Mike Hodgins feels the love from community during benefit as he awaits second heart transplant
Shelby fire hall packed for spaghetti dinner, basket raffle
Photos by Tom Rivers
SHELBY – Mike Hodgins, left, is greeted by Matt Grammatico of Albion today during a big benefit for Hodgins as he awaits a second heart transplants.
Hodgins, 64, had a heart transplant 35 years ago. He is on the list for another heart transplant at the Cleveland Clinic.
Grammatico, 52, of Albion is nearing the fifth anniversary of a heart and liver transplant at the Cleveland Clinic. Grammatico received those transplants on Jan. 12, 2021.
Grammatico and Hodgins have been friends on Facebook for several years and have been cheering each other on through social media. Today they met in person for the first time.
“I don’t want to miss the chance to connect with another heart transplant recipient,” Grammatico said.
The community also put on a benefit for him and his family before his transplants. He was thrilled to see such a big turnout today for Hodgins at the Shelby Fire Hall.
Hodgins said he and Grammatico are both miracles who have been given another chance at life by God’s mercy. Hodgins is wearing a “Miracle Mike” shirt.
Mike Hodgins takes a brief break from greeting friends, family and community members who attended a benefit for him and his family today.
“I’m just overwhelmed,” Hodgins said.
He and his wife Kathy have three children – Alisha, Greg and Ryan – and seven grandchildren.
Mike and Kathy need to travel about four hours to the Cleveland Clinic for testing, evaluation, surgery and recovery. This will require extended time away from work and significant out-of-pocket expenses for lodging, food and transportation.
“I’m taking it one day at a time,” said Hodgins, a longtime employee at Medina Memorial Hospital in the dietary department. His wife is chief executive officer at UConnectCare.
There were 200 people at the fire hall within the first hour of the benefit which was 4 to 8 p.m. today. There were 195 baskets up for raffle, plus 86 gift cards.
Businesses from the region donated gift cards as part of today’s benefit which was led by Hodgins’ niece Stephanie Kozma.
Many family members, friends and members of the Oak Orchard Assembly of God rallied to run the benefit.
Dark Horse Run entertained the crowd with country music.
Some of the kitchen crew serving spaghetti dinners included, from left, Julie Mufford, Pete Panek and Amy Albone. They had 400 dinners ready.
The Shelby fire hall was a full house for the benefit.
Matt and Rhonda Grammatico of Albion pray with Hodgins as he awaits a second heart transplant.