Heart Problems Shake, But Don't Break Braintree Family

This October John and Stacey Morelli celebrated 15 years of marriage. A pair of locals – John from Braintree, Stacey from Quincy – they were in their late 20s when they met and fell in love, just after Stacey had decided she was through with dating.

She worked in insurance, he was in concrete – residential, commercial, seawalls. John was also an athlete, 29 years old and training for a triathalon, when what he thought was pneumonia turned out to be a mass in his heart.

It was benign, but also needed to be removed. John had open heart surgery in August of 1995 and was married, 14 months later, to Stacey. They had three boys – Griffin, Tyler and Joshua – and moved into a house on Elm Street in Braintree.

John had to take medication that stopped him from being as active as he liked, but otherwise things moved along normally. He eventually became a senior manager for a pharmaceutical company and Stacey transitioned to full-time mom and then back to insurance as their boys grew.

Then, about four years ago, John's heart began to fail again, damaging his liver. At first doctors thought he might do well with a valve replacement, but John and Stacey eventually learned that the damage was too extensive and John would need transplant surgery, for both organs.

"Our jaws just dropped," Stacey said in a recent interview, sitting in their living room with John, hands clasped as they told their story.

Once the Morellis realized that the transplant meant months of John in the hospital, plus medication and rehabilitation with high costs, even with insurance, friends and family took over and have since created Friends of John Morelli, a fundraising group that will host a benefit this November.

The news was shattering at first. John was transferred from Tufts to Massachusetts General Hospital, and they began the process of getting him on the donor list. He worked hard at outpatient treatment, in preparation for the transplant, and was done in three weeks.

In October, John will go for another hospital visit and could remain there for the next six months, awaiting the passing of someone who will donate both their liver and heart.

Yet John remains upbeat, sure ever since that first surgery that he is being watched over. Around the same time, back in the mid-1990s, John's cousin Ralph died in a car accident. They grew up in the same house together and was like a brother to John.

"I really feel like I had that guardian angel watching over me," John said.

And now, more recently, his father passed away. "I truly believe my father is my guardian angel watching over me as well. I just feel like I have someone there looking out for me."

Stacey has also looked out for John, since they were dating and he had his first extended stay in the hospital. She took time off from work and would often sit on his bed, staying as close as possible.

"It was like we were entertaining from the bedside," she said. "I just couldn't do anything until I knew he would make it."

This time, there are three more family members for support – the boys – plus many others and plenty of friends. The boys understand what's happening on different levels and in different ways, seeking relief in online medical research, constant activity, and the youngest by way of enthusiasm – time for Dad to get his new heart!

"My whole focus is getting healthy," John said. "Being able to go out and throw the ball with my kids."

John's benefit is Friday, Nov. 25 at Florian Hall in Dorchester. It will include live entertainment, raffles a silent auction and program book. Donations can be made to:

"Friends of John Morelli"

c/o Lisa & Joe Zanca

10 Regis Rd., Braintree, MA 02184

For more information, contact Marc Morelli at 617-913-1284 or zancafam5@verizon.net.