Staff Organizes Fundraiser for Diliberto Family
Media by Emily Stockwell
After hearing of a fundraiser her colleagues were organizing, Molly Diliberto, SSD teacher, said she was hopeful. “It gives us a glimpse of joy that we’ve been missing,” Diliberto said. “All my colleagues here have been so supportive and amazing and I’m very lucky to work here.”
Frequent hospital visits and seven surgeries was not what Molly Diliberto, SSD teacher, had in mind for her daughter’s first eight months of life.
Born with spina bifida, a condition that affects the spine; Hydrocephalus, or a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the cavities of the brain; and Chiari malformation, a condition in which the brain tissue extends into the spinal canal, Ivory Diliberto hasn’t been able to go home from the hospital.
“I’m very stressed,” Diliberto said. “I’m just trying to stay positive but it’s been very hard to stay positive when I don’t really get to have her at home like most parents do.”
After her colleagues heard of these complications, they quickly began organizing a fundraiser to help out.
“It gives us a glimpse of joy that we’ve been missing,” Diliberto said. “All my colleagues here have been so supportive and amazing and I’m very lucky to work here.”
The organizer of one fundraiser is Emily Stockwell, language arts teacher.
“As a mom myself, it’s really scary,” Stockwell said. “I feel like when you’re worried about your babies you shouldn’t have to be worried about money or anything else, so it felt like an easy thing to do to help.”
Though there isn’t a set monetary goal for the fundraiser, donations will not be accepted after Wednesday, Feb. 15, when Stockwell will allow four randomly selected names from the donations to cut her hair during mod 2 of Ac Lab. A $5 donation allows for one chance while a $20 donation allows for five chances.
“I’m excited. I’m nervous,” Stockwell said. “It makes me feel good to be able to do something that will hopefully be beneficial to someone else, and I feel like as a school community we’re really good about taking care of each other. This was just a tangible way for me to feel like I was helping someone else.”
Also helping to spread the word is Dr. Stacy Heuberger, SSD administrator, who is Diliberto’s supervisor. Dr. Heuberger informed the faculty of the situation and asked for contributions. She said Stockwell’s and other teachers’ reactions have inspired her.
“I truly think it’s just indicative of what Marquette staff can do for Marquette staff,” Dr. Heuberger said. “It’s just the perfect example of what the community does for the community.”
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