3-year-old hit, killed by falling tree

Palm Coast Observer
News

Joseph Dimillo could only hear 50% when he was born. Two months before his death, he gained full hearing ability.

A 3-year-old boy was killed by a falling tree last week at a West Flagler County home.

Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the home on County Road 304 around 9:55 a.m. Friday, Dec. 16. Witnesses told deputies that the toddler, Joseph Dimillo, was in his grandfather’s yard where his 12-year-old brother was attempting to cut down a dead tree that was about six inches in diameter. The child apparently wandered into the area and was struck in the head by a branch when the tree fell.

Before deputies arrived at the scene, the toddler had already been transported by his grandfather to the intersection of County Road 304 and U.S. 1, where they were met by a Flagler County ambulance. The child was transported to Halifax Hospital, where he later died.

Doug Feldman, a close family friend, reflected on some positives Tuesday that occurred in the Dimillos’ lives in the past few months.

When Joseph Dimillo was born, he could only hear about 50%. His parents, Marcus and Carrie, didn’t know why their son wouldn’t respond to them while he was growing up. After tests, they found out about his partial deafness.

“They were told it was permanent nerve damage, but Marcus told me he would pray every night for his son,” Feldman said Tuesday.

For the past year, Joseph was taken to Jacksonville every Friday for tests and therapy. His parents prayed for their son.

And about two months ago, their prayers were answered.

Joseph Dimillo no longer needed his hearing aids. He could hear everything around him.

“They just really felt like God did a miracle in answering their prayers and healing,” Feldman said. “That was one of the real high spots.”

“The family would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of the emergency responders who were with our family in our time of need,” Carrie Dimillo said.

Donations can be made to Community Baptist Church, in Korona. Donations will go toward a hearing-impaired ministry, Feldman said.