Yale Nurse Fighting For His Life After Feeling Ill, Community Rallies To Assist

CONNECTICUT — A Yale New Haven Hospital nurse is now hospitalized and seriously ill himself, and the area community is rallying to help him and his family.

Michael Consiglio, a Madison resident, was found unresponsive at home on July 16 after feeling ill for several days, according to his coworker and friend Alison Venditti, who has organized an ongoing GoFundMe campaign for the family’s benefit.

Consiglio was rushed to Yale’s emergency department, and he was put on life support, Venditti said.

“Mike is currently fighting for his life, with significant brain injuries, and the medical team is uncertain if he will ever wake up,” the campaign says.

The campaign has a goal of raising $50,000. As of 4 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, it had raised $36,723 via 471 donations.

As a nurse, Consiglio has cared for hundreds of patients at Yale. His wife, Cindy, has taken a leave of absence from her job to be with him during his illness. The couple has two children, Olivia and Ben, according to Venditti.

The family is now facing both hospital bills and college expenses, as one of the children is starting college this fall.

“We want to ensure that Mike’s children can focus on their futures without added financial stress,” the campaign says.

All contributions will go toward medical expenses and the children’s college funds.

“We kindly ask you to consider donating to Mike’s GoFundMe page to help support his family during this challenging time,” the campaign states. “Thank you for your kindness and generosity.”

Venditti works at Yale’s surgical intensive care unit (SICU) with Consiglio, and she said he has worked for Yale for 35 years.

“He is our leader, our rock, the person everyone goes to at work for help with anything and everything SICU,” she said. “He has mentored hundreds of new nurses and experienced nurses.”

So far, she said the response to the GoFundMe campaign has been “amazing.”

“It truly speaks to how much Mike is truly loved by everyone he comes in contact with,” she said.

As of Aug. 1, Consiglio remained in critical condition in intensive care.