By Irene Lagan
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 11/6/03)

After three long seasons, Bishop O’Connell senior Joe Andreotta has made a remarkable comeback. As a freshman, Andreotta was a starting wide receiver on the freshman football team. "I was the fastest runner on the team," said Andreotta. Although his football career ended shortly after the first game, Coach Thomas Gadell still attributes the team’s winning season in the fall 2000 to Andreotta, whom family, friends and teachers say is a walking miracle and a testimony to the power of prayer.

"Every game that season was dedicated to Joe," said Gadell. "We had a 9-1 record that season."

On Sept. 7, 2000, Andreotta suffered cardiac arrest during a regular Thursday afternoon practice. The heart attack left the 14-year-old freshman unconscious and without oxygen for close to 90 seconds, long enough to result in serious brain injury.

Gadell, who was the freshman coach that year, recalls the day with stark clarity. Like Joe’s parents Mark and Valerie Andreotta, Gadell said he does not take anything for granted anymore. "I don’t take things for granted anymore," he said. "And, now I carry a cell phone with me all the time.

"It was a cool fall that year. On Thursday, it was in the mid-80s and cloudy. We were out doing drills," recalled Gadell. "Coach Cravella was working with the linemen, and Coach Trimble was working with the receivers and backs. After warm-ups we broke into groups. Ten minutes into the group session, I looked over and there was a player on the ground. I though maybe it was a contact injury and told Joe Cravella I wanted to go over to check out what happened."

When Gadell reached his side, Andreotta had no vital signs.

"I had no cell phone. There was a soccer game going on so I told Joe Cravella to go use someone’s cell phone and call 911. I sent another kid to get the trainer, Don Tilson, and I began CPR."

In the midst of the confusion, Gadell said the players instinctively dropped to their knees and began praying the rosary.

"That’s why he’s here," Gadell said. "It was a miracle."

When Valerie Andreotta arrived at Arlington Hospital, Joe was on a respirator. The five other Andreotta children soon arrived. Mark Andreotta said their oldest daughter, Kimberley came home from Los Angeles and stayed with Joey around the clock along with his twin sister Ashley and brother Gregory, then a senior at O’Connell. And his brothers Michael, a student at Syracuse University and Billy, who was attending Clemson University in South Carolina, also came home.

Amidst a tremendous outpouring of support from family and friends, the doctors removed life support on Saturday.

"That was the most frightening moment," Mark said. "We were not sure whether Joey’s brain would take over."

Valerie Andreotta said it was Ashley, Joey’s twin sister, who brought Joey back.
"She took his hand and said ‘Joey this is Ashley,’" she said. "He opened his eyes and looked at Mark, and asked, ‘Am I going to be alright?’"

Later Andreotta reported meeting his grandparents, both deceased, who told him to "go home."

Andreotta was transferred to a children’s hospital in Wilmington, Del., that had a cardiac care and rehabilitation unit on the same floor. Doctors said the heart attack was caused by a heart defect, ventricular tachycardia. Andreotta underwent surgery for a pacemaker and defribullator, and open heart surgery to resolve another unrelated problem.

For six weeks, Valerie Andreotta stayed with her son in the hospital. Her husband Mark and her five other children came as often as possible, mostly on weekends. "This has made all of us much more understanding," she said. "Their support made it possible for Joey to recover."

The Andreottas celebrated his Halloween homecoming with a party at Nativity Parish in Burke. The parish, she said, was tremendously supportive.

Andreotta’s road to full recovery was long and uncertain. He began an outpatient rehabilitation program where he had to relearn everything, including how to walk, talk and bathe.

The doctors say Andreotta’s recovery is miraculous.

"Brain injuries are difficult," Valerie Andreotta said. "Everyone’s brain is so unique. The doctors can’t really say how fully a person will recover. But, his doctors say it’s a miracle that has recovered fully."

"It was hell," he said. "But my mother helped me get through it. She was praying for me. I knew I was coming back. Friends helped me through, too. I had one friend who helped me lift my arm to play basketball when I could not do it on my own."

"He is a hard worker," Valerie Andreotta said. "He was determined to get better. And we left no stone unturned. We never accepted no for an answer. I took him to Lourdes and worked with him. We would not accept that he would not be normal."

When Joe completed his rehabilitation program in March, he began attending a Fairfax County Public School program for children with special needs. However, Mark and Valerie found an alternative private school, The Learning Community, in Herndon, where their son would receive more specialized attention.

"We knew Joey wanted to return to O’Connell and he had a lot of catching up to do," said Mark Andreotta. "We found a place that would accelerate his development, and principal Al Burch kept in close contact. He kept saying that Joey would be back one day."

Eventually, Joe began insisting that he return to O’Connell. The Andreottas met with Burch and teacher Mary Newbold to discuss a program that could accommodate Joe’s needs.

"I can’t say enough about O’Connell," said Valerie Andreotta. "The community has been remarkable. His teachers are terrific, and Mary Newbold is like his second mother. She takes care of Joey, helps him with work and helps communicate with his other teachers."

In September, Andreotta earned enough credits to return to O’Connell as a senior alongside his sister Ashley and his classmates. Although he cannot play contact sports, he helps out with the football team.

Burch, Newbold and Gadell look proudly upon Andreotta as an inspiration and as a hero. "He has earned every credit," Burch said. "This young man is going far."

Newbold, who heads up O’Connell’s Academic Support Program, said, "It is amazing how this community has come together to make a difference in someone’s life. Joey really is a miracle."

Recently, Andreotta, helped a friend who was seriously injured. While out in a field during a senior retreat, fellow classmate Steven Smith was bitten by a copperhead snake. Andreotta, whose heart condition prevents him from running, ran for help and then ran back to his friend’s side.

"The doctors said I would have lost my finger had it not been for Joe," Smith said.

"He needed help," Andreotta said. "I was not thinking about myself."

Against all odds, Andreotta will graduate in June and attend college next fall. "I want to own my own business, maybe a fast food chain," he said.

Gadell, an O’Connell alumnus and father of five, views Andreotta as his "sixth child" and hopes to hand Andreotta his diploma, a privilege reserved for alumni whose children are graduating seniors.