Seaford pulls together for Nico

The Seaford community has rallied around Nico Fiorello, a junior at Seaford High School who was injured in a swimming accident at Jones Beach last month.

Fiorello, 17, suffered serious neck and back injuries on May 17 when he dove into the water and hit a sand bar. He broke every bone in his neck, with one splintering and pushing into his spinal cord. Since then, he has had two surgeries, has had several metal bolts, rods and threads put into his neck and back, and is in rehab in New Jersey. He is expected to make a full recovery.

“It’s going to take a long time, but Nico will stand and walk again,” said his mother, Lorraine, who is at his side seven days a week at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, where he receives physical, occupational and speech therapy. “It’s all positive going forward. Nico’s spirits are amazing.”

She explained that he is slowly regaining muscle strength and the ability to move, though right now he requires around-the-clock assistance. After the initial injury, the family was told he might be paralyzed, but from the moment he was able to move a toe, his prognosis has improved. He now has some ability to move his arms and legs, and his left side is stronger, his mother said.

Fiorello explained that her son has never asked “Why me?” and is determined to get back to full strength so he can play sports again. She said that through a sometimes frustrating rehabilitation process, he still is very polite to the medical staff. “He’s got a really, really good attitude,” she said.

Even though insurance will cover the majority of his costs, there will be some expenses down the road. The Testaverde Fund for Spinal Cord Injury, based in Wantagh, has already set up a medical trust for Fiorello.

Helping Nico

A charity softball game will be held for Fiorello on Friday, June 19, at Seaman’s Neck Park. It will feature coaches from the Seaford Little League against coaches from Seaford PAL Lacrosse.

Fiorello is on the varsity soccer and lacrosse teams at Seaford High, and previously played baseball in the Little League.

Chrissy Delprete, the softball coordinator for the Little League, is organizing the evening game. Her son, Antonio, and Nico have been friends since they met at Seaford Manor Elementary School. “It was such sad news when we heard what happened to him,” she said.

Delprete said the league was planning a charity softball game anyway, and decided that the funds should go to a local resident in need. She explained that Fiorello’s family expressed a need for help with medical costs, as Nico will likely need months of rehab, and continue with physical therapy once he gets home.

Shirts that say “Nico Strong,” designed by Liz Chamberlain, will be sold at the event to raise money. There is also a GoFundMe.com site that has been established for Fiorello, with a fundraising goal of $100,000.

On Monday night, the high school hosted a dinner and volleyball tournament to raise money for his medical expenses, with students, staff and parents participating. Principal Scott Bersin said that while many have written letters to him, visited him in the hospital or made donations, there was the desire for a large fundraiser to show support for him.

“Nico is one of our favorite sons here in Seaford,” Bersin said “and everyone is definitely pulling together to try to help him and his family.”

Bersin said that Fiorello is a good student who takes higher-level courses, and a leader. He noted his involvement with student government, and for receiving a Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Foundation scholarship in his sophomore year.

Lorraine Fiorello said that the community has pulled together to help the family, whether it has been watering the lawn at her home, taking care of the dog or providing them with food. “The town is just blowing me away with everything that they’re doing,” she said, noting that this had made “the worst few weeks of my entire life” a little more bearable.

The injury

On a Sunday afternoon, Fiorello and four friends went to the beach, taking a break from studying. He was supposed to have lacrosse practice that night.

His friends initially didn’t realize how badly he was hurt. One friend, who rivals Fiorello’s 6-foot-4, 285-pound frame, managed to pull him out of the water. A retired nurse ran over and told him not to put Fiorello down, as that could have damaged his spinal cord further and left him permanently disabled. Others came to hold Fiorello’s feet and neck before he was rushed by ambulance to the Nassau University Medical Center trauma center.

Lorraine Fiorello, who did not know her son was at the beach, got a call at around 4 p.m., and she, her husband and her sister beat the ambulance to the hospital. Her son was in surgery until 2:30 a.m., then had his second surgery six hours later.

Weeks later, she says it is still surreal that this has happened to her son, and that the family is going through this ordeal. She said his goal is to be back on the field this fall, hoping to play soccer and lacrosse in his senior year.

Varsity lacrosse coach Mike Corcoran said the team wore T-shirts bearing Nico’s name in its playoff game last month, and his presence was missed at the end of the season. Corcoran described Fiorello as a great teammate who is a smart, heads-up athlete.

“He’s such a strong kid and individual,” Corcoran said. “If anyone could handle this kind of adversity, it would be him. He told me he will be back, and I wouldn’t doubt it.”

Lorraine Fiorello’s birthday is Sept. 3. She said the only present she wants is for her son to be able to walk, on his own, into Seaford High School on the first day of school. “I need everyone to keep praying,” she said.

Fundraiser for Nico

A charity softball game will be held for Nico Fiorello featuring the Seaford Little League coaches vs. Seaford PAL Lacrosse coaches. All proceeds will be donated to the Fiorello family.

When: Friday, June 19, 7 p.m.
Where: Seaman’s Neck Park, Seaford
Info: Chrissy Del Prete, destiny4498@aol.com