Come out for a fun-filled weekend with pumpkin decorating/arts & crafts/games/food/wide variety of vendors PLUS cars & motorcycles to support the Antonio Forte Transplant Fund Trust! Although the our family may not be here, an annual fundraiser in Tony's honor will take place to help with his Special Needs Trust to aid him will what will be a lengthy recuperation from a long awaited transplant.

Tony's recuperation will all be on him and how his body will take to not one,not two but 5 organs.He's has been waiting for a stomach/sm & lg intestine,liver and pancreas. Tony has been listed at the Miami Transplant Institute after being listed at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh for 5 yrs. His wait time has been transferred to this new hospital so that a donor family through the loss of their child will save the life of Tony's by saying YES to organ donation.

We as Tony's parents have researched everything there is to know about Tony's illness and the life of transplant. We have weighed the pros and cons, of how we'll trade one way of life for another, that there are complications such as rejection, PTLD (a type of cancer that can attack Tony's system and new organs) and the possible loss of the transplanted organs with being re-listed. Transplant isn't and never is meant to be a cure! Instead , transplant is an extension of life, a better quality of life. However what many not realize is that there are many risks involved, risks that as parents through many groups we belong to have seen the good and the bad.

Of the good that we hope Tony will experience will be that he'll be able to eat a full meal without restrictions and without becoming sick, being able to enter school with a backpack full of books instead of life-sustaining medical equipment, being able to swim without getting his medical appliances wet and just restrictions that could potentially hurt him. For most transplant recipients, getting a much needed organ is a second chance of life. But in a child who after 6 days of birth never had a chance, this will be Tony's first chance, a first chance for everything.

We will never forget the family who will mourn the loss of their child that will be saving Tony's. In our years of speaking with Gift of Life, we have meant many donor families who say that getting to know the family of whom received their loved ones organs, gives them a sense of closure knowing that their loved one will always live on and will always remain a hero in giving the greatest gift of all! 

What we have learned throughout our 10 yr journey is that our faith has become much stronger, our family is dedicated in succeeding every obstacle that life has thrown at us and will continue no matter what or where we'll have to go, we will go the distance no matter how far we have to travel for any of our son's happiness, destiny or health.

No words can comprehend our true feelings and emotions when we think of how so many have been supportive,with your thoughts,prayers,compassion and support! I will always say "How do you truly say THANK YOU to someone in saving your child's life? 

Many great friends and family will be on hand the day of the event , in the event we aren't able to attend! Where we will be you may ask , We will be either recuperating with Tony or waiting for him to come out of surgery at the transplant center in Miami!

To be a vendor or participant of this special event , please email me for a vendor or participant form : at mforte2131@comcast.net 

We LOVE you all and are truly blessed to have you all in our lives!

Lovingly,
The Forte Family