Written by: Sarah Litz, slitz@rgj.com
The Alden and Sciarrotta families didn’t know what was happening when their scheduled doctor’s appointments didn’t go quite as planned.
Emma Alden was expected in for a normal lab draw – a common procedure for the five-year-old – and six-year-old Victor Sciarrotta was in for an MRI scan when they were surprised with $20,000 each from this year’s Reno Rodeo Wish program.
“When I found out, I just burst into tears,” Emma’s mom, Katie Alden said.
Emma Alden hamms it up as her parents, Matthew and Katie Alden receive a $20,000 Reno Rodeo Wish check from the Reno Rodeo Foundation Wednesday June 7. 2017 at Renown Medical Center. Photo by Marilyn Newton for the Reno Rodeo.(Photo: Provided by Marilyn Newton)
The program provides financial assistance to address medical needs. For the 2017 donation, the Reno Rodeo Foundation Board of Trustees approved $35,000 and the Capurro Foundation donated an additional $5,000. Victor, Emma and their families will also receive a VIP experience during the 2017 Reno Rodeo and will be recognized during the Reno Rodeo Kid’s Day on June 18.
Both children have gone through extensive treatments – each for different diagnoses. The families were nominated through Renown Regional Medical Center and St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center staff and then were chosen to receive the donation through the Reno Rodeo Foundation and the Capurro Foundation.
Emma was born with a genetic disorder and has been in and out of the hospital her whole life, Alden said. In 2016, she was also diagnosed with a Wilms’ tumor and recently finished her last round of chemotherapy.
“For everything she’s been through, she’s a total trooper,” Alden said. “We’re very thankful for the donation.”
Reno Rodeo Foundation Board of Trustee Debra Herman and Suzie Murphy with the Capurro Foundation both expressed how special it was to be involved with gifting the families. In Emma’s case, the money will be used for adaptive equipment and different types of therapies.
“It’s huge for our two foundations to get together and to help these children,” Herman said. “This is a unique gift because this is about the quality of life for Emma after treatment.”
Victor’s mom, Amber Sciarrotta, said she’s hoping to use the money to create more family memories because the whole family participates when Victor needs help.
Victor was first diagnosed with intracranial hypertension, then cancer when he was 4, and most recently, a rare type of aggressive cancer – although the family is holding onto hope that the diagnosis could only be radiation damage. At his young age, Victor has had chemotherapy, stem cell transplants and radiation.
A very happy Victor Sciarrotta, 6, sits behind a huge $20,000 check his family received from Reno Rodeo Foundation at St. Marys Health Center Friday June 9, 2017. Photo by Marilyn Newton for the Reno Rodeo Foundation (Photo: Courtesy of Marilyn Newton)
If he needs to go to the emergency room, Sciarrotta said the family has a routine: The oldest, 13-year-old Vinnie calls 911, the middle boys, 11-year-old Frankie and 8-year-old Anthony grab the overnight bags, and 3-year-old Anamarie packs toys for her older brother.
“The whole family works together,” Sciarrotta said. “All of my boys know how to do blood draws and hang the pumps for his treatment. We all participate.”
Sciarrotta said she wants to plan a family trip to Disneyland, a trip to Thomas Land and maybe even get a puppy – something Victor has always wanted.
“We aren’t willing to take any chances,” she said. “If we really don’t have that much time with him, we’re going to enjoy the time that we have left with our boy.”
