Lending a hand to a family in need Fundraisier for Violet Pantucci, born with lissencephaly, will be held Aug. 12 by Pittston Knights of Columbus

PITTSTON — Violet Pantucci may not be able to say or do much, but she can crack a smile that lights up a room and she loves to dance.

Violet, 4, was born with lissencephaly, a rare, gene-linked brain malformation, also referred to as having a “smooth brain.”

Her mother, Elizabeth, 34, said Violet didn’t start showing signs of the condition until she was three months old, but it was at six months she had her first seizure.

“She has hundreds a day sometimes,” Elizabeth said.

Because of Violet’s condition, her family visits the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) once a week every month and pays for more medical expenses than most people can imagine.

It was two years ago that Elizabeth and her husband Ron, 44, organized a fundraiser and GoFundMe page for their daughter to help with some of her medical costs and, although the event was a success, it was a one-and-done.

“Trying to plan it, it was a lot,” said Ron. “It took a lot of effort, and it was draining trying to take care of (Violet) and running to places to drop off flyers, talk to people, see if somebody would donate something. It’s time consuming.”

This year, the Pantucci family is getting help from the Pittston Knights of Columbus, who have organized an event for Violet on Saturday, Aug. 12.

Julio Caprari, Fourth Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus and a member of the organization’s board of directors, said he was approached by Joe Kelly, a friend of the Pantuccis.

“I was speaking with Joe Kelly, a fireman with the city, about something unrelated and he mentioned there was a family that could use help,” Caprari said. “I brought it to the Knights and it was something we wanted to be involved with.”

The event will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12 at the Knights of Columbus home at 55 S. Main St.

According to Caprari, there will be live entertainment, a cash bar and the kitchen will be open. Donations will be accepted at the door and people can donate whatever they want to as they enter the event.

“We’re just hoping that the community is as generous as possible,” he said.

A portion of the proceeds from the cash bar will go to the Pantucci family.

Elizabeth is thrilled her family will get the help it needs in spreading awareness for Violet, as well as helping to raise money to help with medical expenses.

“They’ve done a lot in terms of getting flyers out, letting people know, contacting the newspapers, so that’s really been a huge blessing to not have the weight of all of that on us,” she said of the Knights. “We’re still involved, but the majority is being handled by the Knights of Columbus.”

Depending on the success of the event, Elizabeth and Ron hope the Knights of Columbus will consider making it an annual event.

Caprari said it’s a possibility.

“It can become an annual event,” he said. “We’re always willing to help and, from what I know of them, it’s a great family and Violet’s a fighter. We’re going to do everything we can for her.”

When she’s not visiting CHOP, Violet can be found playing with her older brothers Brandon, 14, and Matthew, 12.

She attends school at the Wyoming Valley Children’s Association in Forty Fort and does aquatic therapy at St. Joseph’s Center in Scranton. She also participates in therapeutic horse back riding at the Serendipity Therapeutic Riding Program in Harveys Lake.

Violet’s communication skills have improved over the years and she can say small words, but she uses her new Tobii Dynavox I-15+, a machine that’s calibrated to her eyes so she can select what to say by simply looking at the screen.

“We always knew she was bright from the way she interacts with us,” Elizabeth said. “Before, we’d have to give her options and put two or three things in front of her. Now, she can go on here and tell us exactly what she wants.”

When Violet was born, the Pantuccis were told she would never smile. Violet fooled the medical professionals and smiles more than ever.

“She is the toughest little girl,” Elizabeth said. “When we don’t know if we can take it another day or bear to see it another minute, she’ll just flash us a smile or something, and we just have to keep going.”