Thursday, 4:30 PM
Gloucester Little Leaguer, 12, dies waiting for heart transplant
(Robert Spencer for The Boston Globe)
Children's Hospital in Boston held a blood drive for 12-year-old J.J. Nicastro last week in Gloucester.
By Kathy McCabe, Globe Staff
J.J. Nicastro, a 12-year-old Little Leaguer whose need for a heart transplant became a public cause in Gloucester, died overnight at Children's Hospital Boston, his family said.
"We have a long road ahead of us," said his uncle, David Nicastro, a family spokesman. "We're grateful to the doctors and nurses at Children's and our many friends in Gloucester."
J.J. was one of two Gloucester boys waiting for heart transplants at Children's Hospital. Jackson Altieri, age 15 months, remains there. Their plight sparked a campaign called "Two Hearts, One Gloucester," which was profiled Thursday in Globe North. The campaign, promoting blood drives and organ donation, was embraced by thousands in their hometown.
J.J., who was kept alive with an artificial heart, was taken off life support after doctors discovered bleeding on his brain, his uncle said.
"Had he come out of it, he would have been brain-dead and a quadriplegic," David Nicastro said.
J.J. was an all-star catcher in the Gloucester Little League. He was suddenly stricken last month with myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart. He also played youth hockey and football in Gloucester, where he was to enter the sixth grade at O'Maley Middle School in the fall.
He was the only son of John Nicastro of Rockport and Tammy LoPiccollo Silveira of Gloucester. He also leaves a half-brother, Evan Silveira, 4, of Gloucester. Funeral arrangements were incomplete.
