Belmonte Family Fund

Anthony has overcome so much in his life, from an AVM when he was 7 to dozens of brain and spinal cord surgeries. He now faces many new challenges. 

On September 6 Anthony underwent an uncomplicated shunt revision surgery of his Cervical shunt that runs from C4 to the pleural space around his right lung at NIH in Bethesda, Maryland. The catheter was clogged so they removed and replaced some of the tubing. He recovered quickly and was already showing improvements upon discharge September 8. The next 2 days he continued to improve and the family was extremely hopeful he may get feeling back in his legs. Then, in the very early hours of Thursday, September 12 his wife, Sarah, noticed one of the incisions was inflamed. He was feeling fine and they planned to see the local Charlotte doctor on Thursday to check it out. When they woke around 6am on Thursday his incision was bulging and Anthony began running a fever. Immediately Sarah began communicating with the NIH team and by 8am they were on the road headed back up. Anthony was immediately admitted and prepped for surgery on Friday, September 13. Part of the shunt piece that they replaced that drained into his lung was massively infected and created large pus pockets all over. The worry was the infection would climb his shunt all the way to C4 and infect his spinal cord and brain. In surgery they removed a lot of infected tissue and muscle around his lung and back, but believed they got it all and were able to tie off his shunt just before the spinal cord. If they had to completely remove it from his spinal cord it most likely wouldn’t be able to be re inserted  due to prior complications. They sent all the removed parts down to the lab to see what/if anything they would grow to identify the infection. He came out of surgery with a large wound vac area and another drain. They attempted to put in a chest tube however his ribs were malformed and they couldn’t get it in. 

They were all confident and relieved it seemed to have not spread. A CT the following day revealed  the infection did unfortunately continue to spread under his lung area. A plan was made to attempt to insert pigtail catheters into that area and a PIC line on Monday, and follow that up on Tuesday to remove more of the infection in the OR. There was a possibility they could not get the pigtail catheters in and they would have to do a thoracotomy.  Monday came around and more bad news came. The cultures began to grow things on all parts of the removed shunt, this meant the part left in his spinal cord was infected as well. In addition, that might also mean that a separate shunt in his brain was contaminated too. 

Right now now they are facing unimaginable decisions. The shunts need to be removed, but without them his body cannot properly route his cerebral spinal fluid needed to make things “work”. They are still in an ever changing climate as news continues to come in. They have a 7 year old daughter, Daniella, and 4 month old son, Little Anthony at home in Charlotte with their grandparents. Daniella is having a very hard time with everything and they are planning to fly Sarah back and forth while this is going on to be with the kids. This Gofundme will be used for flights, gas if she drives, food, bills, and other well being items during what looks to be a very very long road ahead. It will also help with medical costs when he eventually can come home and will need assistance

*Gofundme will ask you to cover a percentage of their operating fees. If you enter the amount of $0 you will not be charged for your donation to the Belmonte Family, as that fee goes directly to Gofundme*

The family is is very grateful for their support team, they know they cannot do it without you all and are overwhelmed by your kind messages. Even if you cannot donate, please continue praying HARD for Anthony, Sarah, Daniella and Little Ant.