On Saturday, Needs Clearing House (NCH) presented a $10,000 check to Cintia Balog and her family at a ceremony in Bridgeport, where student nurses also gave Cintia a giant teddy bear. During the six weeks since learning about Cintias Balog’s needs, NCH has been busy raising $6,000 in cash and arranging for over $4,000 more of durable medical supplies, including braces for her legs and back.
In addition, and priceless, are the commitments and contributions of five other charities and many individuals in Greenwich, Bridgeport and across Fairfield County, who joined with NCH in this successful campaign to help the Cintia’s family. Other charities assisting Cintia include Amy’s Angels, Building Hope Foundation, The Muscular Dystrophy Association, Chicken Joe’s Ride for Kids and Helping Hands Outreach.
NCH founder Joe Kaliko said he was delighted that Cintia’s medical file was being reviewed by world class genetic scientists, including Dr. Marc Lalande of UConn and Nobel Prize nominee Dr. Charles Lee of Jackson Labs, with a view toward identifying genetic tests to help chart a course of treatment for her disease.
“The family had been quoted over $30,000 for such genetic tests which are likely to now be performed at little or no cost,” Kaliko said, adding that the Student Nurses Association of CT and Sacred Heart University to plan to evaluate how they can help Cintia.
Cintia Balog, 7, has a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy. She lives with her family in Bridgeport after having come to the United States from Hungry where she was born. Contributed photo, Joe Kaliko
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