TWO GRANDFATHERS WORK TOGETHER TO HELP YOUNG WOMAN GET NEEDED SPINE SURGERY

LIVINGSTON – Senator Richard J. Codey held a press event to highlight one family’s silver lining of the long pandemic emergency, and perseverance over the challenges of dealing with our health insurance system.

Throughout the COVID-19 emergency, Senator Codey spearheaded an effort to support small businesses. In April, he held one of these events at Gemma’s Country Kitchen in Ogdensburg, NJ. During the event, he met James Post, who came in to speak with him about his granddaughter, Jessica Riley.

“My daughter, Melissa Post, had fought with the insurance company for months to get approval for surgery that Jessica needed to undergo at St. Peter’s Hospital for her severe Scoliosis. I visited her that day, and I could see the desperation in her eyes – she had gone through every appeal, was denied at every level, and was out of ideas. That was the day she finally asked for my help so I set out trying to find anyone who could help us,” said Mr. Post.

Melissa had launched a GoFundMe campaign that had raised $70,000, but that was just half of what they needed.

“I met with a friend in Ogdensburg, and he told me about the event at Gemma’s. So I hopped in my truck and headed there to find that I had just missed it. I was disappointed but stayed for a bit. I shared my story with one of the employees and she introduced me to a gentleman eating his lunch, saying ‘this is the man you need to speak to’ – it was Governor Codey,” Post added.

“First, he thanked me for my service because I was wearing my Vietnam Veteran hat and then he asked how he could help me. I shared our story and he asked for my daughter’s phone number to reach out. He said he is a Grandfather too and was happy to help in any way that I he could. That afternoon, he called Melissa and from that moment on, our family had hope again,” Post said.

Senator Codey got to work and called Les Hirsch, the CEO and President of St. Peter’s Hospital in New Brunswick. Hirsch let him know he would try to find a way to get Jessica the help she needed.

“When I first met James Post, I could clearly see his love and passion to help his granddaughter. When I heard her story I knew I had to help and as a fellow grandfather I know the love one has for a grandchild, and how it stops at nothing,” Senator Codey stated.

Soon after, the hospital stay was approved by the insurance company. The surgeon’s fees were separate, but Melissa’s fundraising campaign had been successful in raising the deposit amount, and Jessica was able to move forward with the procedure in May. The surgery was successfully performed by world renowned Scoliosis Spine Surgeon, Dr. Darryl Antonacci of the ABC Group of The Institute for Spine & Scoliosis in Lawrenceville, NJ.

Today, Senator Codey and his wife MaryJo were able to step in and cover the remaining cost. “I feel blessed to be able to be part of the community that came together to help Jessica and her family,” Senator Codey said. “Thank you to Mr. Hirsch and St. Peter’s team for help in getting this done.”

Mr. Hirsch added, “I am extremely proud of the full range of pediatric specialties that we offer to families at The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital, including specialized surgical procedures such as anterior scoliosis correction. Today’s heartwarming story is one example of how we helped a teenager who needed this life-changing procedure. Serving our community, and providing access to those most in need, is part of Saint Peter’s long-standing commitment to provide the highest quality of care consistent with our Catholic mission.”

Melissa Post said, “The Post/Riley family would like to thank all parties involved who played a part in getting Jessica the spine saving surgery that she needed: Governor Richard Codey, Leslie Hirsch President/CEO St Peters University Hospital, Dr’s ABC/Institute for Spine & Scoliosis, the staff at Gemma’s Country Kitchen, friends, family & strangers who donated to the GoFundMe. We could never have done this without the kindness and generosity of everyone involved.”

Jessica is currently recovering from ASC surgery and is looking forward to life getting back to normal. She will be studying Ramapo College in the fall. She aspires to work in the PICU at St. Peter’s taking care of children who are having the same life changing surgery that she did.