A week before students returned to campus, sophomore Silvio Giardina’s brother, Jacob Giardina, suffered a spinal cord injury. After diving into a pool, he fractured his neck and was paralyzed.
Upon hearing this, Silvio Giardina said his baseball teammates immediately took initiative to support his family.
Senior pitcher Julio Ermigiotti said before they found out about the accident, everyone was focused on moving in and preparing for baseball. When they learned about Jacob Giardina, their focus shifted.
They began by helping Silvio Giardina move into his dorm, as his parents were caring for his brother.
From there, a group of upperclassmen got together, Ermigiotti said, and the baseball athletes and parents worked together to order shirts. Together, the Lehigh baseball team and their families purchased about 50 shirts to support Jacob Giardina’s fundraiser.
To support the Giardina family, the nonprofit organization Help Hope Live is raising money to fund unexpected, as well as under-insured medical and accessibility expenses associated with Jacob Giardina’s injury
“We were all like ‘this is our guy, this is how we’re going to approach it and how we’re going to support (Silvio Giardina) and his family,’” Ermigiotti said.
Senior infielder Raffaele Rogers said Silvio Giardina, even as a sophomore, is a strong voice within their core infield group. He said Silvio Giardina has always shown resilience and strength on the field, and even more so now.
“(Silvio Giardina) is a part of our family, and so when his family is in need, we all want to be there for him,” Rogers said.
Ermigiotti said off the field is where the team’s relationships strengthen. He said their relationships are genuine and don’t feel forced, so helping out the Giardina family was an easy choice.
Silvio Giardina said his coaching staff has also been with him throughout the entire situation, always calling, checking in and supporting him in any way they can.
To surprise the Giardina family, the team decided to wear the shirts to a team lift. He said the team’s support means a lot to him and his family, as the unexpected accident came with a financial burden.
As Silvio Giardina walked into Cundey Varsity House for their regularly scheduled lift, he said seeing his entire team wearing the shirts made him happy and overwhelmed with support.
“Every single one of them (has been) checking in,” Silvio Giardina said. “I can’t ask for anything more with this group of guys, it’s something really special.”
Ermigiotti said their intention was to build and support their brotherhood. He said the team wanted Silvio Giardina and his family to know they have people to lean on.
“We all understand that we have our priorities outside of trying to win a game for the team,” Ermigiotti said. “We are willing to take care of what’s going on in (each other’s) personal lives.”
With the uncertainty ahead, Silvio Giardina said his family is staying optimistic and hopeful. He said knowing his baseball family is there to support him and his brother, makes him feel comforted.
Comment Policy
Comments posted to The Brown and White website are reviewed by a moderator before being approved. Incendiary speech or harassing language, including comments targeted at individuals, may be deemed unacceptable and not published. Spam and other soliciting will also be declined.
The Brown and White also reserves the right to refuse the publication of entirely anonymous comments.