WINTER PARK, Fla. — UPDATE: Sammy Sakelariou, the Winter Park father needing a heart, lung and kidney transplant after landing in the hospital with COVID-19, his family said.
“God has gained a great angel! We were blessed to have Sammy in our lives,” his family wrote on Sakalariou’s GoFundMe page last Wednesday. “He was a great father, husband, son and friend. His infectious laugh and personality touched everyone that he came in contact with. His memories will last forever within his children. We are heartbroken but know that he is in the best place; with God in heaven! Thank you for the out pour of love, support and prayers. We are so grateful!”
See our previous story below:
Sammy Sakelariou is aware of what’s going on, but living without lungs and hooked up to a heart-lung machine, his wife Shariena calls him a medical miracle.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
“We have five children, he loves being a dad,” she said.
Last July, COVID-19 cases were surging with the delta variant. Just four days after their youngest, Cole, was born, The father of five from Winter Park landed in the hospital.
“He was just really healthy, had no other issues,” Shariena Sakelariou said.
READ: Mims mourning loss of mother, son killed in weekend house fire
Sammy Sakelariou was in a medically induced coma for weeks, brought on by COVID-19. When he woke, life wasn’t the same.
“(He) had to relearn how to eat, he had to relearn how to brush (his) teeth,” his wife said.
Doctors said he may never walk again, but Sammy defied the odd and did.
READ: Teacher Appreciation Week: See deals available for Central Florida teachers
But when a hole developed in his lungs, he needed a transplant that took him from AdventHealth to the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.
Shariena said her husband’s surgery was successful, but then blood clotting created more issues, resulting in his new lungs and heart being damaged.
“I asked him, ‘Do you want to go through this? You’re going to need another transplant?’ And he said, “I want to get home to my babies.’ That’s all he keeps on saying.”
READ: Coronavirus: Counterfeit COVID-19 at-home tests prompt FDA warning
To make that happen, Sammy needs another miracle. He’s already living without lungs. He needs a heart, lung and kidney transplant, and a specialized doctor who can do the heart and lungs at the same time.
Shariena is praying they get that miracle for her high-school sweetheart.
READ: COVID-19 positivity rate slightly higher in Orange County
Sammy has never been able to have photos taken with his youngest son. They’re hoping a medical facility or team of surgeons will hear about his story and step in to take on his case.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family with medical costs. Click here to donate.
This browser does not support the video element.
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.