By Frank Sinatra, AAP Editor
Most grassroots fundraisers happen because of tragedy. Either someone is very sick or in dire straits; or family and friends wish to honor the memory of someone who passed away far too soon. But every once and a while, a fundraiser happens to say thank you. To celebrate life and a group of dedicated people that help to preserve it. This is one of those times.
Lincoln Fontano is a happy – and healthy – baby. But that wasn’t always the case. Lincoln was born with a major congenital heart defect called Tetrology of Fallot; he was only three weeks old when his parents, Rich and Heather Fontano of Pennsauken, got the news: Lincoln’s little heart was in trouble. Doctors had found a major abnormality and he needed open heart surgery.
“We thought we had a healthy baby. We were in complete shock,” says Heather. “Tears started pouring down my face. At a certain point, I couldn’t even register what the doctor was saying.”
The news came right after Christmas of 2013. Then came the tough part: the soonest doctors could operate was early February.
“I wasn’t allowed to let him cry before the surgery. You don’t know how hard that is with a baby. I was told if he did cry and he turned blue, I would have to rush him to the hospital because he could die.”
But February 3, 2014 arrived, and for all of the anxiety and the waiting, surgeons at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia took just 22 minutes to repair Lincoln’s pulmonary valve, remove extra muscle and patch the hole in his heart. “We were so lucky,” adds Heather. “We saw so many other kids with more serious heart problems who had to stay in the hospital and we were able to bring Lincoln home in a week.”
Rich and Heather were truly grateful for Lincoln’s short stay in the hospital. But even more so, the doctors and nurses at CHOP did more than impress them; they blew them away.
“Everyone there was so amazing,” explains Heather. “Even with our baby in the cardiac intensive care unit, we felt at ease.”
To thank CHOP for taking such good care of their son and celebrate Lincoln’s one-year “heartiversary,” the Fontanos have put together a fundraiser for the hospital’s cardiac center. “Lincoln’s Lanes” is being held on Saturday, Feb. 7, from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Pinsetter Bar and Bowl, 7111 Maple Ave., Pennsauken. The event features bowling, food and music, as well as silent auctions for a wide variety of items, including a hockey stick signed by Flyers forward Claude Giroux; Godiva Chocolate gift basket; Valenzano Winery basket, with a wine tasting and tour package for two; Tempur-Pedic side pillow and $250 gift certificate for Princeton Mattress; a 50” flat screen TV; a studio visit for WMMR’s Preston and Steve Show; and much more.
The fundraiser hopes to bring more awareness about congenital heart defects (CHD). Each year, more than 35,000 babies in the U.S. are born with a CHD. The event is also an opportunity to highlight of the work of The Cardiac Center at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. In just one year, the center treats over 1,000 inpatients and a staggering 24,000 outpatients; in addition, approximately 1,000 heart surgeries and 1,000 cardiac catheterizations are performed there annually.
Tickets for the event are $25 per person and can be purchased in advance or at the door. For advance tickets, last minute donations, or more information, e-mail Lincolnslanes@yahoo.com. You can also find the “Lincoln’s Lanes” event on Facebook.
