At 11:01am on Wednesday, November 12th, our son Valentino entered the world far sooner than anyone expected, born at just 24 weeks, weighing 1 lb 12 oz and measuring 13 inches long. What was supposed to be a normal night turned into an emergency C-section that saved both Katie and our little boy. He came out fighting, strong for his gestational age, but still incredibly fragile.

Right now, Valentino is in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit where he’ll be for the next 3 to 4 months. He’s intubated to support his developing lungs, receiving nutrition through a feeding tube, and monitored around the clock by NICU nurses and staff who have already become heroes in our story. He’s just beginning to come out of the “honeymoon phase” that very premature babies experience, and he has many challenges ahead of him… but he continues to amaze everyone with his determination and will to be here.

The last 48 hours have been overwhelming in the best and hardest ways. The outpouring of love we’ve received… from family, friends, our community, friends we’ve lost touch with over time, and even complete strangers… has left us humbled beyond words. I’ve been hit with emotions deeper than anything I’ve ever felt, and every message, prayer, and share has helped hold us up through all of it. We feel rich in ways no amount of money could ever buy.

As much as we never wanted to be in a position to ask for help, we’ve come to realize that pride can’t come before our son. Katie is on medical leave as she recovers, and I was between jobs while transitioning into my new career when this happened. We want to be by Valentino’s side every single day, supporting him through every setback and every victory… but the reality of a long NICU stay brings a level of financial strain we simply can’t shoulder alone.

This fundraiser will help us with:

• Spending as much time as possible with Valentino

• Medical bills not fully covered by insurance

• Travel, gas, and daily expenses going to and from the hospital

• Bills at home while Katie heals

• Support for Valentino’s needs once he finally comes home

• Stability for our family during this long, unpredictable journey

I’ve always tried to help others when they needed it, usually with a simple “pay it forward” when someone offered to repay me. Now I’m hoping a little of that kindness comes back around during this chapter of our lives. And I want to say this clearly: please do not put yourself into hardship to support us. If you can’t donate, we understand completely. A share of this post, a prayer, or positive healing energy sent to our son and Katie means just as much.

For anyone who prefers direct support instead of using this site, here are our options:

Venmo: DocCola821

PayPal: AjayColacchio

Cash App: $KatlinColacchio

Zelle: [email redacted]

From the bottom of our hearts… thank you. Thank you for caring, for reaching out, for standing with us, and for loving our son already. Valentino may be tiny, but the strength he’s shown in his first hours of life inspires us to match it. He has a long road ahead, but because of you, he won’t walk it alone.