Jennifer Marcellino did not plan to die

After being pronounced dead while giving birth, Marcellino decided to celebrate being
alive by creating her own event planning business
By Maddie Kempton
Jennifer Marcellino is the best dead event planner in the event planning industry.
On September 23, 1997, Marcellino should have been a glowing new mother.
Instead, she died on the operating table. Then, five minutes
later, she came back to life. This near-death experience

Marcellino Fun Facts:

changed the course of Marcellinos life. After regaining her

Favorite book:
The Hunger Games

health, Marcellino followed her aspirations and started her

Marcellinos kids:
Marcellino had two sons and
a daughter

own event planning company.

Life before surgery
Before Marcellino died, she owned a bar with her
husband. Marcellino managed the bar during the day and
her husband bartended at night.
I love being a mother more than anything else in
my life. I never expected to have such a complicated birth,
especially because my other two were pretty seamless,

Favorite prayer:
Oh lord, help me to see
through the eyes of Padre
Pio. This prayer is tattooed
on her elder son.
High School:
St. Francis Preparatory School
Siblings:
Marcellino has five sisters
and one brother.

Marcellino said.
Marcellino remained in labor for 20 hours before doctors decided she must
undergo a cesarean section instead of continuing with a natural birth. The doctors
believed this would be a routine surgery, not anticipating Marcellino possessing one
kidney.
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Childbirth almost claims her life
During the routine C-section, Marcellinos doctors severed her renal artery. She
began bleeding out rapidly, while
being pumped full of 82 units of
blood. Her uterus, ovaries, appendix
and spleen were removed as suspects
of the potential cause of the
bleeding.
Jen Marcellino (middle) posing with her two sons, Joe (left) and Kenny (right)
Photo Source: Jennifer Marcellino

Marcellino was pronounced

dead for more than a minute and her

family was formally told she would not survive. As a last hope, the doctors checked the
body cavity again and realized the true cause of the bleeding and repaired the artery.
When I woke up, I didnt know where I was. I was confused and didnt
understand why I hadnt seen my baby yet, and why my mother was crying so hard,
Marcellino said.
I had started planning my daughters funeral. As a nurse, I knew if the bleeding
didnt stop, my baby was dead. I was so scared and hopeless. Marcellinos mother, Joan
Hyland said. When the doctor came out and told us Jennifer was going to make it, I
never cried harder in my life,
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Marcellino resided in the hospital for three months before she could return home
or hold her newborn son, Joseph. For years, Marcellino had to undergo countless
surgeries to fix the complications caused by the botched C-section.
I was depressed, I couldnt see my children and I was helpless. It was the worst
three months of my life, Marcellino said.
The resurrection of an event planner
More complications arose when Marcellino and her former husband finalized
their divorce. As a newly single mother, she sold the bar and attended to her children and
medical needs.
I knew I was going to be able to take care of my kids the day I got up and walked
Kenny to kindergarten by myself, a year after the surgeries, Marcellino said.
Knowing she wanted to find a job she was passionate about, she began
entertaining the idea of starting her own event planning company. Two years after she
thought of her event planning company, Uptown Creations Event Planning and Design
planned its first event, a Bar Mitzvah in New York.
This first event launched Uptown Creations popularity and soon Marcellino and
co-owner Sherrie Bailey planned more than 50 events such as weddings, sweet sixteens
and corporate retreats their first year.

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As difficult as Marcellinos life became since she died, she said, I am grateful to
know first-hand just how valuable and fragile life is. If I hadnt experienced what I did, I
dont think I would have ended up where I am today. A happy, successful event-planning
mother of three.

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Uptown Creations lucratively completes first year

Uptown Creations realizes success
The unveiling of Uptown Creations Event Planning and Design proved a success
By Maddie Kempton
Ten years after Marcellinos near-death experience during childbirth in 2008, she
launched her company, Uptown Creations Event Planning and Design. Marcellinos
original staff consisted of Sherrie Bailey, Lisa Cherra and herself. The trio began
planning, setting up and breaking down the events.
A Bar Mitzvah in Great Neck, New York became the
first event Marcellino officially planned. The Bar Mitzvah
launched Uptown Creations reputation as a popular event
planning company on Long Island.
Jen was the best boss I ever worked for. She didnt
just expect us to do all the dirty work, she was always there
setting up and breaking down the party with us. Cherra said,
She really taught me how to be an amazing boss and event
Uptown Creations first-ever
crafted centerpiece.
Photo credit: Jennifer Marcellino

planner.
Marcellino was able to promote her company and

remain profitable on all three of the business partners investments in the first year the
company was in business. The company won awards such as Best Wedding Vendor by
The Knot wedding magazine in 2010.
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My company has thrived and I could not be happier with Uptown. I fell in love
with event planning and am so thankful that my company has succeeded in the way that it
has, Marcellino said. Im excited to see what the future holds for us!
Marcellino plans to expand Uptown Creations to the tri-state area, including New
York, New Jersey and Connecticut. She also plans to invest in new staff members to
book more parties. Visit www.uptowncreation.com to see other events Marcellino has
planned.

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