A Heartfelt Plea for Frank Cornacchiulo's Recovery, By Lydia Cornacchiulo
Team fundraiser
George Heimel and 2 others are organizing this fundraiser.
Donations protected............Team fundraiser
George Heimel and 2 others are organizing this fundraiser.
We are reaching out to ask for your support for Frank Cornacchiulo, a loving husband, father of three, and dedicated community member in Rutherford, NJ, who is currently facing the devastating effects of West Nile Virus. Frank’s story is one of strength, resilience, and an ongoing battle for recovery, and we hope his journey will also help raise awareness of this severe, communicable disease.
Frank, who has Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and was receiving Rituxan treatments, contracted West Nile Virus in August. This combination has been nearly fatal. Since August 8th, Frank has been hospitalized. What began as a regular day quickly turned into a nightmare. Today, Frank is bedridden, has a tracheostomy, and is unable to speak, eat, or walk. His prognosis is uncertain, and his road to recovery will be a long, difficult journey requiring extensive rehabilitation.
During his time in the ICU, Frank endured extremely high fevers, some exceeding 105°F, and his condition was touch-and-go for many days. He suffered a partially collapsed lung and developed pneumonia, leading to severe respiratory challenges. Initially, he needed intubation, but after almost two weeks, he required a tracheostomy to remain on a ventilator.
Thankfully, Frank has shown remarkable progress during his rehabilitation. In just three weeks, he was weaned off the ventilator and has even begun to speak a little. His resilience and determination to heal are inspiring, but he still needs extensive therapy to relearn basic functions such as breathing, moving, and communicating. With daily improvement, Frank is truly fighting his way back to the life he loves with his family.
A devoted father, Frank has always been an active part of his community. He is a Knight of Columbus, a member of St. Mary’s Church in Rutherford, has supported others generously, and is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of those around him. Frank worked in the financial industry and is currently an adjunct professor of Computer Science at CUNY, where he takes great pride in teaching and guiding young minds. He has volunteered countless hours working with children of all ages teaching and coaching them on multiple STEM subjects including robotics. To see him in this condition is heartbreaking, and we are committed to supporting his journey back to health.
This ordeal has placed an immense emotional and financial strain on Frank’s family. The mounting medical expenses and the necessary home modifications to support Frank’s recovery have brought on significant financial challenges.
We humbly ask for your help in any form, whether it be through a donation, a message of support, or sharing Frank’s story. Your generosity would mean the world to us and could make an extraordinary difference in Frank’s recovery. Together, we are hopeful that Frank can overcome this challenge and return to his family and community who love and need him.
Dear Friends and Supporters,
We are thrilled to share some encouraging news about Frank's recovery and rehabilitation journey. Frank is progressing slowly but surely. He has become much more communicative, and we are delighted to report that his sound has returned to some extent. Additionally, he has started to regain movement in his hands and arms. These signs of improvement are incredibly promising, though we know the road ahead is still long.
Frank's determination and willpower are truly shining through. This progress would not have been possible without the overwhelming love and support from all of you—his family, friends, and community. Frank would not have come this far without the outpouring of love and support you all have shown. Your kindness and generosity have made a world of difference.
As we celebrated this Thanksgiving holiday season, we had much to be thankful for. Although this was not our typical Thanksgiving setting, we couldn't imagine celebrating without Frank, and we were so profoundly grateful for every moment we had with him.
We are also happy to share that Frank was able to celebrate his birthday with his family, fully aware and engaged in the moment. This was a significant milestone, as things were so uncertain just weeks prior. We have included a cute photo of him with his kids, capturing a precious moment of joy and togetherness.
As we continue this journey, we ask for your continued prayers and support to help heal Frank. We still have a long way to go, but with your unwavering support, we are confident that Frank will continue to make strides in his recovery.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
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