspired by Chris’s spirit, tenacity and unbelievably positive disposition, despite the uncertainty of the long road ahead.
Chris currently remains in I.C.U. and it is unknown at this time how long he will need to remain hospitalized. He will require extensive physical therapy and rehabilitation after he is released from the hospital so that he is able to relearn how to do everything from writing his name to walking. His parents will also need to take time off work to help aid in his care and ongoing treatment as well as make some accommodations to their home to suit Chris’s needs as he moves forward in his recovery journey.
Today, I am starting this fund to help lift some of the financial uncertainty and stress from weighing on Chris and his parent as they traverse this new path to rehabilitation and recovery. We know that times are hard and that not everyone feels they have enough to make a difference, but in a situation like this, every little bit counts and helps lift some weight from their shoulders during the scariest time in their lives. Thank you for your time and generosity. Please say a little prayer for Chris and his Mom and Dad.
Chris was rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where it was determined that he had shattered his C6 vertebrae in his neck and had no sensation from the chest down. He underwent a 6-hour emergency spinal surgery where the fragments of shattered vertebrae were removed, and his C5 & C7 vertebrae were fused together. During surgery it was discovered that a fragment of bone had punctured the sac protecting his cerebrospinal fluid, but fortunately they were able to repair it.
Currently Chris is sedated and on a ventilator, to assist his breathing while his body rests and heals.
The silver lining of this situation is:
When he is not sedated and intubated, Chris is able to breathe on his own. He also has sensation and limited use of his hands; however, he will need to completely relearn how to use them. Most importantly, his brain was not injured during the accident. When he is awake, he is in extremely good spirits and is 125% determined to walk again. He also keeps referring to himself as “a miracle” which everyone agrees, he is in fact an absolute miracle.
For those of you who don’t know him, here’s a little bit about my awesome cousin:
- Chris is 22 years old and just graduated Montclair State University in May of 2020, with a B.F.A. in Theatre and was a Dean’s List student.
- Chris has already started to build quite the reputation in his field and has had the incredible opportunity to work with Production Resource Group (PRG), The Santa Fe Opera, The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and many more.
- Chris is one of the kindest, most genuine people you will ever meet. He is brutally honest, incredibly quick witted, funny and passionate. He is also an activist, Electrician and aspiring Lighting Designer with a passion for stand-up comedy, art, music, books and he is incredibly proud of his Jersey roots.
- Chris was raised by 2 of the most wonderful and loving people on the planet, Mike and Mary Ferranti. Mike and Mary have spent day in and day out at his bedside, supporting and encouraging him endlessly. He is an only child and the closest thing I have to a brother.
While the future looks a little blurry right now, we are all incredibly inspired by Chris’s spirit, tenacity and unbelievably positive disposition, despite the uncertainty of the long road ahead.
Chris currently remains in I.C.U. and it is unknown at this time how long he will need to remain hospitalized. He will require extensive physical therapy and rehabilitation after he is released from the hospital so that he is able to relearn how to do everything from writing his name to walking. His parents will also need to take time off work to help aid in his care and ongoing treatment as well as make some accommodations to their home to suit Chris’s needs as he moves forward in his recovery journey.
Today, I am starting this fund to help lift some of the financial uncertainty and stress from weighing on Chris and his parent as they traverse this new path to rehabilitation and recovery. We know that times are hard and that not everyone feels they have enough to make a difference, but in a situation like this, every little bit counts and helps lift some weight from their shoulders during the scariest time in their lives. Thank you for your time and generosity. Please say a little prayer for Chris and his Mom and Dad.
Organizer
Paul Ferranti
Organizer
Cedar Grove, NJ