Spencerport couple making most of second chance with fundraiser

Spencerport couple making
most of second chance with fundraiser

When Tom Arcara got the news that his heart transplant was going so well that he could play drums in his band again the only question was what should the group change its name to. "First they decided that from that point on they would only play for charity. Then they started going back and forth on what they should call themselves," Chris, Tom's wife, said. "I told them Second Chance was fitting because that was what Tom was being given."

Now almost two years after his nearly fatal heart attack, Arcara continues to make the most out of his second chance. The Spencerport couple have poured their all into a fundraiser to benefit Strong Hospital's Patient Care fund, which provides emergency funding for necessities some patients have difficult affording, and for future development of a hospitality house that will assist with the needs of adult critical care patients and their families.

The event, scheduled for May 18 at 6 p.m., is called "And the Beat Goes On." It is being held at the Burgundy Basin Inn in Pittsford and offers dinner, door prizes, raffles and dancing with live music including Arcara's band, for $25 per person.

Last year, more than 550 people attended the event, which made it possible to purchase laptops and DVDs for the Transplant Unit. Tom and Chris are focused on making the dream of having family housing for loved ones of adult critical care patients available at Strong.

"It's hard when you have someone critically ill and you have to drive back and forth every day," Chris said. The couple knows what a long hard road waiting for a heart transplant can be. Arcara's heart actually quit after his heart attack. The doctors had to put him on a clinical heart trial pump to sustain his life until he was moved to a BIVAD, a device that forces the heart to pump. It took artificial means to keep Arcara's heart pumping until another heart was made available.

Believing that they have received a rare second chance, the Arcaras are doing everything they can to help others who may find themselves in similar situations. "You could be just one second away from this happening to you," Chris said.

Call (585) 349-0686, or the Friends of Strong at (585) 275-2420 for information.