Andréa Rizzo had a love of life that was felt by all who knew her. She was a loving daughter, only child, compassionate friend, dedicated Special Education teacher, gifted dancer and childhood cancer survivor.
When Andréa was eighteen months old she suddenly lost all of her motor coordination and was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a deadly form of childhood cancer. Her medical history stayed with her and helped her to develop into the person she became.
Dréa never forgot the miracle of her life. Her recovery from childhood cancer helped to guide her studies and shape her dreams. It introduced her to dance, which brought her joy, balance and confidence. Andréa vowed one day to take dance therapy back to the hospital that saved her life.
After receiving her degree in education, with an emphasis in teaching children with special needs, Andréa was attending graduate school at NYU in hopes of becoming a dance therapist so she could share her love of dance and its positive impact on her life with the lives of fragile children.
She herself had been treated and cured of cancer as a very young child at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
On May 19, 2002, at the age of twenty-four, Dréa’s promising young life was cut short by a drunk driver as she returned home from attending a dance performance. Her dream, a passion for children and dance, lives on. With determination from family and friends Drea’s Dream is being fulfilled! Thank you, Dré, for having such a wonderful vision! Andréa loved life, family, friends, children and dance!
Andréa was a special-education teacher and lifelong dancer who was passionate about helping children. She wanted to become a dance therapist.
– Susan Rizzo Vincent
Thank you for keeping Andréa’s dream alive. These excerpts from Andréa’s high school and college essays say it all…….
I believe that my desire to help children comes from my own experience of having been hospitalized as a child. I had surgery and was treated for childhood cancer and lost all of my motor coordination.
Because of all of my neurological difficulties as a small child, I received much help with my speech and learning difficulties. Gradually, through hard work and patience on mine and my parent’s part, I was able to recover completely. …….The one thing that got me through my school years was dancing. I loved dancing and still do. Dancing was a form of therapy to ease my mind when school was difficult.
I do have learning disabilities but consider this a minor problem in light of all that I have been through. I’ve worked with handicapped children for the last two summers and I love to put a smile on the faces of children who are restricted from a lot of things that my friends and I do everyday. I do love people and hope that I can make a difference in their lives. I want to give back some of what I have been fortunate enough to receive. – Andréa Rizzo
I want to give back some of what I have been fortunate enough to receive.– Andréa Rizzo