Support Nico Velez's Heart Transplant Journey

Update 10/10/24 11PM: Nico arrived safely at Columbia in NYC earlier this evening. He will be going into surgery tomorrow morning. Please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers. We cannot thank you all enough for your generous donations and support.

We are creating this gofundme on behalf of our sister Melissa and brother in law Joseph Velez. Melissa gave birth to a full term baby boy named Nico Anthony Velez at Richmond University Hospital in Staten Island, NY on 9/24/24. What should have been a joyous occasion changed suddenly; Nico had complications and was diagnosed with Interrupted Aortic Arch type B in addition to 2 holes in his heart (ASD & VSD). He was rushed to Mount Sinai hospital in Manhattan where he underwent open heart surgery. The procedure was done on Thursday, October 3rd. He is currently on an ECMO machine with no signs of improvement in his heart. At this time, Nico was accepted to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital and will be transferred today in hopes of being added to the heart transplant list. We are looking for a miracle and asking for continuous prayers for the long road ahead. Melissa and Joe are wonderful parents, with a 4 year old and 2 year old at home, who are wondering where their new baby brother is.

Melissa has spent every day recovering from a cesarean section and hernia repair surgery in a wheelchair with the help of her husband Joseph going back and forth from New Jersey to Manhattan daily to sit at their son’s bedside. This family cannot sustain this type of advocacy without our help. We are asking for donations to help Melissa & Joe get through this difficult and challenging time. Little Nico is strong & keeps fighting everyday. His family will never give up on him.

The next course of action is to get Nico on the Berlin Heart VSD machine until a heart transplant becomes available. With the help of your donations, our nephew Nico can continue to receive the best possible care and have his parents with him daily along the way. Your support will not only help ease the financial strain of this long journey ahead, but also give them hope & support in this incredibly difficult time.

Any assistance in this urgent matter would be greatly appreciated. If you are unable to donate, please pray for Nico Anthony Velez. We are praying everyday for a miracle and for God to guide the decisions Melissa and Joe are faced with.

Thank you so much for your support. We will continue to provide as many updates along the way.