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The Fiore-Patti Family needs our help.

Ernest Patti, like a lot of kids, was excited to start college. His parents Susan Fiore and Dr. Ernest Patti, Sr., moved him from New York to the University of Miami and Ernie began Freshman orientation and classes. About a week into the school year, Ernie had a terrible accident.

Updates (4)

April 23, 2024

Greetings Team Ernie,

It is time for another update on Ernest’s progress and getting you up to speed on how he continues to forge ahead despite this life-altering injury.

Ernest continues his college career at the University of Miami. This spring semester, he is carrying twelve credits, the most he has taken in one semester to date. I am happy to report that he managed just fine in advertising, communications law, social media, and broadcasting. This, while still continuing in two different physical therapy locations, hosting a radio show on the UM radio station, (if you have not heard a set from “DJ Wheels” you should tune in to www.wvum.org, and hear some great house music on most Fridays at 5pm) completing many projects in his classes, and, I am happy to report, taking driving lessons in an adapted van. Oh, yes, and taking care of our golden doodle, Felix. Ernest has made remarkable progress and continues to inspire and humble us.

This summer, Ernest will be home in NY for a visit, and he will be interning for a few weeks with NBC/Universal during the Olympics. This is an excellent opportunity to advance his studies and his work experience and prepare him for the next step in his fledgling career.

I am also writing to ask you to save the date on Sat. June 1st; Team Ernie will be hosting another 5K run/walk/roll, in an effort to boost his Help Hope Live Fund, so we can continue to maintain the level of caregiving with Warren and his team. Warren has proved essential to Ernest’s progress. The cost of twenty-four-hour caregiving is primarily, almost exclusively, what the fund is utilized for. As Ernie Sr. and I resume our respective careers in NY, we are not able to remain in Florida as often as we have in the past. We try to get there as often as we can, but we rely more and more on Warren and his team. The cost of care when we are not there to pitch in can be in excess of $20K a month. And that is only for caregiving. Now that we are over 3.5 years from the date of this catastrophic injury, the costs have proven to be as we were warned, prohibitive.

It is your support and unwavering commitment to Ernest, that has sustained us thus far. Without this support, it would be impossible for him to continue with the research initiatives led by the Miami Project, his physical therapy, and his education at UM.

Please visit Ernest’s campaign page at Race Roster ( https://raceroster.com/events/2024/89013/team-ernie) to register for the event and receive further details. We will form a team in Larchmont and will plan to run from the Larchmont Train Station, lower level, to Manor Park and back. If you are not able to make it to Larchmont, please feel free to create a team and run wherever you can. We know this is a busy time of year with graduations, weddings, and the list goes on. If you are not able to participate in the run, please consider donating to Ernest’s campaign directly here at Help Hope Live. Help Hope Live will waive all credit card fees for donations made on Friday, May 31, the day before the run.

As I have shared here, and with many of you in person, Ernest’s injury has been a tragic and catastrophic blow to him and our family. We are still processing the repercussions of the impact. To all of you who have shown unyielding support to Ernest, to me, to Dr. Ernie, to Ernest’s sisters, we cannot possibly convey our thanks as we would like. To everyone reading this message, to all those who have donated, or made a call, or delivered food, or texted, or picked us up from the airport, or visited in Miami, or prayed for us, from the bottom of our hearts, we say thank you. You have shown the power of community and how it can lift us in a desperate time of need. I hope to see all of you on June 1st.

Thank you,

Susan

July 26, 2023

We're back with an extremely overdue Ernie Patti update!

We know we've been gone for a while - thanks for sticking with us!

Greetings Team Ernie,

I hope everyone is enjoying this summer and finding ways to beat the heat and stay cool!

I know it has been a while since you have officially heard from us. Apologies for the gap, but we have been busy with work, school, flying back and forth from NY to Miami and of course, Ernest’s care. I am happy to report to those who do not know that Ernest continues his studies at the University of Miami and is enrolled for 12 credits this fall ’23. He spends most of his time on campus at the Lakeside Villages where he has an accessible room. Ernest has transferred from the School of Education and Human Development to the School of Communications and has made remarkable progress. This past spring semester saw him complete two mini film projects. I suspect that they are only the beginning. You can catch him most Fridays DJing on the UM radio station, WVUM. Here is the link, just in case you want to tune in and listen live: https://www.wvum.org/listen

Ernest returned home to Larchmont for the first time since his injury, last summer in 2022. He has been able to repeat his visits home over winter break for Christmas and now this summer as well. Christmas 2022 was the first time the Fiore-Pattis were able to celebrate Christmas together, since 2019. The house in Larchmont is not fully accessible, but the family has been able to make it work with some makeshift fixes. It is great to have him home for both his parents and siblings, along with extended family and friends. While up in NY, Ernest has enjoyed a few trips to NYC with his buddies, a few poker games, some Yankees’ games and the requisite dinners at Larchmont Tavern and Lusardi’s. We are so happy to have him home. The loyal followers of this infrequent newsletter know that Ernest has been wanting a dog, so we are SO pleased to announce that Felix, Ernest’s new pup from Christmas, has learned to enjoy the best of both Florida and Larchmont! You might be able to catch him strolling on the brook while he is escaping the Florida heat. Stop and see if he will offer you his paw.

Ernest continues to work extremely hard at physical therapy. The average week sees him in therapy sessions four days out of the week. He continues seeing his long-time PT Alex at Miami PT. Alex does not let him slack off, even a little bit. Last year, Ernest also started sessions with Barwiss Physical Therapy. While not a traditional spinal cord therapy site, the Barwiss team has focused on strength and different therapy methods, while also supplementing the traditional routines. The combination of the two sites has proved successful and the results can be seen in his transfers, his upper body strength and slight gains in his finger mobility. We have tried to incorporate the Barwiss slogan “No Bad Days” into our daily living.

Find out more about Barwis here: https://www.barwisphysicaltherapy.com/

Along with his parents, Warren and Kassandra continue to provide incredible care to Ernest. They have become a part of the Fiore-Patti family whether they want to or not! Ernest is working so very hard to gain his independence. It has been a little slower than he would like. Nonetheless, he is not deterred and pushes the boundaries quite a bit. You might have seen his friends carrying him in his wheelchair through Grand Central Terminal, though that is a different story. The cost of his continued care is daunting, but we are determined to provide him with the focused, intensive and attentive care he deserves.

To accomplish our goal of providing Ernest with the best care, we are again engaging our communities and asking for support. The overwhelming demands on the family’s finances and time are simply monumental. The current fund’s reserves are dwindling and the continued costs are mounting. So, in an effort for anyone and everyone who wants to engage with Ernest, and see first hand the progress the fund has supported, we have set up a live event to gather our support network. We are hosting a bowling event while he is home, and Ernest will be out on the lanes! Please come out on Sunday, August 13th from 1-4 at Bowlero in White Plains and join the team for a few frames. We know it is not Thanksgiving, but let's try for a turkey!! Registration information can be found HERE (https://events.helphopelive.org/event/5876/signup/) and, of course, donations may always be made directly to the TEAM ERNIE site at Help Hope Live on this very page.

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We are so very grateful for the support of EVERYONE reading this letter. This journey could not be made without you and your generosity is appreciated more than you could ever know. Please join us in celebration of Ernest’s trip home. As they say, try it, you might strike it!!

In appreciation,

The Fiore-Pattis

PS: follow us on Instagram @TeamErnie2021! https://www.instagram.com/teamernie2021/

Photo Galleries (3)

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Guestbook

December 2, 2024

wishing you much success with your fundraiser

henrietta parrello

November 8, 2024

Donation from Anne Lefever’s birthday.

kathy galvin

October 29, 2024

May Ernest get well soon

Cecilia Ferro