Aunt asks for help to get Tom Hanks to meet her sick nephew

A New Jersey woman has set out to perform a difficult task on behalf of her sick nephew.

News 12 Staff

Jun 4, 2019, 12:53 AM

Updated 1,800 days ago

Share:

Aunt asks for help to get Tom Hanks to meet her sick nephew
What wouldn’t you do for a sick family member?
A New Jersey woman has set out to perform a difficult task on behalf of her sick nephew.
Diana Gaccione wrote on Facebook about her quest to contact actor Tom Hanks to get him to meet her nephew Luca, who is suffering from a very serious lung disease.
Gaccione wrote that Luca started off with pneumonia, which quickly progressed into acute respiratory distress syndrome. She says that she spoke with him on the morning of May 20, and by that evening he was sedated and on a ventilator. He spent seven days in a medically induced coma and nine days on a ventilator.
Gaccione wrote that Luca, who is 10 years old, does not like to hug anyone, but that after he woke up from the coma he agreed to hug her for $20.
Luca suffered another setback this week and will need to undergo a procedure to place a tube to drain the fluid around his lung. Gaccione says that he is scared, but finds comfort in his favorite movie “Toy Story” and his Woody doll – a character from that movie.
Gaccione asked her nephew for another hug – which he agreed to under one condition – “You get me Tom Hanks, and I’ll give you one hug,” he told her. But a request of this magnitude has to be worth more than just one hug – and it is. Luca agreed to hugs for life if she succeeds.
“We are willing to do anything to provide Luca and his parents Teresa and PJ with some extra encouragement and support through this really tough time, even if it means tracking down Tom Hanks!” Gaccione wrote.
Gaccione is asking all her friends and family to share her Facebook post in the hopes that it gets Tom Hanks’ attention.
 
 


More from News 12
2:32
STORM WATCH: Early morning storms, conditions approve in the afternoon with temps in mid-80s

STORM WATCH: Early morning storms, conditions approve in the afternoon with temps in mid-80s

1:35
Early morning storms expected to impact morning commute in New Jersey

Early morning storms expected to impact morning commute in New Jersey

0:29
Officials: 2 oil tanker engineers accused of dumping oily waste off coast of New Jersey

Officials: 2 oil tanker engineers accused of dumping oily waste off coast of New Jersey

0:27
Police: Car crash into Little Ferry adult school caused by faulty brakes

Police: Car crash into Little Ferry adult school caused by faulty brakes

0:24
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center nurses host Met Gala-like fashion show for Nurses Week

Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center nurses host Met Gala-like fashion show for Nurses Week

0:24
Police: Juvenile charged for making fake threat at Warren Middle School

Police: Juvenile charged for making fake threat at Warren Middle School

Trocheck's power-play goal lifts Rangers to 4-3 win over Hurricanes in 2OT for 2-0 series lead

Trocheck's power-play goal lifts Rangers to 4-3 win over Hurricanes in 2OT for 2-0 series lead

1:27
What's Cooking: Uncle Giuseppe's quiche lorraine

What's Cooking: Uncle Giuseppe's quiche lorraine

2:46
8 tips for children walking or bicycling to school

8 tips for children walking or bicycling to school

2:36
Panera to discontinue Charged Lemonade following multiple death lawsuits

Panera to discontinue Charged Lemonade following multiple death lawsuits

1:50
Tractor-trailer carrying logs overturns near Little Falls day care playground; no injuries reported

Tractor-trailer carrying logs overturns near Little Falls day care playground; no injuries reported

0:26
Quintuplets graduate from Montclair State University

Quintuplets graduate from Montclair State University

Authorities: No indication of plane crash in Barnegat despite receiving distress signal

Authorities: No indication of plane crash in Barnegat despite receiving distress signal

0:39
State Republicans call for legislative hearings into how Rutgers handled pro-Palestinian protest

State Republicans call for legislative hearings into how Rutgers handled pro-Palestinian protest

0:42
Jersey Proud: Eagle Scout builds bocce courts at Middlesex church

Jersey Proud: Eagle Scout builds bocce courts at Middlesex church

1:39
Officials: 1 person injured in fire that destroyed Watchung home

Officials: 1 person injured in fire that destroyed Watchung home

Police arrest man accused in 15 burglaries in Lakewood and Toms River

Police arrest man accused in 15 burglaries in Lakewood and Toms River

2:06
Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial and Museum reopens to visitors following renovations

Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial and Museum reopens to visitors following renovations

0:24
Explore the Bubble Planet this summer at American Dream

Explore the Bubble Planet this summer at American Dream

2:03
Deadline to get a Real ID is in one year. Here's what you need to know

Deadline to get a Real ID is in one year. Here's what you need to know