Moorestown Man Who Recovered From Coronavirus Launches Fundraiser

MOORESTOWN, NJ — James Sanfilippo is an orthopedic surgeon, so it should come as no surprise that he wants to help people during the current outbreak of new coronavirus. He wanted to deliver a message of recovery while raising money to help the Food Bank of South Jersey.

But even he is surprised by how well his online fundraiser — in which participants cut their own hair and donate the money they would’ve spent on a haircut to the Food Bank — is doing.

“I was expecting to raise maybe a couple of hundred dollars,” Sanfilippo said. “The support we’ve gotten is unbelievable. … I think people just wanted to help, but they didn’t know how to. We provided an outlet for them, an avenue to provide that support.”

He is just as surprised as he was to learn that he had coronavirus in the first place.

“I was floored,” the Moorestown man said of his reaction that he had come down with the coronavirus. “I thought it was the flu.”

New Jersey Coronavirus Updates: Don't miss local and statewide announcements about novel coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

It began on March 10 when Sanfilippo came down with a fever of 101 degrees. Although he was at low-risk for contracting the virus, he took a test at the behest of his colleagues in the healthcare industry. Once he learned the results had come back positive, his condition got worse. His fever reached 103.5, and he couldn’t get out of bed without passing out.

“I felt horrible,” said Sanfilippo, who was quarantined with his wife and children. “It was really bad for three days.”

His doctor was calling repeatedly and prescribed him Z-Pack, chloroquine and zinc. By March 20, his fever broke and by the 21st, he was able to get out of bed.

“I was symptom-free,” Sanfilippo said. “I don’t know if it was the medicine or if the virus just ran its course.”

Sanfilippo described the situation with a newly-shaved head. Once he had recovered, he told a friend of his, who joked he was bribing his child to let him give him a haircut. Part of the recent restrictions surrounding the coronavirus that came down from the state is the closure of personal care businesses, including barbers and hair salons.

Sanfilippo then launched an online fundraiser in which participants give themselves or their children haircuts and donate what money they would’ve spent to the Food Bank of South Jersey.

His son was the first to shave his head. Sanfilippo then gave himself a haircut during a Facebook Live demonstration. As of Tuesday morning, the Haircuts for Covid-19 fundraiser had raised $15,463.

He said he doesn’t think there was any way hospitals could’ve been prepared for this pandemic, and now is not the time to hurl blame.

“Now is the time to just get people healthy and prevent them from dying,” Sanfilippo said. “We can worry about what we could’ve done better after.”

He noted that his wife and children likely had the virus, as they exhibited mild symptoms. None of them were tested, so his would be the only case that shows up among the positive cases in Moorestown and Burlington County. Everyone in the family is healthy now, and Sanfilippo never had to be hospitalized.

He also wanted his family to have fond memories of this time, and not just memories of how sick he was. Finally, he wanted to deliver a positive message of recovery.

“This is a story of hope for people who didn’t get it yet,” Sanfilippo said. “It’s also a way to help those who are less fortunate.”

To participate in the fundraiser or make a donation, visit gofundme.com. For more on the Food Bank of South Jersey, visit foodbanksj.org.

Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know