Fire, rescue personnel rally to help "one of their own"
By Mary Ellen Day, Special Writer
Manville is coming together again to help one of its own.
A spaghetti dinner is planned on Friday, April 11, from 4-8 p.m. at firehouse No. 1 on South Third Avenue to aid Jim and Kim Monto with medical expenses with their three-month-old son, Alexander.
Jim Monto is a Company No. 1 firefighter and rescue squad member.
”We are humbled by the amount of support and love Alexander has received over the past few weeks,” said the Montos. “When we heard that the Rescue Squad and Fire Department was planning this fundraiser we were taken back with the generosity of so many wonderful people.”
According to Robyn Barb, a fellow firefighter, squad member and friend, Alexander James (AJ) was born at 7:58 a.m. on Dec. 20. He weighed in at 6 pounds, two ounces and was 19 inches long.
Immediately after birth, Alexander was taken to the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St. Peter’s University Hospital because he was born with both a clubbed right foot and heart defects.
The initial plan was to wait until Alexander gain weight and strength, and go 3 to 4 months before any surgical measures were discussed.
To fix the clubbed right foot, on Jan. 2, Alexander began to have his foot casted every week for eight weeks. After the time, a surgical procedure was performed to lengthen the heel cord. Once the final cast is removed, he will be fitted with shoes and a brace he will have for two years.
At his Feb. 7 cardiac appointment Alexander still did not have any significant weight gain with the changes to diet and medication. Doctors decided to have him admitted to St. Peter’s University Hospital so he could be fed through a tube into the stomach so more calories would go to weight gain instead of being spent on energy to breathe.
On Feb. 9 Alexander was again discharged from the hospital to come home with his own feeding bags, machine and medical pole. On Sunday, March 9, Alexander was readmitted to St. Peter’s and diagnosed with pyloric stenosis, a disease of the stomach and intestine.
Alexander was immediately taken to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for surgery. On March 12, surgery was performed and went well. Alexander will still need heart surgery in order to fix the acyanotic congenital heart defects with which he was born.
“I know I speak for many members who consider their respective (fire and rescue) organizations a home away from home,” said Ms. Barb. “Around the rescue squad, we call each other a family. That is why when one of our members is affected by something, we as an organization are affected, too. . . We respond because just like it is our duty to do so for complete strangers.”
Ms. Barb said, “Jimmy is always helping out members of the fire department and/or members of the rescue squad whenever needed, and I think as a result the two organizations have come together to help Jimmy.”
Ms Barb said she initiated the idea of a benefit because so many people come to her wanting to help. Without the support Ms. Barb said she didn’t know if the event would be happening.
”I think that the members of the departments are the force behind it,” she said. “They are the ones who will be doing the cooking and serving of the food, and the cleaning afterwards.”
Ms. Barb spoke to Rescue Squad President Sheila Lessing and Chief Dave Kohler about a fundraiser to help the Monto family.
”They both agreed that as an organization we should do something to help,” she said.
"I believe that sometimes a difficult situation can be made less difficult with support of good friends and family,” Ms. Barb said. “I obviously can’t fix Alexander’s medical conditions, but, if I can help to make it easier financially by helping to raise money for the Monto family to pay some of the medical expenses, then I think I am doing my part in contributing support to the family in a difficult time.”
Neither the Rescue Squad nor the Fire Department has a spaghetti dinner for the benefit of their organization.
”We wanted to do something different, with the most benefit, but it had to be something that did not interfere with any other fundraiser for either organization throughout the year,” Ms. Barb said.
Ms. Barb has also received support from Daisy Troop 60115, with which Ms. Monto is involved. Some of the parents will assist with getting donations and other things.
The dinner will cost $9 for adults, $5 for children and free for children under 3.
Ms. Barb said the group is trying to get donations from local businesses and food stores, but, if anyone is interested in donating, Ms. Barb can be reached via email at [email protected]. Donations will need to be received by April 7.
According to Ms. Barb, anything that isn’t donated will be purchased; the rescue squad and fire company have agreed to split costs. All of the dinner proceeds will go to AJ.
You can follow along with his progress and see daily photos on Facebook at “We Love Alexander Monto.”

