In 1970, Maria Mattarella and her husband, Francesco, moved to New York City from Sicily in pursuit of the American Dream. But they were not planning to stay forever. Their intention was always to return to Italy after a few years. That plan was derailed when their three-year old son, Salvatore, was diagnosed with liver cancer.
“The best doctors are here,” said Mattarella’s son, Vincent Mattarella. “If the family had stayed in Italy, he would not have survived; he would have passed. When Sal got sick, the doctors told my mother he would be under their care and treatment for the next 10 years. So that idea of going back to Italy was not possible.”
