Tony and Casey Cantaffa are the proud parents of Gino and Alyssa Cantaffa. Alyssa was born on September 30, 1998 at 1:00 PM weighing 7lbs 8oz. She was born beautiful and very healthy. Her family was awaiting her arrival at home.

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Three weeks after her birth on a Sunday afternoon Alyssa developed a cough. Monday morning arrived and I scheduled an appointment to see our pediatrician, Dr. Hector Iglesias. Alyssa had no fever just a cough. Dr. Iglesias examined her and gave her a breathing treatment. He wanted to see her the following day. Tuesday morning we went back to see Dr. Iglesias and again he gave her a treatment. I was to give Alyssa breathing treatments around the clock. I would set my alarm clock every four hours (day and night) so I could start her treatments. This went on all week and I was to call Dr. Iglesias if Alyssa stopped drinking, developed a fever or had a reaction to her treatment. Wednesday morning Dr. Iglesias prepared me for the hospital. He told me things didn’t look good so he was thinking about admitting Alyssa to the hospital. It was Friday night; mischief night and we had our family over for pizza. Alyssa seemed fine, however it was the calm before the storm. Saturday morning, Halloween I was back in the office. This time I knew I wasn’t going home. Alyssa had to be put on oxygen right away. Her stats were very low they called an ambulance to bring us to the hospital. The pediatrician’s office was a little crazy; the reception room was filled with patients. They put Alyssa and I on the stretcher and began to bring us to the ambulance. I just remember putting my head down, saying a prayer and my heart dropping. I asked God to give me strength because I was already tired and somehow I knew this was going to be a long day.

Tony was working and Gino was excited about Halloween. The pediatrician’s office called Tony on his cell and told him to meet us at the hospital. He was there waiting for our arrival. Meantime Gino was home waiting for us to go trick or treating.

At the hospital they started right away asking questions. They also began IV’s, taking blood, her pulse, oxygen levels and so on. They isolated us from the rest of the patients; Alyssa was not allowed any roommates. She was quarteended from the rest of the patients. Needless to say Saturday and Sunday were very long days. Dr. Iglesias and his wife, Ida came to the hospital. They spent hours talking with Tony. I was home trying to get some things packed for the hospital.

Monday morning around 4:30-5:00am Alyssa woke up and had trouble breathing. She was very irritated and didn’t want to eat or sleep. Dr. Hofley the ICU doctor started to prepare me for admission to ICU, we discussed a traic, life support and Alyssa not surviving. At first I was in total denial, how could this be happening? However it was happening and I needed to face reality. Tony and I made a decision to perform and emergency baptism on Alyssa. Sister Diana, my mother, Alyssa’s Godfather, Tony and I held hands around her bed and we began the ceremony. It was both beautiful and emotional. I knew Alyssa was very close to death and I wanted her to be baptized.

The nurse’s had moved our room three times that day; they wanted Alyssa close to the nurse’s station. Alyssa took a turn for the worse around 8:30-9:00 PM. The room was filled with nurses, residents and staff. They could not revive her; you saw panic in the room. Then Dr. Iglesias arrives around 9:00 PM pushes everyone aside and takes total control of the room. He revives her and places her tiny head in the palm of his hand. He adjusts her neck and body so she is comfortable. He then apologies for being late, he had a busy Monday at the office. In a very calm voice he starts to prepare Tony and I that Alyssa may not make the night, we have to pray. I just remember walking out of the room into the hallway. I leaned up against the wall and literally slide down the wall. I first cried my heart out and once I got control of myself I prayed. I asked God to please let my daughter survive. I would take care of her and whatever his choice was I would understand. All I had was the power of prayer. I got up took a deep breath and walked back into the room. Tony and Dr. Iglesias had a very long talk; if Alyssa survived she would have some disabilities. We all agreed that it was in God’s hands. Dr. Iglesias kissed Alyssa on her forehead and grabbed his coat. He started walking towards the door and Alyssa had coded again. He threw his coat, revived her and told her, “I am not leaving you”. We had a fifty percent chance of survival. Alyssa was giving up; she could no longer breath on her own. We had to call Dr. Hofley around 3:00 AM to come and put Alyssa on life support. Dr. Iglesias went into ICU with her, Tony and I stayed in her room. It was about 5:30-6:00AM when he came back to the room and told us she was stable. Dr. Iglesias never complained about being tired, he was up all night and had worked all day. He sat with Tony and I for a few minutes and then left. He would return later in the day. Tony and I went to the ICU to see our precious baby.

We held hands walked across the hall and went to the ICU room, upon entering your heart stops. You see this tiny little baby hooked up to machines, wires coming out all over her body. It takes your breath away. We decided that seeing Alyssa was too emotional so we asked for no visitors. At this time the doctors believed that Alyssa had Pertussis also know as Whopping Cough. They could not confirm this right away because it takes weeks for the bacteria to grow. The doctors had discovered that Alyssa’s right upper lung was starting to collapse; she was in danger of loosing her lung. The doctors had to perform a bronchonical scope, the first one didn’t help then they went in another time and they we successful. Tony and I never let her side. We would take turns at night sleeping on a chair next to her bed. Alyssa stayed in ICU for two (2) weeks before being moved back to a regular room.

The day Alyssa was admitted to ICU Karen Stout wanted to do something for Tony and I, however there is nothing you can do, just pray. Within days Karen had organized a healing mass for Alyssa. She had contacted all of our family and friends. I wanted to attend however I was too emotional and I knew seeing everyone would have been hard. I truly believe in the power of prayer, it’s very powerful! It worked because Alyssa made it through some of the hardest days of her little life.

We were very lucky to have a great nurse that fought for us to have a private room after leaving ICU. It has been a long two weeks and we are all mentally and physically exhausted. Some of the tests were starting to come back; she had an ecoli infection, pneumonia, and fluid on her lungs. It took a few days, however slowly Alyssa started eating a little better each day. We stayed in the hospital until after Thanksgiving.

I truly believe that things in life happen for a reason. One day I stayed next to Alyssa’s crib and thought long and hard. I knew that she had survived for a reason, however what was the reason? What I didn’t know was that my life was about the change! I knew I had a very special angel in my arms.

Alyssa came home on eight (8) different medications and a chart explaining the times and dosage. I learned very fast on how to read my chart, give medication and prepare myself for CPR. I had my certificate from working however Tony had to take a crash course before leaving the hospital. I was now her Mom and her Nurse. I thought being home would make things much easier and Alyssa would start feeling better soon. What I didn’t realize that this was just the beginning of a new life for me.

I was trying to live a “normal” life after the hospital. I had my son Gino who was 2 years old and very active. He wanted to keep going however our life and his came to a complete stop. We had to stay home for about one year and could not expose her to stores, malls, church etc. We only went to the doctors.

I had called the State to enroll Alyssa into Early Intervention Program. Due to her delays she qualified for the program and started therapy session right away. Finding a good therapist was a challenge, however we were very lucky in finding many of them after all.

About six months after Alyssa left the hospital she became very sick again. She had pneumonia and was admitted back to the hospital. About one week later we were back in the hospital because Alyssa started having seizures. I thought life was hard before, boy was I wrong. She started in the middle of the night; I could her making some strange sounds and rushed to her crib. At first I thought she wasn’t breathing, her body was limp. We picked her up and rushed her to the hospital and after some tests were performed they confirmed she had a seizure. Alyssa left the hospital on another medication and another appointment with a neurologist. Alyssa started having as many as fifteen seizures a day. Watching my daughter have seizures was one of the hardest challenges I had to ever face. I felt so helpless and alone. I made an appointment with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Neurologist. Thank our lucky stars that Dr. Berman over time had her seizures under control.

At the age of three Alyssa started a preschool for children with disabilities. At first I didn’t want to send her however it was one of the best choices I ever made for her. She has accomplished so much since attending school. It was a great choice.

Today, Alyssa is 8 years old and still attends the same school. She uses her wheelchair or walker to get around and is very active. She loves music, horseback riding, swimming, and going to the park. She is a sweet little girl with a limited vocabulary however smile that can light up a room. She has taught me to never give up and always stay positive.