Sylvester Stallone opens up about his daughter Sophia’s battle: “My greatest joy after facing death”

Sylvester Stallone Says Daughter Is His “Joy” Years After Staying With Her During Risky Heart Surgery

Just months after Sophia Stallone was born, she had to undergo heart surgery to repair a “horrible hole in her heart,” which left the movie star devastated.
Today, the father and daughter share a special bond and share a striking resemblance.

In his dedication, Sylvester called Sophia incredible and spoke about how much “joy” she brought to his family.

Of his three daughters, he shares the closest bond with his “very special” little girl, Sophia. As her loving mother, Flavin, attested:

“…Sly is crazy about Sophia, he would cut himself in two for her, she is the great love of his life!”

Flavin also revealed more about the striking resemblance between the two, not only in terms of their looks, but also in their mannerisms and hobbies.

The mom confirmed that Sophia and her dad think, move and behave in the same way. Much like the movie star, Sophia is well-versed in Shakespeare and enjoys pursuing her interests. As reported by a family member, during the first night Sophia was born, Sylvester stayed up all night carrying her around. Sophia’s birth essentially had a positive and profound impact on the relationship between her parents, who were not yet married but were engaged. Prior to her arrival, they had faced some ups and downs. The same year Sophia was born, she had to undergo heart surgery. She had to have the surgery to close a hole in her heart. Fortunately, the surgery went well, and Sophia, who was just a toddler at the time, recovered while spending a few nights at UCLA Medical Center. A statement made by her father revealed: “I was in the hospital with Jennifer every night. I was blessed with two miracles, that of my daughter being born and that of my daughter being reborn.” The “Rocky” star was so grateful for Sophia’s successful surgery that he made good on a promise he made earlier to donate funds to other children battling heart disease. He ended up donating $200,000 to The Heart of the Child Foundation and made the donation in Sophia’s name:

“…my daughter was diagnosed with a terrible hole in her heart. And through the brilliance of science and the extraordinary talent of the doctor, she is healthy and well today.”

Today, Sophia is the first member of the Stallone family to graduate.