Algonquin couple’s baby died of heart ‘anomaly’ at 44 days old. Now they’re helping others in his honor

After losing their infant son to heart failure, an Algonquin family starts a nonprofit to help support other families going through similar struggles.

“Good” tissues, gift baskets and emergency housing. These are some of the small but impactful ways an Algonquin couple helps other families going through a similar world-flipping journey of pediatric cardiology they faced. Parents Michelle and Michael Marzelli welcomed their third child, Noah, on July 20, 2024.

But just a week later, a common cold virus infected Noah’s heart, causing severe inflammation called myocarditis. His father remembers how quickly Noah’s health declined the day they took him to the emergency room. “He was still relatively fine, and that was early afternoon, and by 10 o’clock he was coding” at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Marzelli said.

From there, Noah traveled to multiple hospitals, went through seven surgeries – five of which were open-heart operations – and was in need of a heart transplant. Noah died 44 days after being born on Sept. 12, 2024. Marzelli said doctors described Noah’s heart failure as an “anomaly.”

Noah’s immune system went into “hyperdrive” and started attacking itself. “On no planet should this have been the reason why Noah died,” he said. Through their “heart warrior journey,” the Marzellis identified ways families like them could use help and were quickly inspired to launch a nonprofit in their son’s memory.

Officially launched in February of last year, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Wings of Noah raises money to support pediatric cardiac patients, their families and care providers. That support comes in “comforting and practical resources,” including care packages, emergency housing support and financial assistance. The family also aims to raise awareness for pediatric heart conditions, research and treatments.

One of the small but mighty ways the nonprofit helps families is by providing the “good” kind of tissues. The Marzellis found that the tissues provided in hospitals are thin and scratchy. The family collects, purchases and delivers high-quality tissues for pediatric cardiac units to provide that small comfort.

Wings of Noah also provides gift baskets called “hope boats” filled with items like blankets, books, games, gift cards, snacks and soft tissues for families and care providers in hospitals. It started when the Marzelli family gave baskets to hospital staff who helped them with Noah. “The heart journey is expensive, and it is a total change of life,” Michael said.

“The things that are needed aren’t always exciting.” Another program the nonprofit funds is emergency housing and hotel stays for families. Sometimes, there’s a “day or two gap” between getting set up with housing from other organizations like Ronald McDonald House Charities.

The family finds families in need organically, from social media and different support groups they’ve connected with over the years. The nonprofit also aims to help the next generation of healthcare workers. Called the “Noah Marzelli Heart Award,” the family started a scholarship at Harper College in Palatine for students studying in the pediatric cardiology field.

With a $10,000 investment by the organization, the college will award a $500 scholarship every year, starting in the fall of next year. The Marzellis hope the scholarship also sheds light on the variety of specialties that go into saving lives, from perfusionists to music therapists. “There’s so many different places that make an impact,” Michael Marzelli said.

“You don’t have to go be a heart surgeon to be impactful in the pediatric cardiac world.” Depending on how successful Wings of Noah becomes, they may be able to increase the scholarship amount or start more scholarships at other schools. Wings of Noah will hold its first fundraising event, a golf outing, Sept. 19 at Fox Run in Elk Grove Village.

A “Scoopie Night” fundraiser on Nov. 9 at the Huntley Culver’s is also planned. The Huntley Culver’s got connected with Marzellis through former One Hope Community Church Pastor Catherine Vandy. Vandy supported the family through Noah’s journey and helped get the nonprofit started.

She also helps Wings of Noah by organizing fundraisers and gathering volunteers, who are needed for the upcoming golf outing, she said. “It was really an honor to walk alongside them,” she said. “I am committed to this amazing organization and this family.”

She hopes the foundation will continue to bring hope to families who need it the most. As of now, the Marzellis don’t have any specific fundraising goals. They simply hope to keep it going and help as many people across the country as they can.

Michael said as he sees it, they don’t have to save the world, but they can do little things to fill in the gaps. To find more information on Wings of Noah, visit wingsofnoah.org .