Guilderland community organizations are coming together to help the Rodino family with expenses resulting from a life-threatening neurological disease that has struck the father and his youngest daughter. Seven-year-old Rachel Rodino is not expected to make it through Christmas.
The Rodinos are dealing with the dad and a child who both have Huntington’s disease, a neurological disease that results in death, according to information from the Guilderland Chamber of Commerce, which has chosen the Rodinos for the adopt-a-family program.
Rick Rodino has not been able to work, and he and his wife, Lori, have been making ends meet off donations and disability income.
The Rodinos also have two daughters who attend Guilderland High School.
Lori Rodino said the first sign of Rachel’s Huntington’s came three years ago, when she had a seizure while at school. Two weeks later, she had another, which came as a surprise because there is not a history of seizures in the family.
Lori Rodino said the doctor was `baffled` by her daughter’s condition at first, but narrowed it down to a few ailments ` one of them being Huntington’s. It was describe as a very aggressive degenerative disease, and after a recent hospice stint, Rodino was not optimistic.
`I didn’t think we were taking her home,` she said.
Rachel was able to eventually come home, and hospice workers now come to the house to help with her care.
Rick Rodino, who has the adult form of Huntington’s, has had symptoms for 13 years. `He’s getting worse as well,` Lori said. `It’s very scary for my kids. They’re afraid.`
She said because Rick has been unable to work, the family is hurting for money.
The community has already begun to rally, and by the end of the first week in December, a number of organizations have contributed.
`We live in a community like no other in Guilderland,` Lori Rodino said. `So much kindness and generosity. I want to give a huge ‘thank you’ to the whole community. It’s just amazing.`
She said support from Christ the King Church, the Guilderland Chamber of Commerce, Sen. Neil Breslin, D-Delmar, friends, neighbors and all the businesses and organizations that contributed are helping to make a tough situation manageable.
The Fredendell Funeral Home has offered to cover the costs Rachel’s funeral, the Guilderland food pantry is coordinating with the Chamber to donate food and Breslin is working to stall the foreclosure on the Rodino’s home, said Kathy Burbank, executive director of the Chamber.
Breslin representative Kate Berry said when foreclosure proceedings began in August, Breslin sent out a number of e-mails to those involved and was able to work out a deal with a lender to make the mortgage more affordable, but Berry said even though the foreclosure proceedings were stalled, the family is not out of the woods yet.
`We try to help in every way we can,` she said. `But the family still needs more fundraising if they are going to keep their home.`
Doug Arnott, owner of several McDonald’s restaurants will host a fundraising event on Friday, Dec. 18, from 4-7 p.m. at the McDonald’s on Western Avenue. Jen Cornell, a neighbor of the Rodinos has been selling butterflies for Rachel and hosted a number of events bringing in several thousand dollars. There are funds at both Key Bank and Pioneer Bank in Guilderland under Rodino Family Fund, according to the GCC.
Cornell said there are still butterflies available for $30 each, or $50 for two. Through a partnership with Philip’s Hardware, she said the butterflies were purchased below cost. They sold 800 `garden butterflies,` more than were available from the manufacturers.
`It’s been an honor to be able to help them. They are a wonderful family. It was a great fundraiser,` Cornell said. `The community has helped out a lot.`
Cornell said she has spent a lot of time trying to be `more or less the friendly neighbor,` and be there to talk and listen to the Rodinos.
Donations to Pioneer Savings Bank to the Rodino Family Fund at 1883 Western Ave. and checks or Price Chopper Cards to the Chamber at 2050 Western Ave. are welcomed.
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