Rodino children pursue their college dreams despite Huntington's
— Photo from gofundme.com/lhfwqg
Looking toward the future: Gianna, left, and Anthony Rodino, middle, pictured here with their mother, Lori, left, are both attending college as they face an uncertain future with Huntington’s disease. A fund-raiser on the website Go Fund Me, launched by their neighbor, Jennifer Cornell, aims to raise enough money to keep their family in the house and help with tuition fees; Cornell said staying in school is essential for Gianna and Anthony’s wellbeing.
— Photo from gofundme.com/lhfwqg
Sibling love: Gianna Rodino, now 19, embraces her younger sister Rachel, who died in 2010 at age 8. Rachel was the first member of the Rodino family to be diagnosed with Huntington’s disease, in 2007; since that time, Rick Rodino, Gianna and Rachel’s father; Anthony Rodino, their brother; and Gianna herself have all been diagnosed with the neurological disease that has no cure.
GUILDERLAND — The Rodino family has been enduring the heartbreak of Huntington’s disease for seven years and the community has rallied to support them time and time again.
Jennifer Cornell, a neighbor of the Rodino family, organized the very first fund-raiser six years ago, and has now launched a fund-raiser on a much larger scale, using a crowd-sourcing website called Go Fund Me. Cornell has set a goal of raising $300,000.
The Rodinos — parents Lori and Rick, and their children Anthony, Gianna, and Rachel — were dealt a double blow in 2007, when Rachel, who died in 2010, and her father, Rick, were diagnosed with the genetic neurological disorder that has no cure.
Rachel was diagnosed first, after she started to have seizures, and, since Huntington’s disease is genetic, both parents were tested. Mr. Rodino’s test came back positive, and the family realized the disease was the cause for symptoms he’d been suffering with for over 13 years.
The disease, more aggressive in its juvenile form, progressed rapidly in Rachel, who died at the age of 8.
Mr. Rodino is currently in the late stages of the disease. He was forced to leave his job at the Albany International Airport after he was diagnosed, and receives Social Security Disability payments. He still lives at home and requires around-the-clock care.
Anthony was diagnosed with Huntington’s in 2011, at the age of 19. He is currently finishing his associate’s degree at Hudson Valley Community College, and hopes to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the fall to obtain a bachelor’s of science degree in electronic arts.
Gianna, a Guilderland High School graduate, was also diagnosed with the disease in 2011, at the age of 17. She is a junior at Siena College where she is working toward a degree in social work. She hopes to attend The College of Saint Rose to obtain a master’s degree.
Mrs. Rodino quit her job to take care of Rachel and her husband, and the family has been struggling financially.
“Lori has been under a little bit more stress lately, with Rick needing more care, and both of the kids in college,” Cornell told The Enterprise last week.
Attending college is imperative for Anthony and Gianna’s wellbeing, she said, because it keeps them positive and focused on the future.
Cornell set the goal of raising $300,000 in hopes that the money could be used to pay off the Rodino’s mortgage and keep the family in its Guilderland home. They moved to the house in 2005, after a fire destroyed their previous residence.
If the family could pay off the mortgage it would relieve a lot of stress and allow more money to be spent on things like food and gas, said Cornell.
The fund-raiser, as of Wednesday afternoon, has already generated $20,202 in 14 days, with more than donations.
The site will be active indefinitely and Cornell said that, even if the ultimate goal is not reached, the Rodinos could use any amount of money raised.
“It’s not an all-or-nothing thing,” she said.
Donations may be made to the family at www.gofundme.com/lhfwqg.
