NJ rallies behind beloved restaurant owners and their sick baby

I remember when Jimmy Kimmel’s little boy had to have heart surgery and how choked up he got on his show talking about it. As tough as it was to go through, he said they were blessed in that they could afford the care. What choked him up even more was the many parents he met at the hospital whose children were equally sick but they couldn’t afford treatment.

There’s a couple in New Jersey that could have been among them.

Byron and Mackenzie Salazar own a restaurant in Somerville called Turf Surf & Earth. The reason I mention that is that through their restaurant, they have given back to the community in numerous ways.

After all that giving, they need help.

Their newborn daughter Reagan was diagnosed with a serious medical condition and hasn’t even left the hospital. She was born on May 25 and had to have emergency heart surgery. Her problems are ongoing and she will require more surgery in her first year of life.

The stress has to be enormous, and of course, so are the bills. The community they've helped so much is now trying to help them, according to MyCentralJersey.com. 

"Byron and Mackenzie aren't just business owners in this town — they're the heart of it," said Anthony Monetti, who owns LTD Fitness Co. on Main Street with his wife, Karen. "For years, they've poured everything into our community through their restaurant. They're always the first to show up, sponsor something, cook for a cause or give back whenever Somerville needed them."

LTD Fitness has organized a fundraiser called Rally for Reagan. It’s a fitness competition scheduled for Sept. 26 on Division Street in Somerville.

Local businesses are forming teams and will be competing in various fitness challenges while the real point is raising money for the family. Every dollar raised will go to them. Rally for Reagan will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include food, music and other activities.

In addition, there’s a GoFundMe page started for them to survive the mounting medical bills. At the time I’m writing this $17,321 has been raised, far short of the $50,000 goal.

Here’s a link for that.

Let’s keep Reagan and her mom and dad in our thoughts.