South Toms River Girl, 4, Receives International Support from First Responders After Cancer Diagnosis
Sophia Colavito’s collection of squad patches now includes more than 1,000 from as far away as the North Pole and the International Space Station
Sophia Colavito, 4, of South Toms River, New Jersey, is quite a collector. Sophia has acquired more than 1,000 police and first responder patches from across the country and the globe — and even some from the International Space Station. And it all started as a result of local first responders' efforts to support Sophia and her family after Sophia was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on her optic nerve called an optic glioma.
An Outpouring of Support
Sophia was diagnosed with an optic glioma after experiencing headaches and difficulty seeing in her right eye. An MRI showed that Sophia had a tumor behind her eye and close to her pituitary gland, making it inoperable. A biopsy revealed that Sophia’s tumor was cancerous, and further tests showed that the cancer had spread to her brain and spine.
When members of the Lavallette Police Department, South Toms River Police Department, and South Toms River EMS learned of Sophia’s diagnosis, they wanted to support the family during Sophia’s treatment. The community began coordinating fundraising efforts to help with the family’s expenses, and South Toms River Police Department even made Sophia a police officer for a day.
Grateful for the kindness and support, Sophia and her family — including parents Lindsay and Michael, and sister Isabella, 6 — decided to deliver cookies to the departments to thank them. Each of the three departments gave Sophia squad patches, kicking off Sophia’s collection.
“I shared a picture of Sophia with all of her patches on social media, and it just took off,” said Lindsay.
The Lavallette Police Benevolent Association shared Sophia’s photo and volunteered to collect other patches that other first responder squads might be willing to send by mail.
“The patches flooded in from all over the country and the world,” said Lindsay. “We now have well over 1,000, including one from the North Pole, NASA, the International Space Station, and Buckingham Palace.”
Sophia also got to visit the New Jersey State Police headquarters in West Trenton, New Jersey. Sophia and her family received a tour and met Col. Patrick J. Callahan, who made Sophia an honorary state trooper.
“Lots of people are reaching out, and all these different patches and gifts show us that people around the world are fighting for [Sophia] and with her,” said Lindsay.
An Exciting Surprise
Since March, Sophia has been receiving chemotherapy. She now receives chemotherapy weekly for four weeks, followed by two weeks off. Although Sophia has lost sight in her right eye and has experienced nerve damage due to chemotherapy, Lindsay said her tumors have remained stable.
When Sophia is receiving her chemotherapy treatments, Lindsay said she sometimes gets to see the hospital’s med-evac helicopter take off and land on the roof next door.
On November 14, 2020, at 1 p.m., Sophia got another surprise: She became an honorary member of the Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center’s AirMed flight crew during a special fly-in event at South Toms River Elementary School Field — complete with official flight wings and a custom-made flight suit just for her. Sophia also got the chance to tour the inside of the AirMed helicopter.
Lindsay said Sophia has another year of weekly chemotherapy sessions ahead of her, and Sophia will likely need routine MRIs and chemotherapy throughout her life. But one thing is for sure: Sophia and her family aren’t fighting alone.
“We’re so thankful that so many people are coming together to support Sophia and that so many people are praying for her and sending good wishes her way,” said Lindsay.
How to Help
Patches can be mailed to Lavallette PBA 372, P.O. Box 372, Lavallette, NJ 08735.
Follow Sophia’s journey on Facebook at Fight with Fi. Financial contributions can be made through FightWithFi on GoFundMe.com.
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