Hospitalized Andrew Apuzzo Made Honorary Fire Department Member

EAST HAVEN, CT — Andrew Apuzzo was made an honorary member of the East Haven Fire Department Volunteer Company One.

For Andrew, hospitalized for a nearly a year, it's a very special honor. That and the hundreds and hundreds of cards he received from all over the world this Christmas.

Original story:

Thirty-four years ago Andrew Apuzzo of East Haven was born with the very rare Prader Willi Syndrome. The disease is characterized by abnormal body growth, weak muscles at birth, insatiable hunger, and intellectual disability. Andrew is 34, but his heart is that of a 10-year-old his sister Shelly Slater says.

Andrew has developed complications and has, for the last 10 months-plus, been in Yale New Haven Hospital for cellulitis and from there, Shelly said, "things have progressively gotten worse."
He is bed-ridden, had a tracheotomy and is dependent on a ventilator. Shelly, devoted to her brother, was visiting with him Monday when Patch reached out after seeing a post she shared on the East Haven community Facebook page, 'The Good Things About East Haven,'a page with some 5,000 followers.

She wrote: "I'm not sure if this is allowed or not but, I have a 34-year-old (mentally 10) special needs brother who has been in the hospital for almost a year. I am trying to make his Christmas as special as I can for him," she wrote as he, "won't be coming home anytime soon."
Andrew can no longer walk.

"I understand some people just might not have the extra time or money and I totally understand. I just ask that anyone who reads this please say a prayer for him. We need a miracle," she wrote.
Hours after she posted, hundreds and hundreds of people responded, shared her post and promised cards and gifts would be on the way.

"I can't believe a small post I made has blown up and gotten so big," Shelly told Patch. "My heart is so happy and I've been crying happy tears for days! Its amazing how many people have stepped up all over the world to make my baby brother's Christmas special this year. I am eternally thankful to each and every one of you."

On Dec. 9, Shelly said Andrew has received 700 cards. Shelly said that around 600 were delivered to his East Haven home address, and another box of some 100 were delivered to Yale New Haven Hospital, where Andrew remains.

On Christmas Eve, Shelly said Andrew is "very excited" to be named an honorary member of the fire department.

Oh, and he's received some 1,700 Christmas cards!