Super Bowl champion, community turn out for heart surgery fundraiser

Those near Bliss Corner on Sunday morning may have been perplexed by the number of cars parked near Lolly’s Cafe, as the community came out in force to support a fundraiser for a four-year-old’s medical bills and meet former Patriots linebacker Eric Martin.

Normally closed on Sundays, the beloved neighborhood spot has started opening its doors for a fundraiser on the first Sunday each month to support various causes.

On March 1, the Dartmouth cafe collected donations for Hunter Peets, a four-year-old New Bedford resident in need of open heart surgery, offering breakfast as well as photo ops and signed autographs with Super Bowl XLIX champion Martin.

Hunter’s mother Nicky said that she knew Lolly’s owners Lolly and Rodney Fernandes from living in the area. “Once they found out about Hunter, they wanted to [help],” she said.

“He’s a super energetic kid, even though he has heart issues,” said dad Scott. “He’s a little tornado.”

Hunter was born with five heart defects. “He has two holes in his heart, and he has nothing that connects his heart and lungs,” said Nicky.

“He’s had three open heart surgeries and twelve cardiac caths,” Scott explained. “And we just found out that he has an aneurysm, so he has to have another open heart surgery to repair that.”

“Thankfully, this one’s not an emergency one, but it’s still very much needed,” he added. “We’ve been in and out of the hospital almost every three months for the majority of his life.”

And although they have health insurance — Nicky works at Hawthorn Medical on Faunce Corner Rd. — they still had to apply for MassHealth to help with costs, as the insurer at first didn’t want to pay out.

Even after winning an appeal against the insurer’s decision, said Nicky, they have a $5,000 deductible — and the bills are constantly rolling in.

Lolly’s was very crowded on Sunday morning, with people lined up and waiting at the door. 

Guests flowed in from 7:30 to 11 a.m., putting cash into a donation box at the door for food, which was donated by Lolly’s along with other local businesses and even customers.

They were also able to take a photograph with Martin for a $5 donation, or receive a signed photo for $15. All proceeds went to the Peets family for their medical expenses.

“It’s kind of fun,” said Rodney Fernandes of having a Super Bowl champion in the cafe. But Fernandes is a Seattle Seahawks fan — the team that the Patriots beat in 2015. “I just want to let you know my sacrifice,” he laughed. 

“I took a picture with [Martin], and I was trying to antagonize him a little bit,” Fernandes added with a smile. “But he put his hand over the Seahawks logo.” 

Both of Hunter’s parents expressed gratitude for the fundraiser and the high turnout, calling the experience “humbling”. Hunter even rode to Lolly’s in a Dartmouth Fire District 1 fire truck.

“When the community comes together to help us out — I’m not one of the kind of people that likes to ask for help,” said Scott. “I’m pretty stubborn. But I’m super thankful.”

“A lot of people came out of the woodwork and helped,” added Nicky.

Martin, a friend of a friend, was one of those people. 

“I figure I can use my celebrity status to try to raise money to benefit them,” he said. “It’s just a kind gesture that can go a long way.”

“A lot more people showed up than I expected,” he added, noting that he can be a bit shy. “But it’s all for Hunter, so it’s okay to be in front of a bunch of people.”

As for Rodney the Seahawks fan? 

“It didn’t bother me,” laughed Martin about the Seahawks hat. “Well, we won, so...If we lost, I’d have probably had to rethink this!”

“Nah, I would have come regardless,” he added, grinning. “It’s just a good cause.”