Help Leo beat Covid

 

 

 

Leo Difazio was born 9 weeks early, weighing only 2lbs 8oz on January 26th, 2020. He would spend the first 3 months of his life in the NICU at Loyola Hospital. After a very long 3 months Leo was set to be released. He will have to do therapy every week and will need to wear a helmet for the next 9 months due to severe Plagiocephaly. Leo the lion was ready, it was time to come home, it was time to come home and be with Mom & Dad. Everything was going good for Leo, he was beginning to talk, run, and play with everyone. Then on August 19th he contracted Covid, at only 19 months old. On August 24th Leo would have to go back to Loyola PICU with a 103.5 degree fever and difficulty breathing. Leo’s condition deteriorated daily. He started a five day cycle of Remdesivir and was put on a conventional ventilator. On August 28, the doctor put in a chest tube to relieve an air pocket that developed. The chaplain was called in to speak to Leo’s parents. On the 31st of August his condition deteriorated further. His lung collapsed and the doctors discussed about air lifting him to a Children’s Hospital. They determined his condition was not stable enough to be flown. Leo continued five more days of treatment with Remdesivir and was given an experimental drug Tocilizumad. Leo was taken off the conventional ventilator and put on an oscillating ventilator for next 19 days. September 16 Leo was taken off the ventilator. He is currently still in the hospital and will be transferred to a rehabilitation center where he will receive many different therapies. Leo’s lungs have been ravaged by Covid and they may take years to heal. Leo is the youngest person to be put on a ventilator for Covid-19 at Loyola Hospital since the beginning of the pandemic.

 

 

“It’s been awful.. Watching our baby’s condition get worse everyday to the point he needs to be on a ventilator has been a nightmare. It’s been constant fear ,worrying ,crying and praying. You can’t sleep, eat or think. We could only be there 1 at a time and at first we we’re taking 72 hour shifts because of the Covid restrictions. 1 off us is always in the room with him we will not leave him by himself. There are so many questions that you you don’t get answered. Why is Covid affecting him so badly? Covid is not supposed to be this dangerous for a 19 month old. The most important thing we’ve realized and we did realize this the hard way is that you cannot give up Hope. Giving up Hope can destroy you but having Hope will also get you through the worst. And it did. The worst has past and the long road to recovery has begun.

All money raised with go directly help with medical bills and expenses. 

 

 

Ash and Dom both grew up in the same neighborhood Melrose Park. They met at a local restaurant 8 years ago and fell in love They’ve been married for 2 1/2 years. Dom works 2 jobs to support the family…as a Lt. at the Fire Dept. and a grade school security guard. Ashley is a full-time mom. Leo is their 1st and only child. He was born a preemie with unique medical challenges and hardships that have strengthen their love for him and each other.