Help Mellino Family & Baby Nicholas

Derek and Gretchen Mellino are a wonderful couple and always there for their friends in need – I know for me personally, Derek, has always stepped up and shown care and support in my own difficult times for as long as I’ve known him (and that’s been nearly 20 years now). So now, I want to help them. Derek and Gretchen are parents to two beautiful, sweet children – Gianna who is five years old and Nicholas who is five months old. In May of this year, Nicholas became ill but it wasn’t clear what was going on with him. Very high fevers, rashes, etc. After many  visits to the hospital – including the ER, admittance into Boston Children’s Hospital, and a battery of invasive tests that this poor baby endured, Nicholas was diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease.

Kawasaki Disease is a rare disease and a very scary one – especially for a baby or child. It is a systemic illness that involves inflammation of the blood vessels, potentially affecting the arteries near the heart. The treatment involves infusions and there is a great deal of follow-up care including regular monitoring for swelling and inflammation around the heart. These tests and constant care are vital, especially at this age. Nicholas has probably had more blood drawn and tests, including echocardiograms than any baby at this age should. Between taking him back and forth to the hospital, taking care of Gia, and losing worktime, these last few months have created a hardship for the Mellino Family. Right now, the most important thing is their constant care of Nicholas. It was a blessing that this was finally diagnosed and caught when it was and Derek and Gretchen are incredibly grateful to the staff at Boston Children’s Hospital. Though Nicholas has been such an amazing trouper and superhero (I personally called him Amaza-Baby!), these are trying times. Not to mention that big sister Gianna still needs care and attention.

So, I offered to Derek to create this GoFundMe page in an effort to raise some funds to help the Mellinos out during this difficult time. Both Gretchen and Derek are extremely thankful for all the wonderful support, thoughts, words, and prayers and if you cannot donate at this time, they understand and absolutely they still welcome, appreciate, and need prayers and positive thoughts and support. But if you can, any little amount would help them through this time; and/or please share this page.

Thank you!

- Debbie Catalano
on behalf of Derek & Gretchen Mellino