After the tragic and sudden death of his 36-year-old son, Sage, who was victim of a heart attack, Sylvester Stallone now has another troubling family situation to deal with. The actor is coming to terms with the fact his teenage daughter Sophia must undergo a heart operation in December.The star's wife Jennifer Flavin has spoken out about the heartbreak her husband has gone through recently saying, "This is a terrible year, a horrible year for him. Sylvester is devastated, but he refuses to talk about his son."
The Rocky legend has suffered two great losses this year. As well as the tragic death of Sage, his sister Toni Ann Fility died in August from lung cancer, at the same time the action man was told about Sophia's operation.His daughter (above, in black) is scheduled for surgery eight days before Christmas. She was operated on for the first time when she was just two-months-old after being diagnosed with a cardiac malformation which was treated succesfully in the UCLA Medical Center. Although the procedure went well, Sophia, 16, has to go back due to a heart valve problem. "Every day I think of my heart," Sophie tells Paris Match magazine. "I eat really healthy, and as I get more tired than normal, I have to be very careful when doing sports. Now I have to have surgery again because the tissue they put in 16 years ago has widened and I have problems with the valves. If all goes well, I will spend five days in the hospital."
Jennifer, who worked as a professional model for a few years, and Sylvester have been married since 1997 and have three daughters, Sophia, Sistine Rose, 14, and Scarlet, ten. Speaking about their personalities, Jennifer revealed Scarlet is the least feminine of the three whilst Sophia is like her dad. "Our daughters' rooms reflect their personalities. Sophia's is all blue, full of books and movies. She is the one that most resembles her father. Like him she has read nearly all of Shakespeare's books. They have a very special bond, they think alike and even have the same gestures, Sophia is the love of his life. "While they wait for the day of Sophia's operation to arrive, the couple have unsurprisingly decided to indulge their daughter. "This is Sophia's year. A very special year," says Jennifer. "Sly and I have thought about everything she wants and what can make her happy."
Amongst the plans the couple have for their daughter is taking her to the Debutante Ball that is held every year in Paris. "Bruce Willis’ wife Emma told us about it after Tallulah participated last year. We put the idea to Sophia and she loved it," says her mum.Sophia, who will wear an Elie Saab design to the event, says she's sure that everything will be fine following her surgery. "Don’t worry. I promise I will be back," says the brave youngster.