The Apuzzo family had plenty to be thankful for this week.
That’s because Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach celebrated the remarkable recovery of 15-year-old student-athlete and water polo standout Alessandro “Sandro” Apuzzo this week, who sustained an injury that left him paralyzed after a diving accident on the Fourth of July.
A day before Thanksgiving, Apuzzo took his first steps out of the hospital — and spent the holiday with his family.
The Long Beach teen sustained a severe spinal cord injury with burst fractures to his C5-C7 vertebrae — in the lower neck near the shoulders — and his recovery has been nothing short of extraordinary, hospital officials said.
Apuzzo underwent trauma care and neurosurgical halo vest stabilization – a device used to immobilize the cervical spine for healing – followed by months of intensive inpatient rehabilitation. His determination, combined with the expertise of Miller Children’s & Women’s multidisciplinary care team, turned what doctors call a “miracle” into a reality, officials said.
“I refuse to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair,” Apuzzo said in a statement. “After being paralyzed and relying on everyone for everything, I’m finally getting my freedom back today.”
Before his accident, Apuzzo was a student-athlete training for water polo at the 6-8 Academy, 908 Water Polo Club and Shore Aquatics. He loves the outdoors – surfing, climbing and bodyboarding – and dreams of returning to the water and hiking the 14 great peaks of the world.
As 15-year-old student athlete and water polo standout Alessandro “Sandro” Apuzzo walked out of Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital on Wednesday, Nov. 26, he was greeted by cheering family, friends, teammates, and care team members waving colorful signs and pom-poms. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital care team held signs for 15-year-old student athlete and water polo standout Alessandro “Sandro” Apuzzo, who walked out of the hospital doors on Wednesday, Nov. 26, after recovering from a Fourth of July diving accident that left him paralyzed. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
As 15-year-old student athlete and water polo standout Alessandro “Sandro” Apuzzo walked out of Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital on Wednesday, Nov. 26, he was greeted by cheering family, friends, teammates, and care team members waving colorful signs and pom-poms. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
As 15-year-old student athlete and water polo standout Alessandro “Sandro” Apuzzo walked out of Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital on Wednesday, Nov. 26, he was greeted by cheering family, friends, teammates, and care team members waving colorful signs and pom-poms. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
As 15-year-old student athlete and water polo standout Alessandro “Sandro” Apuzzo walked out of Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital on Wednesday, Nov. 26, his care team and family were there to support him during the milestone. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
As 15-year-old student athlete and water polo standout Alessandro “Sandro” Apuzzo walked out of Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital on Wednesday, Nov. 26, he was greeted by his friends and teammates. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
As 15-year-old student athlete and water polo standout Alessandro “Sandro” Apuzzo walked out of Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital on Wednesday, Nov. 26, he was greeted by his friends and teammates. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
As 15-year-old student athlete and water polo standout Alessandro “Sandro” Apuzzo walked out of Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital on Wednesday, Nov. 26, he was greeted by his friends and teammates. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
As 15-year-old student athlete and water polo standout Alessandro “Sandro” Apuzzo walked out of Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital on Wednesday, Nov. 26, he reconnected with the Long Beach firefighters who helped him after his Fourth of July diving accident. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Before his accident, Alessandro “Sandro” Apuzzo was a dedicated student athlete and standout water polo player, training with 6-8 Academy, 908 Water Polo Club, and Shore Aquatics. (Photo courtesy of Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital)
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As 15-year-old student athlete and water polo standout Alessandro “Sandro” Apuzzo walked out of Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital on Wednesday, Nov. 26, he was greeted by cheering family, friends, teammates, and care team members waving colorful signs and pom-poms. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
On his discharge day, Wednesday, Nov. 26, Apuzzo was taken to the ground floor, where he stood from his wheelchair and took his first steps toward the hospital doors. Family, friends, teammates and care team members lined the exit area with colorful signs, pom-poms and bubbles to cheer him on.
“This has been super special for them to recognize his progress, his determination, and also to highlight their relationship,” his mother, Jacqueline Apuzzo, said in an interview. “It shows the whole community that’s been really behind his recovery; no better way to capture it and capture the amazing work that’s being done here.”
This was one of the largest celebrations Miller Children’s has ever held for a patient, officials said.
Apuzzo is also a lifelong Los Angeles Rams fan, so the hospital surprised the teen with a signed jersey from quarterback Matthew Stafford. And Apuzzo reunited with the Long Beach firefighters and lifeguards who helped in his rescue on the Fourth of July.
“Long Beach really helped him out,” said Dr. Kimberely BeDell, director of rehabilitation at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital.
“Between his friends identifying there was a problem at the beach to the lifeguards, paramedics, emergency department, intensive care unit, and inpatient and outpatient rehab,” BeDell added, “he really got the entire city’s assistance, and it really shows today.”
Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital is dedicated to helping children and teens recover from complex injuries and conditions. With a multidisciplinary team of pediatric experts and advanced rehabilitation equipment, Miller Children’s & Women’s provides individualized care focused on restoring mobility, independence and quality of life, officials said.
“I’m quite happy for him and his family,” BeDell said. “He’s really made tremendous progress since his injury and I believe that he will continue to make progress.”
Apuzzo has gone from being fully dependent to regaining independence through intensive therapy and with support from a full-service children’s hospital, underscoring the value of these hospitals at a time when funding is under threat, officials said.
After the celebration, Apuzzo made it back to his room and said he was looking forward to eating mashed potatoes and gravy on Thanksgiving at home with his family.
“Thank you,” he said to everyone who attended his celebration. “There are no other words I can say right now but thank you.”