The community is coming together to help a local father of 4 who needs our help after being there for so many.
Robert “Bobby” Larisa, a 38-year-old Fall River EMT and former firefighter is preparing for a heart transplant.
According to an online fundraiser, Larisa has been treated for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy for the past six years. In 2019 he received an implanted cardiac defibrillator after dangerous heart rhythms. He has had repeated cardiac episodes and his condition has worsened.
The situation is familiar. When Bobby was a boy, his father received a heart transplant in his late 30s.
Larisa served as a volunteer firefighter in Bristol and later as a career firefighter in Barrington before his heart condition forced him to leave the job. He has also worked in EMS for about 20 years, on and off with Alert/Paramedic Systems, and most recently as an EMT with Fall River EMS, where he was the union shop steward. He has also given back through community sports.
After the transplant, Larisa is expected to stay at Tufts for two to four weeks, then recover at home. His wife Mandi is expected to be out of work for an extended period to help care for him.
Donations are meant to cover lost income, household bills, travel, and recovery costs. A benefit is also being planned, with details to come.
