Claire Rossi loved giving gifts – and her most important one saved a Long Island grandfather’s life.
Rossi became an “angel” to Carlos Riley when her Patchogue family donated the late great-grandmother’s liver to the Commack native – paving the way for a heartfelt meeting Monday.
“What she did, she didn’t know me, she just did it for somebody to save a life,” said an emotional Riley, 65, in front of Rossi’s relatives, including her husband of 55 years, at the headquarters for the nonprofit organ-donation group LiveOn NY in Long Island City, Queens.
“Without her, I won’t be here,” said Rossi, who was within months of dying without the organ donation.
“She was like my angel,” he said of the 70-year-old Rossi. “Just put it that way, she was my angel. She saved my life, in combination with the doctors.”
Loved ones said Rossi, who lived in Queens and later on Long Island, enjoyed spoiling her family with Italian food and presents, especially around the holidays, and donating bundles of clothes to strangers in need.
Doing for others was her “love language,” they said.
She died in February 2024, and while she wasn’t a listed organ donor, her family decided she could offer “her last gift.”
Riley received his new liver on the 29th of that month.
“So this was her last gift, and I couldn’t be more proud of her,” said the donor’s 55-year-old daughter, Annalisa Rossi.
“And I know she’s smiling, and I know she’s happy, because this is something that she really just loved to do all her life.”
Riley, who was joined by his wife and daughter, said he never thought he’d be connected with a donor after doctors delivered grim news to him.
“One day, the doctors told me, ‘You drink too much.’ They told me if I don’t have a donor I’m going to die in a few months,” he said.
“So one day they told me, they called me, ‘We have a liver for you.’ … I didn’t know anything, I just knew I was still alive and I have an opportunity to live longer.”
As he was recovering from his organ-donation surgery, Rossi’s family mailed him a “beautiful letter” asking how he was doing and hoping to meet one day.
Riley and Rossi’s family wrote back and forth for months leading up to the meeting, where Riley could report his blood work is now fine and liver is “perfect.
“Now, I’m not surprised, it’s an Italian liver,” he quipped.
While Riley oozes of appreciation, Rossi’s family said it also had plenty to give thanks for.
“I just want to say thank you, because this kind of helped keep my grandma’s name live on. It’s helping her live on,” said granddaughter Alyssa Morales, 33.
“It was like keeping her spirits alive kind of made her passing a little bit easier, knowing that she saved someone’s life.”
Her widower, Joseph Rossi, can’t help missing his wife but told Riley, “I’m so glad she saved your life.
” I’m happy she saved a life.”
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