HOWELL — Smiles, tears and gratitude filled the Riccio home on Christmas Eve when officers from the Howell Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit arrived with thousands of dollars’ worth of donations from various businesses and individuals .
With the help of the Brain InjuryAssociation of New Jersey, the Howell Police Department was put in touch with the Riccio family and chose them to be the recipients of this year’s donations to a family who survived a traffic accident.
Amara Riccio, 15, has reflexive sympathetic dystrophy that stems from a 2008 accident in which she was struck by a car while she was crossing a street in Lakewood. She spent nine days in a coma and sustained a severe traumatic brain injury.
The teenager has relearned to eat, talk and walk, but still has significant left-sided weakness, balance issues and respiratory issues. Amara continues to receive outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy and cognitive therapy, according to her mother, Lori.
Amara’s older brother, Lawrence, is autistic and bipolar. The Riccio home has been neglected over the years due to the medical situations the family has faced, Lori Riccio said.
“Amara is always taking care of everyone else,” she said.
Amara has an old soul, her mother said, adding that her daughter is outgoing and cares so much about her brothers, Lawrence and Robert.
Amara was an avid dancer before her accident and now uses her positive energy to make crafts for children in hospitals, according to her father, Larry.
She personalizes and customizes different bears and crafts and sends them all over the world to children who are hospitalized. Some of her crafts have made it to New Zealand andAustralia, her father said.
“She is so into helping people,” Howell police Sgt. Joseph Markulic said.
Amara has also written a book titled “Miracles Climb” and teams up with a group which creates a monthly newsletter that is distributed to patients in hospitals, the officer said.
During his visit to the Riccio home, Markulic read Amara a letter just before unveiling all of the gifts for her family.
“You have put smiles on people’s faces,” Markulic said, as he quoted Amara’s book by adding, “Hopes and dreams will come true if you just believe.”
The goal of the police department was to eliminate some of the burdens the Riccio family was facing during the holiday season, Markulic said.
“This is what makes the Christmas season so special,” Markulic said as he told the family the names of some of the businesses who helped make the donation possible.
The officer also thanked Joe Klecko, a retired New York Jets defensive lineman who had visited the Riccio family a day earlier. Klecko presented the Riccios with a signed football helmet that younger brother Robert was modeling for visitors on Dec. 24.
Among the gifts the Riccio family received was a television, a DVD player, a printer, clothing for Amara’s brothers and a new stove.
Amara received craft supplies and gift cards to local businesses, some of which were donated from students at Howell High School. An iPad was provided to Amara through cash donations Markulic received.
Employees of Howell Glass came to repair windows at the home and handymen will help the Riccios repair other items after the holidays, according to Markulic.
“It’s amazing,” the officer said. “There are so many good people this time of year.”
A new kitchen table and a desk where Amara can make her crafts were also donated to the family.
“Thank you, Howell and beyond,” Amara said after seeing a truckload of presents for her and her family.
“We are humbled and overwhelmed,” Lori Riccio said. “We didn’t expect all of this.”
Amara was joined by friends Jayne Swendsen and Ashley Schwartzman, who helped her unwrap and begin to enjoy all of the gifts that were generously donated.
“They are unbelievably nice,” Amara said about all of the people who helped her family this year.
Howell Mayor Robert Walsh even stopped by to add to the Christmas spirit that surrounded the Riccio home on Christmas Eve.
“If we can put a smile on someone’s face, that’s what it’s all about,” Markulic said.