Alaina’s army of champions
Alaina Chiaravalle, 12, poses with her mom, Shandra Vidella of Coal Center. Alaina was diagnosed with acute kidney failure less than a month ago, and is undergoing dialysis three times a week. Proceeds from a Chinese auction Saturday at the Shortbread City Christmas Vendor and Craft Show in Monessen will benefit Alaina’s mounting medical bills.
Alaina Chiaravalle
Communities throughout the Mon Valley are rallying around a seventh-grader at California Middle School, who, until three weeks ago, was a healthy and energetic preteen.
Today, however, 12-year-old Alaina Chiaravalle is undergoing outpatient dialysis three times a week as she awaits a kidney transplant after being diagnosed with acute kidney failure.
“It came from out of the blue,” said her grandfather, Monessen City Councilman Ron Chiaravalle.
Alaina, daughter of Shandra Vidella of Coal Center and Ron Chiaravalle Jr. of Monessen, was staying with her father for the weekend when, on Oct. 16, she started to feel “a little ill, like she was coming down with a cold,” her grandfather said.
By the next morning, Alaina was having difficulty breathing. Her father took her to the emergency room at Monongahela Valley Hospital, where, at first glance, they thought she might be having an asthma attack.
Blood tests revealed that she was anemic, and, after more alarming tests results, Alaina was flown by helicopter to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
By the time her mom and dad arrived at Children’s Hospital from MVH, Alaina was in acute renal failure.
“Everything was an emergency at that point,” said Ron Chiaravalle, noting that Alaina had developed swelling on her brain and her blood pressure skyrocketed. She received two blood transfusions within two days.
“Basically she was helpless,” he said. “She was under sedation as they were trying to save her life.”
Little by little, Alaina’s health began to stabilize, and she was placed on dialysis. Last week, she was released from the hospital.
“It’s a big question mark,” her grandfather said. “They do not know why it happened. There was no toxicity in her kidneys, no bacteria, no infection. It could be that she was born with it.”
While Alaina’s extended family kept vigil in the intensive care unit during the first week while she was heavily sedated, friends and Mon Valley residents sprang into action. Among them was close family friend Tiffanie Rawlins Johnson, owner of Shortbread City Designer Deserts in Monessen.
On Saturday, Johnson will donate all proceeds from a Chinese auction being held in conjunction with her Shortbread City Christmas Craft and Vendor Show at the Monessen firemen’s social hall, 15 Eastgate, to Alaina’s family to help defray her mounting medical bills. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and at last count, nearly 100 Chinese auction baskets have been donated by friends, family and Mon Valley residents.
In addition, there will be 50 vendors and crafters, a disc jockey, food and beverages.
“The outpouring of care has been amazing,” Ron Chiaravalle said. “What has struck me more than anything is the compassion. Shandra and Ron have a good relationship, and everyone who knows them, loves them.”
Alaina’s aunt – and Ron Chiaravalle’s daughter – Nikki Holmes of North Belle Vernon agrees.
“Alaina is lucky in that she has a unique and large family,” said Holmes, noting that Alaina’s stepfather, Brandon Vidella, and his family are all very close with the Chiaravalles. Alaina also has a half-sister, Arianna Vidella, and a half-brother, Ron Chiaravalle III, both 3.
“Every day, someone does something,” Holmes said. “We’ve had church prayers from all over the country. We’re hearing from people we didn’t know who are praying for Alaina.”
Alaina plays the clarinet in the school band, and she is an excellent student, her grandfather said. Holmes added that Alaina even told the LifeFlight nurse that she was upset she probably wouldn’t be going back to school for a while.
Holmes, who previously worked as a dialysis technician for adults, said the dialysis is tiring for Alaina because she has to travel to Pittsburgh since there is no treatment center in the Valley for children. So, by the time Alaina makes the round trip to Pittsburgh and completes her treatment, it’s a five-hour ordeal.
Ron Chiaravalle said doctors are hoping that in December Alaina will be at a point in her treatment where she can receive dialysis at home while she sleeps.
For more information about the Shortbread City Christmas Craft and Vendor Show, visit www.facebook.com/.events/ 1786646528259654/?active _tab=discussion. Follow #alainasauction on Facebook to view some of the auction items.