Sal the Barber, Ledo (Photo via GoFundMe)
May 23, 2024 By Queens Post News Team
An online fundraiser has been launched to support a popular Long Island City barber who recently spent a month in intensive care while battling kidney and heart failure.
“Sal the Barber,” a popular figure at Ledo – The Art of Barber located at 5-46 50th Ave., recently spent 40 days in the hospital and almost a month in ICU after presenting with kidney and heart failure.
In an update on GoFundMe, Sal’s wife, Anastasia, said her husband was pronounced “dead on arrival” and spent three weeks in a coma while on life support in the ICU.
Anastasia said her husband overcame the long stint in the ICU but subsequently underwent dialysis as he continued to battle kidney failure.
She said he has made a miraculous recovery and does not need outpatient dialysis but said her husband struggles to walk and currently uses a wheelchair or a walker.
Anastasia also revealed that Sal is using a cardiac life vest that will temporarily shock his heart in the event that he goes into cardiac arrest, adding that her husband has lost around 80 pounds since being admitted to the hospital.
“Due to the life support tubes, he has a collapsed vocal cord that does not allow him to eat solid food,” Anastasia said in a post on GoFundMe.
Family friend AJ Ingoglia launched an online fundraiser to help support Sal, Anastasia, and their son during this “incredibly tough time,” setting a target of $50,000. At the time of writing, donations total over $20,000, with more than 200 people donating to the campaign.
“Sal is more than just a barber; he’s a cherished friend and a pillar of our community,” Ingoglia wrote on GoFundMe. “Now, it’s our turn to support him, his wife, and his son during this incredibly tough time. We’re rallying together to provide the financial support they need to help Sal recover and get back on his feet.”
“We all miss hearing Sal’s infectious laughter at Ledo’s, and with your help, we can bring that joy back to our neighborhood. Every contribution, no matter the size, will make a significant difference. Let’s come together and show Sal and his family that they are not alone.”
In a subsequent post, Ingoglia said Sal is recovering at home but said the “future will still be a challenge” for the popular barber and his family.
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