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HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – A young girl who had heart surgery the day before Thanksgiving is on the mend and celebrated Christmas at home with her family.
Sarah Riccio, 11, got the best gift of the year when she was able to return home 24 days after open-heart surgery at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford, according to family friend Carol Luis.
“This surgery saved her life and has given her another 10 years before more will need to be done,” said her mother, Suzanne Riccio. "We are extremely grateful for that."
Sarah was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which means her left ventricle is severely underdeveloped. It’s a rare congenital heart defect that led to her having her first open-heart surgery when she was two days old, with three other surgeries occurring in her first month of life, as Lake County News has reported.
Doctors reportedly told Sarah’s parents that the November surgery was high risk because the child’s right lung no longer works. They also were told to expect her to be in the hospital at least 30 days. A previous surgery had resulted in a three-month stay.
But Sarah improved ahead of schedule and got to go home to spend Christmas with her parents and two siblings, Luis said.
The Riccio family said it has been overwhelmed by the show of support from their community, friends, family and total strangers.
They offered thanks to everyone who kept Sarah in their thoughts and prayers when she needed it most.
They’re also grateful for the donations made on their daughter’s behalf.
Donations are continuing to be taken to help cover Sarah’s very expensive medical costs. Funds can be donated online at www.everribbon.com/r/sarahsfund.
The Web site said that, as of Dec. 31, $5,941.11 had been raised. The goal is $7,500.
Luis said UPS made Sarah's day when they delivered several gifts to her and her family.
UPS driver Paul Murray and several of his coworkers generously purchased items for Sarah, her siblings and food for a delicious Christmas dinner for the entire family, Luis said.
Murray, along with a fellow UPS employee, took time out of their hectic delivery day to personally deliver these gifts to Sarah and visit with the family, according to Luis.
“Helping the Riccio family has been such an amazing experience,” said Luis. “The tremendous response from our community truly made me believe that people are genuinely good."
She said that every time she received a phone call, an email or someone came to her door asking how they could help she was overwhelmed.
“I am truly grateful to everyone that helped with raising money and awareness for Sarah and her ordeal,” said Luis. “Sarah getting to be home for Christmas is the best gift ever!"
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