GoFundMe Made For Centereach Family Man Who Survived Split Aorta

CENTEREACH, NY — A Centereach man with a wife and five daughters has endured one medical setback after another for over two years.

Robert Bagnasco is married to Gigi, his wife of 23 years, and is the father of Hailey, 22, Gabrielle, 19, Rachel, 16, and 10-year-old twins Ashley and Johanna. Despite having used to work nights as a truck driver, "his eyes lit up when his children ran to greet him. He was just as excited to see them as they were to him," according to Marianna Sgroi, a friend of the family. She set up a GoFundMe on behalf of the family; you can help the Bagnascos here.

The family's life took a turn for the worst on Oct. 18, 2017, according to Sgroi. Rob collapsed at the side of his truck and was found by his supervisor at midnight. He was rushed to Brookhaven Hospital, where the doctors were unable to figure out what was wrong with him, so he was brought over to Stony Brook University Hospital, Sgroi said.

Rob's family and friends were told his aorta ruptured and blood was flooding his chest cavity. Doctors soon discovered his aorta had split from the front of his heart all the way to his back, and his coronary sinus vein had also torn. While the doctors were trying to save his life during a surgery that ran over six hours, the blood in his chest had nowhere to go but his carotid artery, which cut off all oxygen to his brain. Rob suffered a "massive" stroke, which affected the entire right hemisphere of his brain, which resulted in the complete paralysis of the left side of his body. His left eye was half blinded, as well, according to Sgroi.

His life status continued to get more critical. Three days later, he was rushed to Mount Sinai in Manhattan. His brain began to swell, and on the fifth day, he had half of his skull removed.

For the next two months, he bounced from one care facility to another. On Dec. 22, 2017, Rob was sent to the head injury unit of Saint Johnland Rehab Center, where caregivers said he's come a long way.

"He was able to communicate great, he was able to eat, and the best of all was Rob remembering his whole life before this devastating incident," Sgroi wrote. "He understood how difficult and different his life was going to be from that day forward."

However, in June 2018, his life got even more difficult. A shunt was placed in his brain, because the brain fluid could not stay regulated otherwise. Things began to decline on July 23, 2018, when the Cisco piece was put back on. In September 2018, Rob was thought to be having a brain infection, so the Cisco piece had to be removed, the whole area of the brain had to be cleaned out and the piece be put back on. That unfortunately triggered seizures.

On Feb. 15, 2019, doctors felt Rob would do better at home surrounded by his family, so he was released from rehab, according to Sgroi. The family has still faced setback after setback. Rob needs full assistance and an ambulance to get to every appointment. His health has since gone backwards. In May, the retina in Rob's right eye detached, so he's blind. He suffered at least one seizure a month from June through August 2019, as well as a stroke in August.

"The emotional strain that has been put on his family and the turmoil that this has caused with the extended family is an understatement, not to mention the extreme financial burden," Sgroi wrote.

She added that Gigi, Rob's wife, had no choice but to apply for a Medicaid conversion which will then cut off any amount of money that she is able to make in her efforts to support her family. If she does make more, then the state would take away Rob's Social Security disability, according to Sgroi.

"They are trying so hard to hold on to the hope that Rob will get better," she said. "He is a true fighter and has already beaten so many odds. Every doctor that sees him can’t believe he has survived this. He is a true miracle. But now they have to try and give him a better quality of life."

Sgroi hopes the GoFundMe, which she launched in September 2019, will help the family be able to afford a handicap minivan, a ramp for their home, and adjustments around the house that will help make Rob's life more comfortable.

Sgroi said she and another family friend are truly blessed to have so many people willing to help the Bagnasco family, who they referred to as their "dear friends."

A fundraising dinner is being presented by Caring Hearts for Rob Bagnasco and is scheduled for Friday. It will run from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Bluebirds Mansion at 120 Edgewood Ave., Smithtown. Tickets are $50 for adults and $25 for children under 13. More information is posted on the flyer below.