Hello! I am Super Nicco!, and I am almost 4 months old. I have 2 older sisters Ricci and Nikky who adore me. I enjoy playing with them every day, but I get tired very easily because of a hole in my heart. Unfortunately, I need surgery to fix this. But with your help, I can grow into an even stronger Super Nicco and continue bringing joy and hope to everyone I meet!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story.

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We were so thankful to find we would be having a son.

We had been blessed already with 2 beautiful daughters, Ricci (12) and Nikky (11), and put the rest in God's hands, content and so happy with our family. But on September 26, 2015, we found out a baby boy would be gracing our family!


We chose the same OB-Gyn and hospital and did all of the routine checkups. On January 10, 2016, Nicco Carmelo was born, but only hours after being brought to his mother, the pediatrician informed us that they needed to bring our newborn son to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to be placed in a warmer; his temperature was below normal level, and his heart rate was very rapid causing his breathing to be irregular.
Because of 2 pulmonary infections, he was placed on breathing support devices and was given antibiotics to contain the infection. We then learned that some of his physical traits were in line with infants who have been diagnosed with Down Syndrome, and the hospital did a chromosome karyotyping exam which confirmed this.


By the time Nicco was allowed to come home to be with his family, he had spent 11 days in the NICU. Upon discharge, he was diagnosed with: congenital pneumonia, bilateral undescended testes, congenital heart disease (CHD), and ventricular septal defect (VSD).


Infants and children with Down Syndrome have low muscle tone, causing difficulties with their motor skills. We decided to send Nicco to a developmental physical therapy center to address this. One of the requirements to be admitted to the PT center was clearance with a pediatric cardiologist and developmental pediatrician. We found that although we had originally been told that the hole in Nicco's heart would heal on its own, it had instead doubled in size and would have to be repaired through open-heart surgery as soon as possible. Leaving it untreated would put accumulated pressure on his heart as time progressed, which would cause complications leading to heart and lung failure.

Our previous challenges and hospital bills have exhausted our savings. We are extremely grateful to family and good friends who have supported us thus far, but there is so much more to come. Between Nicco's frequent trips to the hospital and his pending open-heart sugery, we are worn and frightened for our son. But we are also hopeful.

Please consider opening your hearts so that Nicco's heart can be fixed. Any donation or even share or a prayer is greatly appreciated.

Thank you and God bless!
- Rikki and Nancy Baranda


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