'Devastated': Nassau HS Colleague Raises Money For Baby's New Heart

WANTAGH, NY — A Massapequa baby, in desperate need of a new heart, is getting plenty of love from the community. She was diagnosed with the rare condition just five weeks after coming home from the hospital.

Steven Anusiak, of Seaford, has worked with the baby's aunt Christine Caserta for six years at Seaford High School.

"I left so devastated for her and her family," Anusiak told Patch. "I know them so well."

Caserta is a speech pathologist, while Anusiak runs a life skills program at the school.

The baby, Mia, is just a few months old. Doctors determined the condition was genetic.

"It was pretty apparent right away that something was wrong," he said.

He looked for ways to help, such as organizing a fundraiser at Mulcahy's Pub in January.

"This was something that just took off really fast," he said. "People are emailing with donations every couple of hours."

The Jan. 28 benefit concert will raise money for the family's steep medical costs, once a heart is found. They are also collecting items to create baskets for the fundraiser.

Donations are also sought on a Fund The First site. More than $70,000 has been raised in six weeks.

"The hope is to continue helping the family, providing as much support as they can," Anusiak said. "They just don't know how long the process is going to take."

People wanting help with donating funds or items can reach out to him directly for more information: stevenanusiak@gmail.com.

"[Christine] is such a good friend of mine. She's such an amazing person for the district," he said. "I just felt so helpless knowing that [she] and her family were so distraught. She's like my sister."