Police, EMTs and firefighters step up to help brother and adopted children
Tony Ferraro is overwhelmed by the amount of support he has received from his extended family of fellow emergency responders and police.
For the police officers, paramedics and firefighters that have stepped up in their brother’s time of need, they know he would do the same for them.
The 37-year-old father of two is a guy that has dedicated his life to serving others in the community. When he isn’t working as an EMT in Perry County or in Dubois County for Memorial Hospital, he serves as a lieutenant and training officer for Tell City’s Volunteer Fire Department. He is also a member of the Perry County Emergency Management Agency and the Perry County Local Emergency Planning Committee on the health committee. He was also a medic for the Dubois County Emergency Response Team for many years.
“I dabble in a little bit of everything,” Tony said. “I help when I can, where I can.”
Dubois County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Jesus Monarrez met Tony for the first time when Jesus was working on the Huntingburg Police Department. “We’ve been good friends for the past ten years or so,” Jesus said. “He is just one of those guys that is always there to lend a hand. Anything you need, he’s there to help.”
As Tony’s wife Stacie was battling terminal cancer last year, Jesus and the other came forward to ask how they could help. “I told them to kinda hold off. I thought we had more time,” Tony said.
On December 9, Stacie, Tony’s wife of nearly 14 years and the mother of their two adopted children Grace, 7, and Chase, 6, passed away from an aggressive form of cancer that attacked her liver.
Stacie’s health was marked by complications from a rare genetic disorder called Severe Combined Immunodeficiency. With about 10 percent of her immune system intact, as a baby she had to be protected from any contact with the outside world and the many microorganisms that attack a person’s body. Complications over the years led to radiation therapies, chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants.
Advised by doctors not to try to have another child after losing one conceived after a year of fertility treatments, the couple had an opportunity to adopt a sibling pair. After a five and half year struggle, Tony and Stacie finally adopted both children in November of 2o15 but then in June of 2016, Stacie learned of the tumors in her liver.
She wasn’t a candidate for a transplant, and the cancer was terminal.
She attempted chemotherapy but after two rounds, although some had shrunk, new tumors were developing, and the radiation was affecting the healthy tissue in her liver. Around Thanksgiving, Stacie was admitted into a hospital while visiting family out of state. Doctors informed her that her liver and kidney function were declining rapidly. After another hospital stay back in Indiana, she returned home and passed away a few days later.
Since her death, Tony has had to balance the two children and life’s responsibilities with his 24-hour shifts as an EMT in Dubois County for Memorial Hospital and as a part-time EMT in Perry County. Fortunately, his friends and extended family have stepped up to help with babysitting duty over his long shifts as well as a lending a helping hand when needed.
“There’s been a learning curve,” Tony said. “But I have a lot of great friends in Dubois County and in Perry County. It’s a process.”
Soon after Stacie passed, Jesus approached Tony about holding a fundraiser to help with the medical bills and expenses from the cancer battle. Tony gave him his blessing to go ahead, so Jesus teamed up with Katie Knies, Miranda Terwiske, Steve Buchta, Paula Hemmer, Zach Eichmiller and Mark Humbert to plan an event — The Ferraro Family Dine and Dance Benefit/Silent Auction —featuring food, a silent auction and music.
“It is overwhelming to see what they are doing for me,” Tony said. “It is so flattering to know that I have so many friends and personally, to think that I have touched them in some way that they feel this way about me.”
[box]On January 28, the benefit will be held at the Monastery Event Hall, 840 East 10th Street, in Ferdinand. The doors open at 5:00 p.m. with food to follow at 6:30. The local band EIGHTY-SIXT will start playing at 7:30 and go till 11 p.m. Fried chicken dinners will be served with a baked potato and sides. A cash bar will also be available.
According to Jesus, many local businesses have stepped up to donate items for a silent auction that will be held during the event. Among the items are an Astro Security home security system with installation, firearms, handmade cornhole boards and gift certificates from many local businesses.
All money raised will go to the family.
Tickets are available for one more day by calling Katie Knies at 812-430-8905 or Miranda Terwiske at 812-630-7725. Tickets are $20.[/box]
A GoFundMe page has also been established to help the family.
