Thursday, June 14, 2012
Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich Thursday talked about two events—one tragic, and one a triumph—that he said “eclipsed” what would, in any other week, have been the biggest news in Fort Lee.
A period of a few days in Fort Lee that started with a tragic incident involving the death of a high school student turned a little brighter just days later as one family learned that their 15-year-old son would receive the heart transplant he so desperately needed. Johnny Damato was born with what his mother Rita Damato previously described as “an extremely rare congenital heart disease” called Corrected Transposition of the Great Vessels and needed a heart transplant. At Thursday’s Fort Lee Mayor and Council meeting, Mayor Mark Sokolich, with whom the youth has maintained a close relationship for years, said Johnny received that heart the previous day. “He got that phone call on Tuesday night at around seven o’clock that a heart became …
40.852771
-73.973355
Fort Lee Borough Administrative Offices-Borough Hall
309 Main St, Fort Lee, NJ
/articles/fort-lee-youth-gets-much-needed-heart-transplant-mayor-reports
1771003
/locations/7214096
Friday, May 25, 2012
Fort Lee's own Johnny Damato continues to struggle with Corrected Transposition of the Great Vessels, a congenital disease he was born with. But that's not stopping him from a crusade to increase the number of organ donors.
- OPINION
-
Friday, May 25, 2012
Last week, Patch reported that group of community members, family and friends are banding together to help a Fort Lee family, whose 15-year-old son is in need of a heart transplant, through some difficult times, and in the process, to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation. This week, 15-year-old Johnny Damato of Fort Lee took it upon himself to submit the following letter to the editor: I am writing this letter to say thanks to all the people in the community for being there for my family and me over this past year. This year has made me realize that even though I have this horrible heart disease, I am very lucky to have such a great family, friends, and to live in Fort Lee. While I have spent a lot of days in the …
Thursday, May 17, 2012
One local family’s struggle with their son’s congenital heart disease and the mounting costs associated with it. You can help and become an organ donor in the process.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Erik Wander
-
Thursday, May 17, 2012
A group of community members, family and friends are banding together to help a Fort Lee family, whose 15-year-old son is in need of a heart transplant, through some difficult times, and in the process, to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation. The Damatos' son, Johnny, has what his mother, Rita Damato, describes on a website designed to raise funds to help the family offset costs associated with his treatment as “an extremely rare congenital heart disease.” Johnny was born with Corrected Transposition of the Great Vessels. Damato said she’s “very proud” of her son for having the courage to battle the disease head-on, but, she told Patch, “He needs a heart.” “He’s been sick since he was a kid, but it never really presented…
Bergen County Mom
9:40 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012
What kind of a statement is this, Jenna? This is an article about a young boy and the wonderful news of his transplant. Have you no decency? If you have a gripe with the mayor, post it in an article about him. Sorry, but that was inappropriate! more ›