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ACACIA RIZZO |
Paul E. Kandarian | People
Life-saving mission
Acacia Rizzo of Carver was an athletic child, though she got winded easily. Her parents thought she had asthma. But matters worsened and in 2002, at age 10, she was diagnosed with primary pulmonary hypertension.
Every conceivable treatment followed, said her uncle, Dean Rizzo of Plymouth. Nothing worked.
Now the Carver High junior is at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, awaiting a donor for a life-saving double-lung transplant.
Rizzo's condition causes blood pressure so high in the vessel leading from the heart to the lungs that it's considered life-threatening. Dean Rizzo, executive director of Quincy 2000 Collaborative, said the occurrence of the condition in the United States is 1 in 2 million.
A fund-raiser scheduled by friends and family of the girl and her mother, Lisa Rizzo, who live in Carver, will run from 1 to 5 p.m. today at the gazebo at the Best Western Adams Inn, 29 Hancock St., Quincy. Tickets are $25 and include a silent raffle and auction, music, and other activities. For information, call 508-732-9962 or visit helpacacia.com.
Lisa Rizzo is taking an unpaid leave of absence from her teaching job at Lynch School in Middleborough to be with her daughter through the operation and recovery, Dean Rizzo said, adding that friends and family hope to raise $100,000 for medical and living expenses. The girl's father, Russ Cugno, lives in California.
"Both their spirits, Acacia's and Lisa's, are strong; they're both very positive, upbeat people," Dean Rizzo said. "With all Acacia has gone through the last several years, that's what keeps them going, that positive outlook."
Carver High School has a fund-raising spaghetti dinner scheduled for Oct. 13, along with an appearance Oct. 30 by the Harlem Wizards, Dean Rizzo said. In addition, donations may be made payable to the Acacia Fund, and mailed to PO Box 850519, Braintree, 02184
FUND-RAISING GALA: The Tobey Hospital Guild has scheduled "An Enchanted Evening of Food, Wine and Song" to benefit the purchase of a digital mammography machine at the Wareham hospital. The event is scheduled for Oct. 12 at LeBaron Hills Country Club in Lakeville. Tickets are $75 and can be bought by calling Agatha Saint Amour at 508-961-5752 or visiting southcoast.org/give/special.html.
BIG READERS: The Magic in Reading competition program at Clift Rodgers Library in Marshfield has ended, with 55 participants reading 404 books, library officials said. The five categories and the first-place winners were: Read to Me, Mary Maurano, Anna O'Sullivan, and Ian Peck; Beginner Reader, Liam O'Sullivan and Sophie Martin; Intermediate Reader, Olivia Peck, Alexi Iafrato, and Joey Gagliard; Young Adult, Emily Murray, Amanda Stickney, and Brendan Sullivan; and Adult Reader, Harriet Manning and Matt Currie.
Sponsors donating prizes were
HOCKEY PROGRAM LAUDED: The Plymouth Youth Hockey Program has been awarded the 16th annual Philip Re Outstanding Program Award for the 2006-2007 season, an award based on outstanding sportsmanship and overall performance that includes participation at meetings, communications, meeting financial obligations, and leadership.
BUSINESS BRIEFS: Jerry McDermott, a Boston city councilor since 2002, has been named executive director of Braintree Habitat for Humanity. His experience in public service and in running a real estate business suited him for the job, according to Habitat officials. McDermott said the 43d Braintree Habitat home is scheduled to be completed this fall. The Braintree affiliate hosts a volunteer orientation session the third Wednesday of every month at 7:15 p.m. in the Heritage United Methodist Church on Grove Street.
Three local residents have been appointed to chairs at the Massachusetts Bar Association. Frank J. Riccio of Norwell, who practices law in Braintree, is cochairman of the bar's health law section. Avon resident Michele E. Randazzo, a lawyer in Boston, is serving a second term as cochair of the association's public law section. Brian D. Bixby of Cohasset has been appointed to the association's taxation law section. Bixby's law practice is in Boston.
Susan Cunniff of Rockland has been named branch manager of the new Mansfield Bank branch in West Bridgewater at 728 West Center St.
Paul Kandarian can be reached at Kandarian@globe.com.
© Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.
