From your Heart to Tony's

Mr. Tony is a well known and very loved Pre-Kindergarten Teacher, who has worked at Peter Pan Day School since 1990. He is also a loving family man - the proud father of two sons, Jake and Josh, and a daughter, Helena.

On June 19, he happily spent the day teaching, but became dizzy just before leaving school for the day. As he passed out, a cart of equipment hit his head causing a laceration which bled severely. Paramedics were called and in examining him, determined that in addition to the injury to his head, his blood pressure was high and his heart beat was irregular. He was rushed by ambulance to Edward Hospital, where he was treated with 2 staples for his head and then admitted to the Cardiac Hospital for further testing with his heart.

Early testing showed a blocked artery and then a blood clot by Tony’s heart. His heart monitors revealed irregular heart beats and blood pressure. The next set of tests indicated fluid in his lungs and that his heart was only functioning at about 20%. His team of cardiologists decided to give him a few days to build his strength and scheduled surgery for an internal defibrillator for the following week.

Early in the morning on Sunday, June 24, Tony went into cardiac arrest. It took 3 shocks to bring his heart back into rhythm. That morning, he went into cardiac arrest 2 more times, both times needing 3 shocks to bring him back. The cardiologists decided to sedate and intubate Tony to stabilize him. They then prepared for emergency surgery, where they inserted a defibrillator and did a balloon heart valve procedure. The surgery went well, but since Tony was so weak, they decided that he should remain sedated and intubated to aide in his recovery. Following surgery, Tony’s heart beat was still very irregular.

After a cardiac consultation today, Monday, June 25, the doctors have decided to transfer Tony to the University of Chicago Medical Center. They are considering a procedure that a cardiologist there specializes in that they feel will regulate his heartbeat.

Mr. Tony is loved by so many - family, friends, co-workers, and students, both current and past! A donation of anything at all, large or small, would be greatly appreciated and put to good use toward medical bills and living expenses. This man and his family would sincerely appreciate any help that you can give. Please share this page and spread the word! If Tony receives just a little help from each person who has had the pleasure of knowing him, he will be so blessed by your generosity. And for those of you who don’t know him, you will be helping out a very kind and humble man who is the most awesome pre-k teacher ever!

Thank you in advance for your generosity.