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09/01/2017 12:12 PMKnowing he faces a long road ahead as he recovers from a third surgery to battle a rare brain tumor, family and friends of Mike Russo are gathering a fundraising event, “Miracle for Mikey” taking place Sunday Sept. 17, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. at Doody’s Totoket Inn.
The 24 year-old North Branford resident was first diagnosed with Oligodendroglioma, a malignant tumor of the glial tissue of the nervous system, at the age of 16. The tumors generally occur in adults and much more rarely in children, said Rita Ney, Russo’s cousin and event co-organizer.
Russo has been a fighter all of his life, beginning with a stroke as a newborn that caused his left side to weaken, said his aunt, Ann Vitelli.
Prior to his latest surgery on August 16, Russo had undergone two earlier surgeries in other years to address the tumor, located in a position too precarious to be removed. Unfortunately, the latest round of surgery, to address new growth and hopefully mitigate an elevating number of seizures – as many as 30 a day – has now reduced use of Russo’s right side. He’s been moved from the hospital to a rehabilitation center, where he’s going through “...aggressive daily therapy, multiple times a day,” to regain mobility on his right side, said Ney.
Part of what’s motivating Russo is that he wants to attend the Sept. 17 event. Plans are in progress to bring him there, said Ney.
“He is so beside himself for what the community is doing for him. He’s so appreciative and wants so badly to be there,” she said.
Ney said she knows Russo would enjoy the event, which includes live music organized by his "magnificent" friends, North Branford residents Nick Delizio and brothers Brett, Luke and Jay Gagliardi. Delizio and Jay Gagliardi play with Wallingford cover band Juice Box. She shared a photo of a smiling Russo a few days before he went into surgery on August 16, explaining, "...the boys took him to watch their band play and he was so excited to go that day, and he had so much fun. On the flip side, he had eight seizures during that one performance."
Russo’s friends, his family and several other community members, including Matt’s Mission founder Lynn Riordan, have been key to helping pull together “Miracle for Mikey,” said Ney.
The Russo family includes Russo’s mom, dad, a younger brother and Russo’s twin brother. All proceeds from “Miracle for Mikey” will help the family face down mounting medical expenses, said Ney.
“This all came together probably about a month ago,” said Ney. “We all got together and said, ‘Let’s get this event going, let’s do this for Mikey.”
Individuals and businesses have helped contribute prizes for the raffle, and a donation fund has been set up through TD Bank (North Branford) for those who can’t attend, but want to help.
“Our community is truly amazing,” said Ney. “This town really comes together, whenever anybody is in a time of need, regardless of what it takes and what we need to do. We don’t even have to know the individual — we still all come together, and we all help. It’s truly an amazing community.”
“Miracle for Mikey” Pasta Dinner and Raffle is Sunday, Sept. 17, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. at Doody’s Totoket Inn, 465 Foxon Road, North Branford. Tickets, $25 adults, $15 children can be purchased by calling (203) 804-7556 or (203) 506-7577. To make a donation in lieu of attending, make checks payable to “Matt’s Mission Miracle for Mikey” and mail to TD Bank, 1289 Foxon Road, North Branford CT 06471.