Warwick toddler’s heart transplant journey inspires Greenwood Lake swim fundraiser
After spending months in the hospital waiting for a new heart, Wyatt Lopez is now home thriving—and inspiring an endurance swimmer from England to take on an 11 ½-mile challenge.
After spending months fighting for his life in a hospital bed while waiting for a heart transplant, 2-year-old Wyatt Lopez was doing on a Tuesday what every toddler should be doing —playing in the sand, laughing and enjoying a day at Greenwood Lake.
It was a scene his family once wasn’t sure they’d ever see.
Wyatt’s remarkable journey is inspiring endurance swimmer Aleks Mileusnic to travel from England to Greenwood Lake this week for an 11 ½-mile fundraiser benefiting Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone, where Wyatt received the life-saving heart transplant that allowed him to come home.
News 12 first introduced viewers to Wyatt during his monthslong fight while he waited for a donor heart. News 12 later followed his emotional return home after receiving the transplant that saved his life.
The fundraiser was organized by Wyatt’s uncle, Bobby Pereira, owner of The Cove Castle Restaurant in Greenwood Lake. Pereira says one of the musicians who regularly performs at the restaurant connected him with Mileusnic, and the idea quickly took shape.
“It all made sense to kind of do something really special with Wyatt, and with this beautiful lake here,” Pereira said. “He’s just been a hero for us.”
On Wednesday, Mileusnic will attempt to swim all the way around Greenwood Lake in what organizers believe would be the first complete circumnavigation of the lake. The 18-kilometer (11 ½-mile) swim will benefit the hospital that cared for Wyatt during the most difficult months of his life.
“If I can do something I can enjoy and it’s gonna contribute to the bigger picture, it was a no-brainer,” Mileusnic told News 12.
News 12 caught up with Mileusnic on Tuesday as he made final preparations for the swim. The challenge is expected to take nearly eight hours, and with temperatures forecast to climb into the 90s, he knows the heat could make it even tougher.
“I’m probably going to come out red. Sunburns, yeah. That’s a concern,” he said.
For Wyatt’s grandmother, Andrea Muster, the fundraiser is about much more than one little boy.
“It’s a way for Wyatt and I to say thank you for everything they’ve done and still do for us. They’ll always be family,” Muster said.
She says Pereira’s efforts are also helping shine a light on children and families facing similar battles.
“Bobby doing this for us is amazing. It helps make people aware how severe this is. I saw many things in the hospital that I never wanted to see. Wyatt was pretty lucky, and some kids aren’t. If I make awareness, maybe people will help more and also help families, research.”
Mileusnic hopes the swim leaves a lasting impact—not just for Wyatt, but for other children and families.
“I hope when he grows up he’ll understand it a bit more,” he said. “I think it’s not just me that’s doing something for him. It’s the whole community.”
The swim begins Wednesday morning at The Cove Castle Restaurant in Greenwood Lake and is expected to take nearly eight hours to complete.
Click here for more information about the event.
