Teen With Down Syndrome Comes Home To Fanfare After Health Scare

STONY BROOK, NY - An East Patchogue teen with a rare condition got a happy ending this week after undergoing three surgeries and a seven week stay at Stony Brook University Hospital.

Thomas Spiotta, 19, has been a fighter his entire life, ever since he was diagnosed with down syndrome before he was even born.

Despite his hardships, the Bellport High School student has been an active member of the community, participating in sports, dance and the Explorer Program at the North Patchogue Fire Department.

However on the Fourth of July weekend, Spiotta starting suffering from sharp abdominal pains, resulting in him being sent to Long Island Community Hospital in East Patchogue.

They sent him home at first but when his pain persisted, he returned to the hospital.

A couple of weeks later on July 18, he was transferred to Stony Brook University Hospital where doctors found he had a massive portal venous thrombosis or blood clot in his portal vein.

This lead to other vessel clots and intestinal ischemia, which causes a decrease the supply of blood to the intestines and can damage intestinal tissue.

After consulting with his parents, doctors began to perform several surgeries on Spiotta, the first on July 19 to remove over three feet of small intestine which had died. During that surgery doctors were able to reconnect the intestine before closing the abdominal incision.

After two additional surgeries, Spiotta made full recovery and was able to finally leave the hospital on Tuesday.

According to Dr. Christopher Muratore, Chief of Pediatric Surgery at Stony Brook Children's Hospital and the primary surgeon that has treated Spiotta, he is looking forward to recovering at home and he will continued to be monitored by the hospital staff.

"We have a great ending," parents Eugene and Jane Spiotta, of East Patchogue, said in a statement. "My son was fighting for his life and won the battle."

He was greeted outside the hospital by a cheering squad of about 50 fire fighters from the North Patchogue Fire Department and surrounding fire departments as well as two fire trucks.

Eugene, who is first assistant chief for the North Patchogue Fire Department, said he received a large amount of support from local firefighters and members of the community.

"It's probably one of the best things I've ever done — moving from Queens to Long Island — and getting this brotherhood together is just remarkable," he said. "Nineteen years ago my son was born and they supported me and here they are now supporting my son."

In addition, Eugene says the family has received additional support from many others including members the Bellport School District. He has even received letters from people in different countries sending their well-wishes.

"The amount of people that my son has touched that I didn't even realize, is just overwhelming," he said.

Jane teared up when talking about her son, describing him as "hysterically funny and full of life."

All photos courtesy of Stony Brook Medicine