When Jenny and Joseph Tranfaglia lost their premature baby after just 33 days of life in 1984, they said they were determined to help educate and comfort other families facing the same situation. The Farmingville couple channeled their grief into creating the nonprofit Little Angel Fund , comprised of parents helping other moms and dads who have seriously ill or premature babies in the neonatal intensive care unit at Stony Brook University Hospital. The fund’s work has included providing hospital parking passes and preparing welcome bags filled with items such as bibs, socks and hand sanitizer for thousands of local families.
In August, the organization celebrated its 40th anniversary with a picnic in Centereach that attracted more than 100 people, including several of the children and parents who have been helped by the fund. “We never thought this tiny little baby would have such far-reaching effects,” Jenny Tranfaglia, 72, said. “We wanted her to be remembered in a special way, and we thought what better way than by helping others.
” The couple’s daughter, Amanda Rose, was born 16 weeks premature in December 1983 and weighed just 1 pound, 91⁄2 ounces. Tranfaglia said she was at the hospital every day as Amanda fought for her life, and she felt that comforts for families were lacking at the time. From breaking news to special features and documentaries, the NewsdayTV team is covering the issues that matter to you.
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