Claire Rossi cherished giving items – and her most necessary one saved a Lengthy Island grandfather’s life.
Rossi grew to become an “angel” to Carlos Riley when her Patchogue household donated the late great-grandmother’s liver to the Commack native – paving the way in which for a heartfelt assembly Monday.
“What she did, she didn’t know me, she simply did it for any person to avoid wasting a life,” mentioned an emotional Riley, 65, in entrance of Rossi’s family, together with her husband of 55 years, on the headquarters for the nonprofit organ-donation group LiveOn NY in Lengthy Island Metropolis, Queens.
“With out her, I received’t be right here,” mentioned Rossi, who was inside months of dying with out the organ donation.
“She was like my angel,” he mentioned of the 70-year-old Rossi. “Simply put it that approach, she was my angel. She saved my life, in mixture with the medical doctors.”
Family members mentioned Rossi, who lived in Queens and in a while Lengthy Island, loved spoiling her household with Italian meals and presents, particularly across the holidays, and donating bundles of garments to strangers in want.
Doing for others was her “love language,” they mentioned.
She died in February 2024, and whereas she wasn’t a listed organ donor, her household determined she might supply “her final present.”
Riley obtained his new liver on the twenty ninth of that month.
“So this was her final present, and I couldn’t be extra pleased with her,” mentioned the donor’s 55-year-old daughter, Annalisa Rossi.
“And I do know she’s smiling, and I do know she’s pleased, as a result of that is one thing that she actually simply cherished to do all her life.”
Riley, who was joined by his spouse and daughter, mentioned he by no means thought he’d be linked with a donor after medical doctors delivered grim information to him.
“Someday, the medical doctors advised me, ‘You drink an excessive amount of.’ They advised me if I don’t have a donor I’m going to die in a number of months,” he mentioned.
“So at some point they advised me, they referred to as me, ‘We’ve a liver for you.’ … I didn’t know something, I simply knew I used to be nonetheless alive and I’ve a possibility to stay longer.”
As he was recovering from his organ-donation surgical procedure, Rossi’s household mailed him a “lovely letter” asking how he was doing and hoping to satisfy at some point.
Riley and Rossi’s household wrote backwards and forwards for months main as much as the assembly, the place Riley might report his blood work is now wonderful and liver is “excellent.
“Now, I’m not stunned, it’s an Italian liver,” he quipped.
Whereas Riley oozes of appreciation, Rossi’s household mentioned it additionally had loads to provide thanks for.
“I simply need to say thanks, as a result of this type of helped hold my grandma’s title stay on. It’s serving to her stay on,” mentioned granddaughter Alyssa Morales, 33.
“It was like retaining her spirits alive sort of made her passing slightly bit simpler, realizing that she saved somebody’s life.”
Her widower, Joseph Rossi, can’t assist lacking his spouse however advised Riley, “I’m so glad she saved your life.
” I’m pleased she saved a life.”
