It was a festive, green-shirted hero’s welcome for eight-year-old Cory Alberti, who returned to his home in Fairport last week amid much fanfare, after undergoing a rare form of brain surgery at Strong Memorial Hospital just over a month ago.
On July 19, Cory underwent a hemispherectomy, involved removing a large portion of the right side of his brain in order to stop the seizures which have been increasingly disruptive in his life.
The day of homecoming began with goodbyes at Unity Health, where Cory has been undergoing rehab therapy since July 30. About noon, he and his family arrived in a Fairport Fire Department fire truck at their Anglewood Court home, escorted by Fairport police cars.
The procession was greeted by cheers and waves from a large, happy gathering of family, friends and neighbors, most of them dressed in their “Team Cory” T-shirts. The T-shirts originated with the supportive fund raising efforts that have sprung up around the family.
“This family is just spectacular,” said Deb Monaco of Penfield, one of the well-wishers, who knows Cory's father, Anthony Alberti through his ownership of Lifetime Fitness in Penfield and has kept up on the news about Cory from Anthony and from the Caring Bridge blog. “Just look at this turnout. But I know many more people who care and who wanted to be here. They’re here in spirit.”
When Cory was born, the right side of his brain did not form property, resulting in seizures. Finally, the seizures worsened enough that his parents and Strong neurosurgeon Dr. Webster Pilcher opted for a hemispherectomy, to allow him to lead a more normal life.
After the 11-hour procedure, Cory was in the ICU until being transferred to Unity Health’s Acute Rehabilitation and Brain Injury Program.
“It’s hard to believe it’s just a little over a month since the surgery, said Cory’s father, Anthony Alberti, on a WHEC Channel 10 broadcast earlier in the day. “We are just thrilled by his improvements. Every day he’s doing something new and better than the day before.”
According to Anthony, because the removal was on the right side of his brain and most of the cognitive factors are on the left side, Cory’s speech is intact. His left side was paralyzed right after the surgery, but now he’s walking – and can move his left arm – and is making remarkable gains.
His brother Christian, age 10, has also played an important role in Cory’s progress, said Anthony. Christian has visited him at Unity and spent the night, and encouraged him in therapy. “He’ll say ‘See, you can do this, and leads by example. Lots of times kids listen to other kids more than adults,” said his dad.
Now at home, Cory will continue with speech, occupational and physical therapy as an outpatient at Unity Health in Greece and receive private tutoring until he is able to return to school at Northside Dudley.
