A big welcome to Nina Marino!

Nina is helping to spread the importance of vascular access education throughout the Tampa Bay area with GulfVAN's Manny Matters community outreach program. Nina's story begins in the wee hours of Wednesday, December 30, 1998 at Morton Plant Hospital. Unknown to her parents, Nina would come into this world missing some organs. 

Nina's primary diagnosis at birth was 'Esophageal Atresia Long Gap' which means she was born without an esophagus.  At four days old, Nina had her first surgery to place a G-tube and central line. 

Nina was also born missing her right lung, plus many other issues.  Nina has what is known as VACTERL Syndrome:

https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/5443/vacterl-association

Nina has all the letters for VACTERL except the 'A' and some doctors say she does have the 'A' because of dysmotility issues in her intestines. 

Nina was in the NICU at All Children's Hospital for 5 ½ months. During this time she had four central lines, two that had to be removed because of septic shock, and two because of a fungal infection.  Nina was home for four nights and had to return to All Children's Hospital because she was not tolerating her G-tube feedings due to a blockage in her intestines.  The blockage lead to her losing her pylorus valve and about 4cm of intestines, causing Nina to suffer from Dumping Syndrome.  Nina also had her first heart surgery during this stay.  She returned home at 10 months of age on TPN therapy due to severe weight loss and Dumping Syndrome.  

Nina was on TPN for about 10 months. Her Mom did a lot of research on different tube formulas and came up with a plan to start her on a "blenderized diet" which uses real whole foods vs formula.  In the Spring of 2000, Nina started the "blenderized diet" at 15 months of age and was off her TPN within four months. Nina has had over 125 surgeries in her life, and so many other procedures that her Mom has lost count! She does, on average, 10-20 esophageal dilation's per year. 

In March 2017, Nina was diagnosed with cancer on the right side of her head.  The cancer was removed twice and thought to be gone.  Then on June 22, 2017, a MRI showed the cancer had returned.  Nina started chemotherapy on June 29, 2017 and had a second round of chemotherapy on July 26, 2017. 

When Nina was four years old, she asked to go ice skating like the kids in Countryside Mall.  Since her Mom didn't know how to ice skate, she had Mr. Bill Coyle work with Nina.  Nina skated on both state and national levels for a few years and won several medals.

Nina has played violin for over 8 years of her life under the instruction of Ms. Virginia, who has been by Nina's side through many medical situations.  Nina has been helping Ms. Virginia teach violin at her former school with K-8th graders.

Nina enjoys traveling and hopes to visit Australia to see the Sydney Opera House and Great Barrier Reef.  So far, Nina has traveled to 13 different states and one other country.   She loves working with young children and has been a part of Boggy Creek Camp (http://www.BoggyCreek.org) for over ten years as both a camper and LIT – Leadership in Training.  She really hopes to be a part of the Summer Staff at Boggy Creek in the Summer of 2018.  

Nina is planning to pursue a career in Nursing with a minor in Child Life the Fall at St. Petersburg College.  

It is an honor to welcome Nina to GulfVAN and Manny Matters!

Nina Marie Marino-Williams

December 30, 1998 - September 6, 2018 

Nina leaves behind her husband Joseph (Joey) Caleb Williams, her parent's Joseph (Joe) E. Marino, & Lesley Diane Marino, Uncle Michael Marino, Aunt Bessie Marino.

Nina is predeceased by her grandparents Joseph Edward Marino, Sr., and Katherine Marino, her uncle Louis John and her namesake Aunt Nina Marino.

Nina enjoyed living life to the fullest, ice skating, playing violin, helping teach younger kids to play violin, zip lining, sewing, watching game shows, attending plays, playing music, and most of all going to Disney World and collecting Disney pins.