Family to reunite in Toronto
Local business owner sends sister, grandmother of cornea transplant recipient to Toronto
Shauna Cameron shed tears of joy when a Sydney business owner offered to fly her oldest daughter and a guardian to Toronto.
Cameron and her partner, Matt Ranni, are in the Ontario city with their three-year-old daughter, Norah CameronRanni, who received a cornea transplant in her right eye on March 12.
The family needs to stay in Toronto for longer than expected — possibly two months instead of one — because there are blood vessels growing in and around the sutures in the little girl’s eye.
Their oldest daughter, Alyssa Cameron, 9, stayed home with family so she wouldn’t miss school. Before this trip, the longest Alyssa and her mom had been apart was two days.
“It’s hard enough with the medical stuff but not having (Alyssa) here with us and seeing her every day is really tugging at my heart,” said Cameron.
Paul Nardocchio, owner of Waterside Pools and Spas, and his wife Tara Nardocchio read about the Cameron-Ranni family’s situation in the Cape Breton Post and decided to help.
“We are fortunate we can do this for someone,” said Nardocchio, who tries to donate as much as he can to local causes.
“It was the picture of Norah that got me. She is always smiling; such a big smile and she has gone through so much … we are happy we could do something to help.”
The Nardocchios used Air Miles to buy the airline tickets and they paid all the taxes and fees.
Alyssa, a Grade 4 student at Tompkins Memorial Elementary School in Glace Bay, is excited about the trip and leaves
with her grandmother on Mon- day.
“I am really thankful for the people that are flying me up there because I am getting to see my mom and my baby sister,” she said.
“We FaceTime everyday… but I can’t wait to see her in person.”
Alyssa hopes to go to the Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto but is more concerned about spending time her family.
“Me and my baby sister sometimes get into fights but I still really miss her.”
Since the Post reported on Norah’s eye surgery and the family’s fundraising to cover costs of medical and travel expenses, people from across Canada and the U.S. have emailed messages of support.
“It’s not just about the donations. It’s about having all that support … I don’t know how people with no support get through this,” said Cameron.
“I don’t think Norah realizes how many people love her.”