In Support of Robert Larisa - The Larisa Family
Help Bobby and His Family Through His Heart Transplant Journey
Robert “Bobby” Larisa is 38 years old, a loving husband to Amanda—known to many as Mandi—and a proud father to Hailee, Ava, Aiden, and Jayden. He has spent much of his life caring for others. Now, Bobby and his family need our community’s support as he faces a heart transplant and the extensive recovery ahead.
For the past six years, Bobby has been battling hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In 2019, he received an implanted cardiac defibrillator to help protect him from dangerous heart rhythms. Despite treatment, he has experienced numerous cardiac episodes, and his condition has progressively worsened.
This journey is painfully familiar to Bobby. When he was a young boy, his own father received a heart transplant in his late 30s. Today, Bobby faces that same life-changing experience as a father of four.
Bobby has always found ways to give back, whether through community sports or his work as an EMT and firefighter. He briefly served as a volunteer firefighter in Bristol before becoming a career firefighter in Barrington. Firefighting was his passion, but his cardiac condition eventually forced him to step away from the profession he loved.
Even then, Bobby continued serving others through EMS. He worked on and off with Alert/Paramedic Systems over the past 20 years and, most recently, served as an EMT with Fall River EMS, where he also represented his coworkers as the union’s shop steward.
Bobby and his family have always been the people who step up, give back, and show up when someone needs help. Now, we’re asking our community to show up for them.
Following his transplant, Bobby is expected to remain at Tufts for two to four weeks before returning home, where Mandi and their family will care for him throughout a lengthy recovery. Mandi will need to be out of work for an extended period to support Bobby, creating a significant financial strain during an already difficult time.
Donations will help ease the burden of lost income, household bills, travel, and expenses associated with Bobby’s recovery, allowing the family to focus on his healing and their children.
A benefit event is also being planned for those who would like to support Bobby and his family by attending or contributing that way. Details will be shared soon through this page and on social media.
Whether you can donate, attend the benefit, or share this page, your support matters. Thank you for helping care for a man and a family who have spent so many years caring for others.
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- Created Oct 04, 2026
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Emmerson Cornell and Mesiah Lastra about 6 hours ago • with donation
Anonymous about 6 hours ago • with donation
heather Cugno about 7 hours ago • with donation
Jessica Jones about 7 hours ago • with donation
Nikki Barlow about 7 hours ago • with donation
Susan Marx (Larisa) about 8 hours ago • with donation