Courage and joy, emotion and lightheartedness, in the match ball of life. Between a volley at the net, a top spin forehand pass or a double-handed cross-court backhand from the world number 1 Jannik Sinner, fresh winner at the Foro Italico in Rome of the 83rd edition of the Tennis Internationals fifty years after Adriano Panatta, the whole of Italy is cheering for little Sofia, 9 years old, from Polistena.
She is now known as the little girl who accompanied Sinner on the court in the semi-final of the tennis internationals at the Foro Italico against Daniil Medvedev, jumping and making the victory sign, with the scarf and hat on her head, visibly excited.
Thanks to a splendid project by the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, for one day, the weight of thoughts became lighter. In June it will be two years since Sofia moved to Rome together with her mother Simona, father Domenico and her 3 year old brother to undergo the expert care of the Oncology department of the “Bambino Gesù” Pediatric Hospital every day. Sofia now, together with her loved ones, lives in Rome, near her aunt, in the Eur area. Her parents have also found work in the capital.
But Sofia is also a third grade student at the Custodia elementary school of the “Capoluogo Brogna-Jerace” comprehensive institute in Polistena. The little girl, so dear to teacher Angela who often goes to Rome to visit her, attended the first year of primary school at the Belà school, given that the Custodia school was under renovation. Sofia, with her smile and joy, won over everyone in class, both girls and boys.
At the end of the school year, the whole IB gathered, children, parents and teachers, for the end-of-year dinner. A few hours later, following an ultrasound in a private practice and subsequent tests in hospital, the tragic discovery of the disease and the rush to the “Bambin Gesù” in Rome. Despite this, her classmates and teachers continued to follow her and be close to her. More often than not, girls and boys take turns making a trip to Rome to find Sofia. They can be seen outdoors, in the EUR playground, where, all wearing masks, they joke and laugh, making their beloved classmate happy.
Sofia has to undergo chemotherapy sessions every morning, but when she is well she connects on a video call with the teacher Angela and takes part in the lessons of her class, a third of the Custodia plexus. At Easter the little girl went down to Polistena and was also in class for two hours, everyone wearing masks, teaching lessons. On Easter day she was hosted by her pediatrician, Dr. Silvio Laruffa, on the balcony of the former Avati palace, from where she was able to admire the traditional rite of the Afruntata, the meeting between the Madonna of the Rosary and the Risen Christ.
«A child’s love» Doctor Laruffa told us quite emotionally, as he held her in his arms on the balcony of his pediatric office.
It was the mayor Michele Tripodi, with this post, who let the whole of Italy and beyond know Sofia’s place of origin: «The lucky girl of the champion Jannik Sinner, winner of the tennis internationals in Rome, is from Polistena. Her name is Sofia and she is our great little fighter. Let’s go champions.”
A year ago, mother Simona also wrote a story, entitled “About us”, in which she thanked her daughter’s classmates and their parents, who continue to do everything every day to make her cheerful and happy. «Yes, because you should know that Sofia, as soon as she sees or hears a friend or a friend from school, she immediately becomes cheerful, releasing happiness from every pore».
In Polistena, her beloved grandparents are also worried about her – grandfather Rocco is the owner of a well-known supermarket – and her uncles, all respectable people, dedicated to work. Mother Simona, yesterday, to maintain confidentiality, tranquility and not lose sight of their true objective, using the profile of her sister Laura, wanted to thank, also on behalf of father Domenico, all those people who for an instant, in Sofia’s smile and joy, felt an intense emotion, to make people think that the world is also made of this, despite everything.
«What has happened in recent days has profoundly shaken our hearts – writes mother Simona on her sister Laura’s profile – Sofia, a disarming force that has turned the whole world upside down; but behind that smile and the ballet of a princess, there is a long and difficult battle against a monster bigger than her. Please know, however, that she could not face all this alone, and for this reason we feel the duty to thank the “Bambino Gesù” hospital in a special and profound way, and in particular Professor Franco Locatelli who has been following our daughter for two years now and taking care of her together with his extraordinary team. The “Bambino Gesù” hospital, the DH, the Oncology department, the warrior children and the courageous parents, have become our second home. We are fighting a difficult battle, one of those that make your wrists tremble – conclude Sofia’s mother and father – but knowing that this extraordinary family in white coats have always been, tirelessly, at our side makes us look forward with hope.”
