Teen Injured By Falling Tree Heading Home From Hospital

By Jack Kramer, Contributor

EAST HAVEN, CT – The good news is that the teenager who was severely injured when a tree tumbled down on him while mowing his lawn this summer will soon be back home in East Haven. The bad news is that the 16-year-old East Haven High School student and his family still need lots of help to make his home handicap accessible.

While the community has responded in a major way to raise more than $10,000 – and counting – for Nick and his family – the need is still immense because insurance money for his care is expiring.

Family friend Caroline Vitale-Koziatek said that because Nick is under age 18 he is not eligible for state benefits – so the cost of Nick’s care falls to his family.

Nick Vessichio has been hospitalized for close to six months, ever since the 16-year-old East Haven High School student was injured while mowing the lawn.

Even though close to $40,000 was raised through a GoFundMe page immediately after the tragic accident happened those funds have been depleted.

And now the rush is on to make the Vessichio home as accessible as possible for Nick to use when he comes home shortly.

Toward that end, East Haven contractor Anthony Bianco, who runs A&G Contracting in town, has volunteered to head up the efforts to make the house ready for Nick.

Bianco is receiving no money for his time and efforts and, according to Koziatek, will coordinate all the work that needs to be done over the next short period of time to get the house ready.

“We still need electricians, plumbers, laborers, contractors,” said Koziatek. She said anyone that wants to help Bianco with the work should contact her, not him, at (203) 467-8824.

Other efforts to help Nick and his family continue.

A dinner organized by Joseph Carfora and Joann Gondek has been scheduled on Feb. 2nd at Cascade Fine Catering in Hamden from 6-11 p.m., where all the proceeds from the evening will be given to the Vessichio family.

Hundreds of tickets have already been sold

To buy tickets to the dinner, contact Carfora at 203-627-4040 or Gondek at 203-668-6082.

“The Vessicchio Family Special Trust” has been established to help this family deal with their enormous ongoing costs.

The fund has been established by Koziatek.

She described the status of Nick and his family’s rough journey.

“For six long months, family and friends have sat by his hospital bedside 24/7 praying for the miracle of a full recovery. While we cannot entirely help relieve the emotional stress on the family, I am confident we can all come together to ease the enormous financial burden caused by this terrible accident.

“Nick’s parents are both employed by the City of New Haven; his father, Ray, works as a driver and his mother, Sue, as a paraprofessional. Neither have been able to work since the accident. Ray and Sue had just finished putting their two other sons, Anthony and Michael, through college while Nick, was about to start his junior year at East Haven High School, where he is a member of many teams and clubs.

If you are in the position to help, please make your check payable to:

“The Vessicchio Family Special Trust” Citizen’s Bank

And send your donation to:

Law Offices of Zullo & Jacks LLC

83 Main Street

East Haven CT 06512