Gabriel's Story: Never Quit

By Donna Colucci

This June marks my son's, Gabriel Colucci, eighth year in remission from Nephrotic Syndrome, a rare kidney disease. He will celebrate this milestone at the New Milford NephCure Walk on Sunday, April 29, a walk that he has organized as part of his senior project to raise awareness for NephCure. 

One of Gabriel’s high school graduation requirements came from his Humanities class. His teacher, Mrs. Barbara Collentine asked the students to pick a charity to work with.

“The assignment comes out of their selecting a charity of their choice to write a research paper on. They serve the charity in some capacity in the hopes of recognizing and appreciating the importance of volunteering, the impact of philanthropic endeavors and the importance of being pro active in their own educational experiences,” Collentine said.

What better fit than the NephCure Foundation, an organization that our family holds near and dear to our hearts? A foundation dedicated solely to finding the cause, treatment and cure for Nephrotic Syndrome and Focal Segmental Glomerulsclerosis. Through the years we have hosted many fundraisers to aid in this research for a cure.

For those of you who follow Donald Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice,” you know that Teresa Giudice from “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” has chosen NephCure as her charity of choice as well. Recently, she presented a check for $60,000 to the organization.

When Gabriel was diagnosed in 1996, there was little known about Nephrotic Syndrome. We were given basic information about the disease and how the doctors were going to treat it. Little did we know that it would be the beginning of a horrible roller coaster ride. For the next eight years, Gabriel spent many months in the hospital. He experienced every devastating side effect this kidney disease had to offer -- dehydration, edema, peritonitis, stomach bleeds and blood transfusions, just to name a few.

You may ask yourself, what is Nephrotic Syndrome and FSGS?

We did too.

We soon learned that Nephrotic Syndrome is a collection of signs and symptoms that occur when glomeruli are damaged. Each kidney is made up of approximately one million tiny filters called "glomeruli." Much as a coffee filter keeps coffee grounds in, glomeruli keep valuable cells and protein in the blood. When glomeruli become damaged, proteins leak into the urine causing fluid to accumulate in the body. This accumulation of fluid is called edema and causes severe swelling of the face and body. Prolonged leakage can lead to kidney damage and even failure.

According to NephCure, FSGS is a type of Glomerular Disease, one of many diseases that affect kidney function by attacking the glomeruli. Glomerulosclerosis describes the scarring or hardening of the tiny blood vessels within the kidney, which can lead to daily dialysis or transplant.

This is Gabriels’ Story:

When I was two years old I was diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome, a rare kidney disease that caused severe edema. Edema is the buildup of water under the skin causing it to swell. This then causes dehydration because of the malfunction of the kidneys.

However, all through my childhood, I was never treated as though this disease limited me. True, I spent years in and out of hospitals dealing with the many complications of Nephrotic Syndrome, but the disorder never got the best of me. I did not feel sorry for myself. My parents taught me to do my best and to dream big. 

I started playing football at seven years old; at times crying through practice due to the extremities of the sport. Still, I never quit. I was committed and dedicated to my sport. While some may have been skeptical about playing aggressive sports with my disease, I was not afraid to try. As I watched my healthy teammates quit, I was even more determined to succeed and prove to myself that I could do my best.

At the age of ten, my kidney disease went into remission. I continued to excel academically and my passion for football grew even more. I can remember watching baseball games with my father and he purposely pointed out Jim Abbott, a New York Yankees pitcher. He, too, had been born with a challenge. His handicap was not having his right hand. One would think this could limit a person from achieving their goals, but it was perseverance that proved Jim Abbott to be one of the most inspirational figures in sports history. People like him remind me every day that with hard work and dedication, I can fulfill my dreams. 

I am ready to begin the next stage of my life. Obstacles are inevitable occurrences and I know I am ready to take them “head on.” My life experiences have readied me for any type of hurdle. 

Join me, Gabriel Colucci, at New Milford NephCure Walk Sunday, April 29, on the track behind the New Milford High School. Registration begins at 11:00 a.m. 

For more information on the New Milford NephCure Walk please click here to join Gabriel’s’ Team, or to start your own.