Victor Sorrento and Family

As many of you know, Victor has been battling cancer since 2011. In May of this year, he was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer, cancer of the vocal cords. Due to the amount of the radiation that Vic has had in the past, the only treatment option that he and his family were left with, was the removal of the voice box. From there, we knew that this road was going to be long.

Victor underwent a 13 hour surgery that removed the voice box and reconstructed his throat using muscle and tendons from his thigh. He was left with a permanent stoma but he was cancer free. Although the surgery was a success, there were some set setbacks. We knew that the surgery and recovery were not going to be easy, but we knew for sure we didn’t expect the worst.

Thursday, August 18th…the UNIMAGINABLE happened. I was sitting at my computer when I received what I thought was a misdial from my nephew. It wasn’t…All I heard was Stephanie screaming…VIC IS BLEEDING. I had him facetime me so I could asses the situation but what I saw, I wish I hadn’t. Vic was bleeding out. Out of his mouth and his nose and it was not stopping. 911 was called and all I could do was try to calm everyone down and pray. It was a chaotic scene. As Vic started to lose consciousness, Dom set the phone down to catch him as he was falling. All I heard was Dom whisper, “Dad…Todays not the day. You aren’t going to die today!”

Although Millard Fillmore Gates would have been the hospital of choice, he would have never made it. The ambulance took him to South Buffalo Mercy which is the closest hospital. The nurse came out to get me so I could be with my sister. But when they brought me back, she was surrounded by 6 doctors, one of which was telling Stephanie that there was nothing else they could do for him. I was in disbelief. After some back and forth, we pleaded with them that this was not cancer, this was something way worse. He was cancer free…this could not be cancer. I had to call my family to tell them that they didn’t think that Vic was going to survive. After all this, he was just not going to make it. Three hours and 17 bags of blood products later, they found the cause. It was a carotid blow out. WHHHATTTT???? Only 2 percent of people that have a carotid blow out, in a nonhospital setting, survive. There is a 60% mortality rate when it happens in a hospital. This is a VERY rare complication of head and neck cancers due to radiation. Thankfully the neurosurgeon was there, they found the bleed and stented the artery. Just as we exhaled, the team rushed back in…it blew AGAIN! Back into surgery he went…but would he survive this time…his blood pressure was nonexistent??? We held our breath for the next 48 hours…he survived…He survived something that most people would not have… HE SURVIVED. They finally got a room for him and when he was stable enough, they transferred him to Roswell. His team was ready for him.

Due to the amount of blood Vic lost, testing needed to be done to see, if any, damage was done. The testing determined that Vic suffered 2 strokes. And now the road just got longer. But he was alive!!! He is alive!!

Victor’s journey is not close to ending at this point. The level of care requires 24 hours 7 days a week, that has led to his wife Stephanie needing to take an extended leave from her job to care for Vic. He also requires home nurse visits 2-3 times a week. Stephanie and Victor made this decision together for many reasons. In addition to the level of care he now requires, Victor may need another extensive surgery in the near future.

The financial toll this has taken on Victor and Stephanie is heartbreaking but anyone that knows them would never be surprised as to the amount of strength, fight and positivity they both possess.

We started this GoFundMe to help ease the burden of the extensive medical bills, fees, treatments and other costs that insurance does not cover. We want Victor to focus on getting better and not on the financial stress. Victor and Stephanie have three kids and a grandson. Vic is a huge Buffalo Bills and Sabers fan!! 

Victor has been a New York State correctional officer for 16 years, and is currently working at Albion Correctional Facility.

Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers and thank you in advance for your help and the spirit of generosity!

Family and Friends of the Sorrento Family