Orange : Last Frustaci Baby Joins Family at Home

The last of the three surviving Frustaci septuplets left Childrens Hospital of Orange County on Friday to join his sister and brothers in Riverside.

Hospital officials said that Steven Earl still suffers from a chronic lung ailment, a vestige of hyaline membrane disease which his siblings also suffered. Sam and Patti Frustaci also have an 18-month-old son.

Dr. David Hicks of the hospital’s neonatal department said that Steven and brother Richard Charles will remain on oxygen for two to four months. They and the third septuplet, Patricia Ann, are being monitored for breathing irregularities and heart-rate drops.

Steven weighed 1 pound, 13 ounces at birth on May 21 and now weighs 5 pounds, 12 ounces, said Dr. Carrie Worcester, director of Childrens Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.

One of the septuplets, Christina Elizabeth, was stillborn. David Antony, nicknamed “Peanut,” died 64 hours after birth. James Martin died after 16 days and Bonnie Marie died three days later.

Patti Frustaci, 30, told reporters: “I feel lucky that we have three because the odds were against (the septuplets) surviving . . . but I lost four children in 19 days and I still cry for them every day.”

Sam Frustaci, 31, said of his children: “We’re not out of the woods yet but they’re strong kids and they’re gaining weight.”